Checking a place off your “must do” list is outdated. Today, travel is about feeling good — about yourself, the planet, and all the people who live on it — and one of the best places to experience this is my home state of Colorado.
To my friends who are planning a summer vacation in Colorado, these charming little towns are what I recommend. You can either spend a week touring the Centennial State visiting three or four of these wonderful towns, or you can visit them all and never leave. I believe that a summer visit to Colorado can be an adventure you will never forget. And it was.
Snowmass Village
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My first and favorite Colorado town, Snowmass Village, is a beautiful hamlet in the Elk Mountains. It has a wilderness retreat feel, yet the town is only 9 miles from nearby Aspen. Aspen has just about everything from Italian designer boutiques to fine Japanese restaurants, but let’s be honest, Snowmass Village has really carved out its own identity. It has amazing mountains, great restaurants, the Anderson Ranch Art Center, a family-friendly base village, live music, festivals, and some of the most spectacular backcountry trails in the world. Don’t miss the free guided hikes through wildflower fields with naturalists from the Aspen Environmental Research Center.
Palisade
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Palisade is a small town in western Colorado where a rich agricultural history blends with the energy of an emerging tourist destination. Once known primarily for the small vineyards and farms that surround it, it is now home to a plethora of boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants, including Peche, a farm-to-table eatery helmed by one of Colorado’s best chefs, Matthew Chasseur (formerly of Chicago’s Alinea). But it’s also an emerging mountain biking destination. One of the longest single-track downhill mountain bike trails in the United States, the Palisade Plunge, begins at the top of Colorado’s Grand Mesa and winds its way down into town. The Plunge opened in 2021 after a decade of planning, construction, and millions of dollars of investment.
Telluride
Telluride may already be well-known among Colorado enthusiasts, but it can get crowded during peak summer months. But if you time it right (early or late summer), you’ll quickly see why this community is one of the best in the state. Telluride has a western mining town vibe with a hint of hippie vibe. Box Canyon and Bridal Veil Falls are beautiful and humble, the historic downtown features local shops instead of chain stores, and the summer music festival vibe is hard to beat. There’s nothing more fun than a float down the San Miguel River on a hot summer afternoon or setting up chairs in Town Park for a bluegrass concert.
dinosaur
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This remote ranching community in northwest Colorado gets its name from nearby Dinosaur National Monument, a 210,000-acre wilderness preserve on the Utah-Colorado border. One of the town’s biggest strengths is its proximity to the park, where you can find dinosaur fossils, rock art, and a network of hiking and biking trails, all within a 30-minute drive. The Utah side of the park is where you’ll find all the dinosaur bones (most of which are in the Quarry Exhibit Hall in Jensen, Utah), while the Colorado side offers great canyon and river views. After breakfast on Brontosaurus Boulevard (the main dinosaur road), drive east two miles to the Canyon Visitor Center, where most of the hiking trails begin. Other attractions in the area include whitewater rafting, stargazing at the International Dark Sky Park, and a scenic drive along Harper’s Corner Road, which boasts views of the Green and Yampa Rivers.
Grand Lake
The beautiful town of Grand Lake offers a laid-back atmosphere, great outdoor activities, and access to the western entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re looking for a guide to the 415-square-mile park, look no further than Kaiyote Snow, a naturalist, wildlife photographer, artist, and former instructor for the Rocky Mountain Conservation Association. She and her company, Kaiyote Tours, take visitors on hikes and overnight backpacking trips in the summer to learn about the birds and wildlife in the park.
Denver
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If you’re flying into Colorado, you’ll likely land at Denver International Airport, so why not take the time to visit our state capital? There’s no shortage of great hotels offering world-class amenities. Over the past few decades, Denver has grown significantly, attracting young people from all over the world with its vibrant culture and “work hard, play hard” ethos. Not only is it easy to access the mountains and nearby red rocks, but Denver is also deeply rooted in the arts. The Denver Art Museum has been a cultural hub since the 1970s, and contemporary immersive art experiences such as Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station invite visitors to explore installations, rooms, and portals by local creators.
Buena Vista
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Here’s one of those towns that not everyone who visits Colorado knows about, but falls in love with as soon as they arrive. The name of this central Colorado town says it all (well, it’s basic Spanish after all). Buena Vista is known for beautiful mountain views, camping, fly fishing, and great opportunities for rafting, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding on the Arkansas River. Adrenaline rush seekers can also explore the network of off-road trails and passes in a 4X4. After all that adventure, soak in one of Colorado’s best hot springs at the nearby Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort.
Mancos
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Discover Colorado’s ancient heritage in Mancos, adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park, designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Though it’s a small town of fewer than 1,500 people, it’s home to an incredibly vibrant community and great coffee shops, breweries, boutiques and restaurants. Leave the national park behind and join a Native American guide for a tour of Ute Mountain Tribal Park. Together you’ll discover Ancestral Pueblo ruins, cliff dwellings and pottery, and learn about the communities in this unique region.
Fort Collins
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Home to Colorado State University, Fort Collins is a diverse, welcoming mix of college students, ranchers, tech entrepreneurs and families living in one vibrant community. The city is connected by more than 285 miles of bike paths and lanes, and its historic downtown served as the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. Fort Collins is also close to the Colorado Shoe School, where you can design and create your own custom shoes using leather that would otherwise be sent to the landfill and recycled sole material from discarded tennis balls and balloons.
Leadville
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Leadville sits just over 10,000 feet above sea level, making it the highest city in North America. Many of its historic buildings have been renovated, but it retains the intrepid, hardworking spirit that made it a silver mining boom town in the 19th century. Leadville is close to mountains that reach 14,000 feet above sea level, and you can hike both the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail from the city. After a day outdoors, head to Two Mile Brewing, one of Leadville’s most popular brewpubs, where you can enjoy craft beers like Leadville Lager and Camp Hale Pale Ale.
