2022-12-03 11:21:58
1.Wildflower Viewing Crested Butte is known as the “Wildflower Capital of the World.” Visit in summertime to see the surrounding alpine valleys outrageously in bloom. 2.Pueblo Riverwalk With more than 50 pieces of public art on this 1-mile expanse of downtown, the path is a striking place to stretch your legs. 3.Alpine Lakes Colorado boasts dozens of pristine lakes above treeline. Hike American Lakes Trail near Walden for a true alpine experience — the views are worth the climb. 4.Ghost Towning Uptop ghost town is found at the top of La Veta Pass. Walk among several remaining buildings, including an 1877 railroad depot where a chapel, tavern and dance hall tell the stories of this Sangre de Cristo mountain hideaway. 5.Yampa River Tubing Bring your own inflatable inner tube to float atop the refreshing waters of Yampa River, which passes right through downtown Steamboat Springs. 6.Dispersed Camping Rough it for real by spending the night at a dispersed campsite in the beautiful White River National Forest near Homestake Reservoir and the town of Red Cliff. Learn how to do so responsibly at Colorado.com/CampingBasics. 7.Honeyville See honeybees hard at work inside a glass-encased beehive and taste free samples of regional honey products at this small shop north of Durango. 8.Montrose Botanic Gardens Behind gilded gates exists a green-thumb sanctuary of native plants, succulents and brightly colored flowers. 9.Liquid Arts™ Tours Hundreds of breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries pepper Colorado’s towns, most offering free tours that show how the magic is made. Visit Colorado.com/LiquidArts for ideas. 10.Aurora’s Wheel Park Grab a skateboard, bike or skates to wheel around the 10-foot bowl, street-skating features, BMX track, inline-hockey rink and more. 11.Rocky Ford Museum Peruse exhibits about the area’s history dating back to 1878, including its geology, archaeology and the everyday life of people in the Arkansas Valley. 12.Sandhill Crane Migration Each spring, sandhill cranes migrate in magnificent fashion through the San Luis Valley. Catch a glimpse at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. 13.Cross a Rainbow Bridge Fort Morgan’s historic Rainbow Bridge is an engineering marvel built in 1923 and still standing strong. Venture across for great views of the Platte River. 14.Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum See where President Eisenhower landed when visiting nearby Fraser and check out the cufflinks owned by renowned aviator Howard Hughes in Granby. 15.Frisco Historic Park & Museum Find out what life was like for Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Explore the schoolhouse museum, jail, cabins, a chapel and more. 16.Hiwan Homestead Museum Take a free guided tour of the Hiwan Homestead, a 25-room log lodge turned museum near Evergreen. Don’t miss the Native American art scattered around the home. 17.Picture Canyon Marvel at Native American rock art, pioneer homesteads and craggy geologic formations at this historic gem near Campo. 18.Fremont Ridge Site Located along the Rangely Rock Art Tour, Fremont is home to panels of petroglyphs, resembling carrot men, that can be seen on an easy out-and-back hike. 19.Cano’s Castle Four glimmering towers, made of mostly beer cans, rise into the sky off Antonito’s main street, making the fortification an oddity right in town. 20.Loveland Museum This jewel houses 30,000 objects, many by local artists, and showcases Loveland’s history through displays that include Sweetheart City USA. 21.Silver Cliff Cemetery This 1880s cemetery-with-a-stunning-mountain-view, known for its “unexplained dancing blue lights, seen on occasion,” is also the resting place for many miners of that rough era. 22.City of Murals Tour Walk around Main Street in Delta to see murals and sculptures created by local artists that celebrate the heritage of the community. 23.Limon Heritage Museum & Railroad Park Complex A visit to the plains wouldn’t be complete without popping into the white-sided 1894 pioneer schoolhouse, an excellent example of frontier education. MORE IDEAS AT Colorado.com/FreeThings
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