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Winter wonders abound in Colorado, and with the best snow conditions in two decades, you’ll find that opportunities to play in the powder are endless on your next vacation. Whether you want to participate in outdoor activities, find festivals or the perfect spot to unwind by the fire, snowfall in Colorado enhances these experiences and warms your soul. To learn more about Colorado’s great skiing and riding conditions, you can find an updated snow report and complete information on planning your trip at www.colorado.com. With snow continuing to fall in the high country, conditions are at their peak for winter travel pursuits. And, as the temperature drops, the state’s signature outdoor activities heat up. In Colorado, you’ll discover a winter adventure unlike any other!
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 Take your next dining experience to new heights in Colorado. You’ll find your culinary senses truly elevated at various restaurants featuring breathtaking views of Colorado’s scenic mountain towns. Nestled on a forested cliff at 10,200 feet, The Top of the World Restaurant combines panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and Breckenridge Ski Resort with French influenced American cuisine in a mountain lodge setting. For an après ski gathering and casual dining high above Telluride, take the gondola to the 9545 Restaurant & Bar, where the name refers to the elevation and the rustic American cuisine peaks with flavor. After a day on the slopes, trade in your skis for a pair of the restaurant’s cozy slippers. Surrounded by the pristine Elk Mountain Range at 9,500 feet, the Pine Creek Cookhouse offers dining up close with Mother Nature in an authentic log cabin built of native Colorado logs. The cookhouse, located 11 miles from Aspen at the base of Ashcroft Ski Touring cross-country area, is known for its mountain gourmet cuisine and Skier’s Banquet. In Vail, the Game Creek Restaurant, a European-style chalet, is accessible by gondola and snow cat shuttle. Set at 10,150 feet, the restaurant provides stunning views of the Game Creek Bowl and the town of Vail.
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 Colorado blossoms with festivals and celebrations planned to welcome the arrival of spring. Keep your eye on the skies in Southeast Colorado, and witness natural phenomena spurring mystery and imagination about the life of ancestral people. On March 18, the town of Springfield hosts the Spring Equinox Festival, honoring a blend of ancient history and natural wonders. Don’t miss the tours of Crack Cave in Picture Canyon as the sun perfectly illuminates ancient carvings dating back more than 1,000 years ago. Festival highlights include music, art, demonstrations, home and garden shows, and food native to southeastern Colorado, Spanish and Indian cultures. From April 7–9, locals gather in Crested Butte for the 37th Annual Flauschink. Ushering in spring and embracing the area’s heritage, the event features Polka, a long-time tradition, as well as historical slide shows, a parade and a coronation ball where a king and queen are crowned. The event concludes with a final toast to the Flauschink royalty and the winter season on the slopes of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. In Beaver Creek, the final week of ski season is celebrated in style, April 9–16, during Fiesta Beaver Creek. During the week, festivities include extended restaurant hours, free ice skating, kid-friendly movies playing at the Vilar Center, guest DJs, late-night lounges, and concludes with a special finale of Thursday night lights equipped with glow sticks, musical tunes and fireworks. "Shop and smell" the flowers on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, a famous promenade of outdoor shops, during the Downtown Boulder Tulip Festival April 29–30. Enjoy over 15,000 tulips in a variety of blazing colors and savor the beauty of spring as the Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade makes its way though the streets of downtown Boulder.
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 For a trip through Colorado’s bird-watching mecca, travel to Lamar, from February 24–26, for the 4th Annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival. Witness the seasonal migration of the Western Central Flyway Snow Geese population, considered the most abundant goose in the world, en route from Southeastern Colorado and other winter destinations to the Canadian Artic where they nest.
To coincide with the bird’s voyage, festival highlights include guided morning bird-watching walks exploring Willow Creek Nature Trail, eco-seminars coordinated by The Colorado Division of Wildlife, a nature-themed arts and crafts fair, as well as live birds of prey presentations featuring hawks, owls, eagles and falcons. As the sun sets in the western sky, tour the area while ducks, geese and cranes return to the lakes for the night. As the sun rises in the morning, watch as the snow geese awaken and fly off in the direction of their feeding grounds – Lamar’s John Martin dam. Offering food and rest to thousands of migrating birds, the dam is the breeding ground for endangered bird species including the least tern and piping plover, and the habitat for many bald eagles, waterfowl and shorebirds.
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Whether you’re visiting Colorado to take advantage of record-breaking early-season snow or looking to go off the beaten path and discover some of the state’s secluded hideaways this upcoming summer, you’ll need a comprehensive guide to help plan your trip.
With the revised and updated 2006 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide in hand, you’ll be equipped to make the most of your time in the Centennial State. Loaded with feature stories about Colorado’s unprecedented scenery, history and attractions, the guide allows you to lay the groundwork for a memorable vacation. New features this year include articles about shopping, dining, arts and culture, hot springs and spas, and added coverage of the state’s fascinating historical attractions. Vivid photography, detailed listings and an easy-to-navigate layout make the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide a complete and indispensable resource for planning your vacation.
You can request the guide by clicking here or contacting 1-800-COLORADO. While you’re at it, you can also request the new Official Map to Colorado, with comprehensive maps of the entire state as well as major cities. These planning tools work hand-in-hand to provide you with everything you need for an unforgettable Colorado adventure. |
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The Colorado Winter Adventure
Powder alert! In Colorado, the powder days continue and now’s the time to discover it yourself. The continuous snowfall on Colorado’s mountains offers epic conditions for your next winter adventure – whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or tubing.
For information on other Winter Adventures, visit The Winter Adventure page.
The Colorado Discovery Adventure
Explore daring mountain peaks. Learn about geological wonders. Journey through ghost towns. Chart your course and discover Colorado for all its natural beauty.
For other Colorado Discovery Adventures, visit The Discovery Adventure page.
The Family Adventure
Gather up the kids, pack a bag or two and head for mountain high adventure. For family education, Colorado offers museums with exhibits for children and adults alike.
For more information on Colorado Family Adventures, visit The Family Adventure page.
The Colorado Romantic Adventure
Love happens naturally in Colorado. Plan a romantic getaway and leave the rest to Mother Nature. Quaint mountain lodges, wide open prairie and dramatic sunsets await you!
For other Colorado Romantic Adventure ideas, visit The Romantic Adventure page.
The Colorado Outdoor Adventure
With 54 peaks higher than 14,000 feet, Colorado peaks with outdoor adventure.
For more information on Outdoor Adventures, visit The Outdoor Adventure page.
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WINTERFEST/BALLOON RALLY, February 11–12, 2006:
Hot air balloons color the sky at dawn against the back drop of snow-capped mountain peaks in Pagosa Springs. Take in the sights, go downhill, cross-country skiing or participate in activities including a Snow-Deo, a competition on snow mobiles, or enter in the Anything Goes Sled Race with homemade sleds.
STORYTELLING BY THE CAMPFIRE,
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2006:
For an après-ski gathering with your family, head to Snowmass Village, nestled between the Snowmass Maroon Bells Wilderness areas and the West Elk Mountain Range. During the weekly gathering, local story tellers spin tall tales around a roaring campfire with hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows.
SANDHILL CRANE FESTIVAL,
March 11–13, 2006:
Birders from across the globe flock annually to visit Monte Vista’s National Wildlife Refuge
where 20,000 Rocky Mountain cranes spend part of each spring and fall. During their stop, the birds perform their courtship dance and rest before continuing on their 850-mile journey north to their summer breeding grounds. The festival includes sunrise and sunset tours to observe the cranes, workshops with wildlife experts, local naturalists and biologists, a tour through the famous potato farms in the San Luis Valley, a craft fair and live entertainment.
WILD ABOUT COLORADO WINES AT THE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE,
March 24–25, 2006:
Quench your thirst and please the palate in Parker as you sample wine from Colorado’s finest wineries and taste savory wine pairings including fine cheeses and fresh baked breads. A gift show featuring wildlife art and interactive exhibits fill the museum entertaining all.
TASTE OF ESTES,
April 27, 2006:
Tempt your taste buds at Estes Park’s virtual, edible showcase as area restaurants cook up assorted pastries, delightfully light appetizers, hearty main course feasts of buffalo chili and grilled chicken, among others and “death-by-chocolate” desserts. Sample standard favorites, as well as samples of what area restaurants plan to serve on their summer menus.
CINCO DE MAYO, May 13, 2006:
Make your way to Holyoke, the last of the Great Plains before the Rocky Mountains, and celebrate Latino freedom and liberty. Tempt your taste buds during the salsa tasting and jalapeno shoot out contests, rise to the occasion during the talent contest and be inspired by traditional dances performed by the locals, all while enjoying flavorful authentic food.
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