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 Snowfall in Colorado signals the best time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Here, you’ll find a wide array of recreational activities and leisurely pursuits to create memories that warm your spirits. Elevate your love for hiking and try snowshoeing through trails in Rocky Mountain National Park or Golden Gate Canyon State Park, both located near Denver. For high-speed thrills, jump onboard a snowmobile for a 300-mile adventure around Grand County, including Grand Lake, Granby, Winter Park and Kremmling. In Steamboat Springs, sleigh bells jingle as horse-drawn sleigh rides transport families and couples through Colorado’s fresh, pine-scented air and wintry mountain landscape. For a nostalgic spin, test your turns on the outdoor ice skating rink in downtown Boulder or journey to Ouray for a vertical ascent on ice at the Ouray Ice Park, where climbers “pick” their way along frozen waterfalls. Even the fish are biting in winter. Drop your line ice fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water and home to the largest kokanee salmon fishery in the United States. For a downhill rush, try tubing on hills located at Colorado’s 25 ski resorts.
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 This winter, take a dip in Colorado’s
hot springs ranging from a satisfying 68 degrees Fahrenheit to a steamy 181 degrees Fahrenheit. These therapeutic waters offer the perfect remedy for soothing sore muscles or relaxing among breathtaking mountain views. Many of the hot springs also offer spa services including massages and mud baths, as well as diving corners, children’s areas and secluded outdoor hot spring tubs. Make a splash in the world’s largest hot springs pool at the Hot Springs Lodge in Glenwood Springs. Stretching more than two blocks, the Hot Springs Pool includes two water slides and a diving board. Nearby, the Yampah Spa Vapor Caves feature natural underground steam baths, regarded by the ancient Ute Indians as a sacred place of healing and rejuvenation. Set on the banks of the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, the Hot Springs Resort features 18 pools designed in their most natural state, located on the river and tucked against rock formations. In Ouray, considered the “Switzerland of America,” the Ouray Hot Springs contains more than one million gallons of hot springs water and includes a section for swimming laps and a diving area.
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 In Colorado, residents pay tribute to winter with various festivals and traditions. In Aspen, the town’s annual celebration of its alpine lifestyle, Wintersköl, dates back to 1951. From Jan. 12–15, 2006, Aspen celebrates the 55th anniversary with more than 40 events held in downtown Aspen, Snowmass Village, and at Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. Various festivals capture the character of the area: Wintersculpt, a 48-hour snow sculpture and carving competition; a Fireworks Extravaganza high atop Aspen Mountain; a parade through historic downtown Aspen; a wild and wacky Canine Fashion Show showcasing Aspen’s glamorous pooches; and Taste of Wintersköl, transforming Aspen’s Wagner Park into a culinary melting pot with cuisine from more than 20 restaurants and live music. In celebration of Wintersköl and Aspen’s world-class skiing, the four local mountains of Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk, toast the occasion with on-slope activities including après ski parties and races.
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Colorado Maps Out Fun for Kids
In a place as beautiful and historic as Colorado, learning opportunities abound left and right. From identifying animal tracks to envisioning the ancient settlements of the ancestral Puebloan people, kids are often captivated by the state’s abundance of fascinating things. Now, kids can dive right into the experience with the Colorado Educational Map. On one side is a statewide map showing where rivers begin, mountains soar and historic sites are located. On the flip side is a bunch of fun facts, photos, drawings and features that shed light on all of Colorado’s amazing traits. Color a picturesque mountain scene, or learn about significant places, such as Bent’s Old Fort, and locate them on the map. Covering Colorado’s history and heritage, nature, geology, regions, cities and recreation, this map is a comprehensive introduction to the state, and the perfect companion for kids during their next road trip vacation.
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The Colorado Winter Adventure
When winter calls, Colorado answers with blue skies and snowy mountains. Be here to discover it yourself and choose from a variety of activities – from skiing and snowboarding to tubing and snowshoeing.
For information on other Winter Adventures, visit The Winter Adventure page.
The Colorado Discovery Adventure
Explore fascinating museums. Learn about the Old West. Journey along old trails, but make your own path. Discover Colorado and its world-class heritage.
For other Colorado Discovery Adventures, visit The Discovery Adventure page.
The Family Adventure
Load the family into the car and experience the mountains, the valleys and the towns in between. For family amusement, Colorado offers various attractions for children and adults who are young at heart.
For more information on Colorado Family Adventures, visit The Family Adventure page.
The Colorado Romantic Adventure
Love is in the air in Colorado. Take a weekend antiquing trip with your favorite someone to let time and stress slip away. Charming shops, lodging and romantic moments nestled in the Rocky Mountains await you!
For other Colorado Romantic Adventure ideas, visit The Romantic Adventure page.
The Colorado Outdoor Adventure
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Colorado boasts year-round adventures in the great outdoors.
For more information on Outdoor Adventures, visit The Outdoor Adventure page.
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11th ANNUAL GREAT FRUITCAKE TOSS, January 7, 2006:
Save your holiday fruitcake for a one-of-a-kind toss with residents in Manitou Springs, a historic town at the foot of Pikes Peak. Bring your own, or rent one to toss, hurl or launch. Awards are given for fruitcakes thrown the greatest distance, the most creative use of a fruitcake, as well as for the most beautiful and ugliest of this holiday food staple.
10th ANNUAL OURAY ICE FESTIVAL,
January 12–15, 2006:
For an ice-cold adventure, “pick” this extreme winter challenge in Ouray. Held at the Ouray Ice Park, the world's first park devoted exclusively to the sport of ice climbing, this festival offers free interactive clinics, exhibits with the latest gear and equipment, and demonstrations taught by some of the world’s premier climbing athletes in this area known as the “Switzerland of America.”
WESTERN REGIONAL NATIONAL ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL, February 19, 2006:
Roll up your sleeves and show your strength as you experience life on the farm in Sterling. Witness pure human strength as antique tractors are pulled and tugged through the countryside.
4th ANNUAL HIGH PLAINS SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL,
February 24–26, 2006:
Journey to Lamar to view the seasonal migration of the Western Central Flyway Snow Geese to the Canadian Arctic where they nest. Enjoy guided morning bird-watching walks or flock to a seminar about the various wildlife and history of the area.
43rd ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE,
March 11, 2006:
Sport your festive greens and celebrate as Denver pays tribute to the shamrock with the “Blarney on Blake Street” parade. One of the biggest and best in the country, the parade features floats, clowns, bagpipers, high school marching bands and Irish step dancers.
SPRING EQUINOX FESTIVAL,
March 18, 2006:
Springfield, located in southeastern Colorado, hosts the Spring Equinox Festival paying tribute to history and nature simultaneously. The weekend-long celebration includes tours of Crack Cave in Picture Canyon as the sun perfectly illuminates ancient carvings dating back more than 1,000 years. The festival also features music, art, demonstrations, home and garden shows, and food native to southeastern Colorado, and Spanish and Indian cultures. |
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