COME TO LIFE / Pick-Your-Passion Itineraries COLORADO CREATIVE CORRIDOR Denver 5 DAYS RECOMMENDED, 331 MILES Travel through a handful of state-certified Colorado Creative Districts nestled in the mountains of western Colorado. The following five places all offer unique events and programs, majestic vistas, authentic mountain-town vibes, and art and cultural experiences around every corner. STOPS: 1 CARBONDALE Rich agricultural history and hippie flair are two hallmarks of this community at the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork rivers. Bike or stroll the Rio Grande ARTway, a 1-mile stretch of paved trail that showcases a series of public art installations and is complemented by three other outdoor venues: DeRail Park, Latino Folk Art Garden and Youth Art Park. 2 PAONIA Just an hour south, pass lush vine-yards and orchards as you reach the hamlet of Paonia. From ceramicists and foundry workers to fly-rod makers and vintners, artists and makers flock to the fertile North Fork Valley. Make your way to Azura Cellars & Gallery, where you can browse fine art and enjoy a glass of wine in the courtyard. Be sure to visit COLORADO.com/ ColoRoadTrips for even more itineraries! 3 CRESTED BUTTE In the spring, summer and fall, head two hours east over Kebler Pass and descend into Crested Butte (the pass is closed during winter, but you can still take CO-92 to US-50 and go north at Gunnison). Elk Avenue’s colorful buildings look like a Victorian-era painting come to life and house numerous galleries, shops and artisan businesses like Montanya Distillers — stop in for a tasting of their award-winning rums. 4 RIDGWAY A little over two hours 70 CARBONDALE 133 CRESTED BUTTE PAONIA 50 SALIDA 5 SALIDA Nicknamed “The Biggest Little Art Town in Colorado,” Salida also likes to show off its adventurous side, with activities especially centered on the Arkansas River. When you’re not rafting or tubing, drop by the SteamPlant Event Center, an abandoned power plant that’s been repurposed into galleries, a sculpture garden and a venue for everything from concerts to film screenings. 550 RIDGWAY WANT MORE? COLORADO.COM/CREATIVEDISTRICTS 88 / 1-800-COLORADO CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: CRESTED BUTTE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, LYDIA STERN; SALIDA, LISA SEAMAN; PAONIA CREATIVE DISTRICT, R. BEN LEHMAN. southwest, this gem boasts mountain views and Old West-style storefronts. More than 20 percent of the nearly 1,000 residents work as artists, producers or creative professionals, and that innovative spirit is evident every-where you look. Be sure to check out the Alley Poems — a smattering of works that have sprung up in alleyways and on fences and the backs of buildings. 25
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 88
