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Colorado - Visiting The Centennial State |
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 The Colorado Traveller - by Phil Philcox writer@white-star.com - |
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Colorado - Visiting The Centennial State |
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| The Colorado Traveller - by Phil Philcox writer@white-star.com - |
Capital: Denver
Population: 3,294,000+
Major Points of Interest:
Colorado – The Office State Vacation Guide is almost 150 pages of information on things to do, see and experience around the state. It’s available free, along with a state road map from the Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority (1127 Pennsylvania Avenue, Denver CO 80203, 303-832-6171 or 1-800-265-6723, website: www.colorado.com). The guide divides the state into seven regions with information on interesting places to layover, tips from locals, regional festivals and activities, and town profiles.
Some RVers say, "Colorado is over there . . . I’m over here in Canada" and discover they don’t have enough time for the round trip. One solution is to fly to Denver, rent a motorhome for the length of your stay, see everything there is to see, then fly home. You can get seven days of the on-the-Colorado-road vacationing in a week by eliminating the drive there and back.
Try these sources for rental info:
Information on state parks is available from
Additional information, maps and guides (all free!) are available from the
For up-to-date road information and how to dodge the snow-covered roads, call 303-639-1111. There is a free cell-phone number to call the Colorado State Patrol Communications Center in case of emergencies. Dial *277.
Watch those mountain passes. The range in elevation is from 8,000 to over 12,000 feet, many are too steep for motorhome travel. A list of mountain passes, elevations and the highway locations can be found on the state road map provided by the Travel and Tourism Authority. The map also includes a mileage charge, a list of state parks and locations, outdoor recreation sites, National Parks and Monuments, ski areas and scenic and historic byways.
Colorado enjoys a colourful history of gold fever, outlaws and infamous characters. Many of their towns, once filled with ambitious entrepreneurs, fortune seekers and families, are now merely memories, abandoned buildings and tourist attractions. A few, however, have been revived in recent years and are, today, thriving communities, proud of their heritage.
Back in 1850, gold was discovered in South Park and the rush was on! Hordes of gold-seekers spilled into the Park, and within a few short months the mountains were dotted with mining camps sporting names like Tarryall, Leavick, Eureka and Buckskin Joe. These camps grew to become boomtowns, thriving communities on the edge of the frontier. Gradually, the mining dried up and the people moved on, leaving their towns and camps to the elements, until all that remained were decaying ghost towns.
South Park City is an interesting restoration of these early towns, preserving the history of our nation's frontier while it educates and entertains the present. Located in Fairplay, Colorado, the museum is an accurate representation of a mining town between 1860 and 1900. Thirty-four authentic buildings filled with over 60,000 artifacts portray most of the economic and social aspects of boomtown life. Seven of the buildings are on their original sites; the others have been moved from abandoned camps and ghost towns in South Park, a 900-square mile basin surrounded by Colorado's majestic Rocky Mountains. The restored buildings contain period room settings and exhibits illustrating the professions, trades and industries that contributed to life in a nineteenth century. For information, contact the South Park Historical Foundation (PO Box 634, Fairplay, CO 80440, 719-836-2387).
When you’re ready to step out of the RV and check into accommodations with lots of elbow room and things to do, consider laying over at a dude ranch. Park your rig under a tree and sprawl out. All meals are included and you hike the trails, go horseback riding or just loaf. Travelling with kids? Many have children activity programs. You can get a free 12-page brochure from
Did You Know . . . The highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City in Colorado. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet. Colorado has more micro breweries per capita than any other state. Denver has the largest city park system in the nation with 205 parks in city limits and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains. Colorado has 222 state wildlife areas. The world's largest flat-top mountain is in Grand Mesa in Colorado.
Some interesting (very interesting!) Things To Do In Colorado:
Dog sledding provides a unique adventure over snow behind an eager team of panting dogs, often at speeds of up to 25 miles an hour. At the Lucky Cat Dog Farm in Gunnison, these excursions visit the Taylor Park area. For information call 970-641-1636.
Ballooning over the Rockies is an exciting way to see wild animals as they scatter below. Flights leave from Boulder, Parker, Winter Park and South Park and last three to four hours. For information call 303-759-3907.
If you’re brave and fit, try helicopter skiing. Helicopters fly into a 250 square mile area in the San Juan Mountains, drop off skiers and down the slopes you go. For information call 970-728-4904.
Hop aboard a Snow Cat at Winter Park and tour the mountains areas inside these 12-passenger, over-the-snow vehicles. Rides last two hours. For information call 970-726-5513.
If you’re in the area, plan on attending:
In January:
In February:
In March: Around The Campfire Gathered in Estes Park; Arts Ala Carte in Denver; Beginnings in Glen Haven; the Boulder Climbing Series in Boulder; Mardi Gras Week in Durango; Music of the World in Durango.
In April: Annual Elk Mountain Grand Traverse in Crested Butte; April Fools Day Parade in Breckenridge; Banana Season Spring Fling in Snowmass; the Boulder Farmer’s Market in Boulder; Closing Day at Highlands; Crystal Lights at Estes Park; Professional Bull Riders at Colorado Springs.
In May: Cinco de Mayo and Semana Latina in Greely.
In June: the Boulder Farmer’s Market and Chautauqua Summer Festival in Boulder; Timeless Art exhibit at Estes Park; Colorado Music Festival in Boulder.
In July: Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Out To Lunch Music Concerts in Boulder.
In August: The Boulder Romanian Festival in Boulder; Vail Valley Music Festival at Vail; Celebration of Theatre, Jazz and Dance at Telluride; Central City Opera Festival at Central City; Colorado Dance Festival and Music Festival at Boulder; Crested Butte Music Festival at Crested Butte.
In September: Commonwheel Arts and Crafts Fair in Manitou Springs; Alpaca Market at Estes Park; Boulder Creek Hometown Fair and Harvest Festival at Boulder; Classic Labor Day Celebration in Steamboat Springs; Colorfest around the state; Festival of Mountain and Plain in Denver.
In October: Annual Gold Camp Film Festival in Cripple Creek; Coloradofest in Canon City; the Diggity Festival in Town Park, Winter Park Resort Oktoberfest in Winter Park.
In November: Safehouse 5K Run in Denver; Transitions Art Exhibit in Estes Park.
In December Annual Holiday Home Tour of Estes Park in Estes Park; Christmas at Rosemount in Pueblo; the Lights of December Parade in Boulder; Victorian Christmas at Maramont Castle in Manitou Springs.
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