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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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 What do minerals, microbreweries, sand dunes and a UFO watch tower have in common? These are just some of the unusual discoveries you'll find in Colorado. On your next hike, try rock hounding for minerals and crystals, a hobby growing in popularity. A collection of minerals and fossils attract would-be prospectors to the Upper Arkansas Valley near Buena Vista and Salida. Aquamarine, the state gemstone, can be found on the 14,269-foot Mount Antero, the highest gem field in North America. Marshall Pass, in the southwest corner of the Arkansas Valley, includes smaller geodes to collect. Quartz crystal varieties and Fools Gold can be found around the ghost town of Turret. From rock hounding to home brewing, Colorado features the most microbreweries per capita than any other state. In Fort Collins, guided tours of the brewing process and samples (for those ages 21 and older) are available at New Belgium Brewery, known for its signature Fat Tire Amber Ale. Another creation in Colorado came more than 1 million years ago when ocean waters and wind combined to form sand dunes. The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, located in southern Colorado, features more than 30 square miles of the country’s tallest and most fragile sand dunes in the world, many reaching heights greater than 750 feet. The region also features alpine lakes, ancient spruce and pine forests, six peaks reaching more than 13,000 feet in elevation, and is home to diverse wildlife, plants, and insect species found nowhere else on earth. For a phenomenon out of this world, travel nearby to Hooper, north of Alamosa, where those curious about extraterrestrial life gather in an area noted for its UFO sightings at the UFO Watch Tower.
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 On your next vacation, trace Colorado history in museums chronicling the various layers of the state’s past. Travel to the heart of Ute Indian territory in Montrose, once homesteaded by Chief Ouray and his wife Chipeta, where the Ute Indian Museum features a native plants garden and various workshops on native bead work and the history of Dream Catchers. See where dinosaurs once roamed in Fruita, part of the Western Slope’s dinosaur country, where the Dinosaur Journey Museum presents a hands-on, interactive museum with realistic robotic dinosaurs, full-scale dinosaur skeletons, a working paleontology laboratory, and the latest information and exhibits about dinosaur excavations. Travel back in time along Rocky Mountain railways, and learn more about the role of railroads in this region, at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Featuring more than 70 historic narrow and standard gauge locomotives and cars, the museum in Golden includes railroad equipment, artifacts, paper records, books, artwork and photographs. Walk in the footsteps of early pioneers and gold seekers at the Overland Trail Museum. Located in Sterling, the museum is named after the Overland Trail stage route that followed the South Platte River through Northeastern Colorado. Relive these early days in the museum “village,” with the Stoney Buttes one-room schoolhouse, the Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Church, the Dailey Cash Store, a granary barn, a blacksmith shop and a filling station. At the Fort Garland Museum, discover the fort once commanded by Kit Carson to protect the earliest settlers of the San Luis Valley. Rich in military history, Fort Garland also highlights the folk art and culture of the Hispanic community in Southern Colorado.
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 In Colorado, agriculture is a way of life and its legacy has been passed from generation to generation. This year, the National Western Stock Show celebrates 100 years of western heritage and rich tradition from
January 7–22 in Denver. With signature events including bull riding, barrel racing and bareback riding, the show also includes younger cowboys competing in Catch a Calf and Mutton Busting. Cultural events feature top competitors in the Martin Luther King Jr. African American Rodeo and a tribute to Spanish cowboys during the Mexican Extravaganza and traditional Mexican hat dance. In addition, more than 12,000 animals are on display, some of which perform (dancing horses and super dogs) and compete during the “super bowl of cattle shows.” Feast on culinary treats and peruse booths with Native American jewelry, cowboy hats, boots and spurs. |
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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 (33 and counting!) and now’s the time to discover it yourself. Whether you're skiing and snowboarding, or snowshoeing or tubing, the continuous snowfall in Colorado's mountains offers epic conditions for your next winter adventure.
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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8th ANNUAL RIFLE GAP STATE PARK ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT,
January 21–22, 2006:
Both adult and youth anglers are “lured” to Rifle and Rifle Gap, the 350-acre reservoir known as a premier ice fishing destination in Colorado. During this annual fundraiser for the Colorado Sportsmen Wildlife Fund, prizes are awarded for rainbow trout, brown trout and yellow perch.
970-725-9085.
93rd ANNUAL WINTER CARNIVAL,
February 8–12, 2006:
Western tradition and winter sports are featured at this annual festival held in Steamboat Springs, known as “Ski Town USA.” In 1914, the Winter Carnival started as a way to help locals with cabin fever during the height of the winter season, and the celebration continues in the present day with ski-jumping competitions, dual slalom bicycle racing, a snowboarding jam session and a tubing party. The diamond hitch parade features the high school marching band on skis and the fireworks display includes the legendary lighted man.
DOWNHILL GRAVITY RACE, February 18, 2006:
Ready, set, go…down Bennett Avenue of historic Cripple Creek. Race downhill in your own homemade race car as you take in the scenery of this historic mining town set within the Rocky Mountains.
FROZEN DEAD GUY DAYS,
March 10–12, 2006:
Expect the unexpected as Nederland “chills out” with unforgettable frozen fun. In honor of the town’s legendary frozen resident, Grandpa Bredo, the festival’s entertainment follows a quirky theme with frozen t-shirt contests, coffin races, a parade, ice and snow sculpting competition, film festival, a Grandpa Bredo look-a-like contest and a brain freeze contest.
ECKERT CRANE DAYS,
March 11 and 18, 2006:
Signaling the end of winter, sandhill cranes en route to northern migration destinations pause for a break in Eckert, located in Northwest Colorado near the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain. Don’t miss lift off as the cranes take flight on their journey.
GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS TOURS,
(970-332-3484) April 1–2, 7–9,
14–15, 21–23, 2006:
Visitors from around the world flock to the northeastern plains near Wray, lured by the beautiful mating rituals of Colorado's greater prairie chicken. During the weekend-long tour, enjoy private bird watching and historical presentations.
72nd ANNUAL SANTA FE TRAIL DAYS, April 28, 2006:
In Las Animas, follow a trail of cowboys and Indians, pioneers, señors and señoritas as you pay tribute to Southern Colorado's heritage. A major trade route between North America and Mexico, the Santa Fe Trail is a legendary stop along Colorado's trail of history. A parade, a mainstay event featuring horses and wagons, art and pottery booths, tasty foods, square dances, and authentic costume and talent contests honor Colorado's colorful heritage.
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