Wild West / COME TO LIFE SADDLE UP FOR WILD WEST HERITAGE Colorado is steeped in the legacy of the Wild West — a rugged and romantic history of grand adventure, exploration and settlement. HORSE RIDING Dramatic backdrops and winding trails make Colorado the perfect place to ride on a trusty horse. Stables and outfitters offer quick day rides and packed multiday adventures, where every ride is an unforgetta-ble trip into the backcountry and a taste of the cowboy lifestyle Colorado is famous for. More: COLORADO.com/ HorsebackRiding DUDE RANCHES Our dude ranch-es offer vacation experiences that range from upscale, romantic resort-like properties to rustic, working ranches where guests can take part in everyday chores like herding cattle or gathering fresh eggs. Whilst the more than 30 dude ranches are all very different, you can count on them all being incredibly family friendly and having activity-rich schedules for everyone in your party. More: COLORADO.com/ DudeRanches Horse riding near Vail RODEOS Colorado’s Western history comes to life at rodeos throughout the state, where traditional affairs such as bull riding, steer wrestling and livestock competitions are often paired with contemporary festivities, including concerts from Country music artists, dog shows and unique contests (think craft beer and ski jumping). More: COLORADO.com/Rodeos WESTERN WEAR Visitors can get the look of the local cowboys, from boots to hats, at several beloved stores throughout the state, including Rockmount Ranch Wear (inventor of the snap-button Western shirt seen in countless movies) in Denver, F.M. Light & Sons in Steamboat Springs, Appaloosa Trading Co. in Telluride, Goodman’s in Pagosa Springs and High Country Western Wear in Arvada. Denver Museum of Nature & Science More: COLORADO.com/ DressLikeAColoradan GHOST TOWNS Colorado’s mining boom put the state on the map as one of the most lucrative places to be in the late 1800s. Promises of riches brought workers in droves as newcomers quickly assem-bled in towns near metal-laden landscapes on grassy meadows and rocky hillsides. Some of these towns (like Breckenridge, Leadville and Idaho Springs) remain some of Colorado’s top destinations, whilst the not so lucky faded into some of the coolest ghost towns in America, which visitors can explore on their own. More: COLORADO.com/ GhostTowns NATIVE AMERICAN SITES We can’t very well discuss Colorado’s true roots without remembering our earliest inhabitants. Many sites and museums will have your imagination floating back in time to the first and most fascinating human experiences in Colorado, including those at Mesa Verde National Park, Chimney Rock National Monument and the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose. More: COLORADO.com/ NativeAmerican DINOSAUR FOSSILS Going even further back in time, the land now known as Colorado was once roamed by mighty stegosauruses, triceratops and other dinosaur gi-ants. There are several paleonto-logical sites and museums across Colorado where you can see ancient fossils, including Dinosaur National Monument, Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument near Cripple Creek. More: COLORADO.com/SeeDinos Ute Indian Museum event in Montrose LU ANNE TYRRELL; JACK AFFLECK; DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE. COLORADO.COM / 29
Colorado Holiday Guide UK English 2018: Page 29
