Colorado isn't just for outdoor enthusiasts; it is also home to some of the finest cultural institutions and festivals in the country. Denver's Golden Triangle District is the city's center of arts and culture and includes the Denver Art Museum (www.denverartmuseum.org), the Colorado History Museum (www.coloradohistory.org), the Colorado Ballet (www.coloradoballet.org), the Curious Theatre Company (www.curioustheatre.org) and more than 50 galleries, artist's studios, fine restaurants and specialty stores. Nearby, The Museum of Contemporary Art has been garnering national accolades with its newly designed, LEED Certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building and its unique exhibitions (www.mcartdenver.org). The Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs features works by renowned artists such as Georgia O'Keefe, John Singer Sargent and John James Audubon, and it recently finished a $28 million addition designed by renowned architect David Owen Tryba (www.csfineartscenter.org). The state's Latino/Hispanic culture comes to life at the Museo de las Americas (www.museo.org) in the heart of Denver's vibrant Santa Fe Art District (www.artdistrictonsantafe.com).

Visitors looking to channel their inner diva can spend an enchanting evening at one of Colorado's great opera houses. The Central City Opera House in Central City opened its doors in 1878 and is home to the country's fifth-oldest opera company (www.centralcityopera.org). Each summer, Central City Opera's National Summer Festival attracts patrons from all over the country and abroad to enjoy an intimate opera experience in its 550-seat opera house. The recently remodeled Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver has played host to Opera Colorado since 1980 (www.operacolorado.org), bringing celebrated stars and performances to the stage.

Colorado also boasts a thriving theatrical scene. The nationally renowned Aspen Santa Fe Ballet will celebrate its 11th season in 2008, bringing eclectic, innovative dance to the Rockies (www.aspensantafeballet.com). In the summer and early fall, the Creede Repertory Theatre (www.creederep.org) presents a rigorous, rotating schedule of performances in repertory. Looking for even more drama? Denver lays claim to the region's largest resident, professional theatre company, the Denver Center Theatre Company, which performs from the acclaimed Denver Center for the Performing Arts (www.dcpa.org).

The mountains are alive with the sound of music. Colorado summers are packed with music festivals. The Aspen Music Festival and School (www.aspenmusicfestival.com) gives visitors a chance to experience one of the country's leading summer music programs. The Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival brings together performers from top orchestras and philharmonics from across the country (www.vailmusicfestival.org). Steamboat Springs' Strings in the Mountains presents more than 85 performances of chamber music, jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, world rhythms and many other genres every summer. Artists include Grammy winners and nominees, major competition winners, principal players from the most renowned orchestras and international soloists (www.stringsinthemountains.org). The Breckenridge Genuine Jazz Festival assembles Jazz's best for a great mix of hot music and ideal summer weather (www.gobreck.com).

Film enthusiasts flock to Colorado to enjoy the state's many meetings of the movie minds. Top film festivals include the Vail Film Festival (www.vailfilmfestival.org), the Telluride Film Festival (www.telluridefilmfestival.org), the Starz! Denver Film Festival (www.denverfilm.org) and the Durango Film Festival (www.durangofilmfestival.com), which draw talented filmmakers and film aficionados from around the world.

For more information on planning a Cultured Colorado vacation, visit www.COLORADO.com