Colorado

Introduction

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Being one of the square western states does not mean that Colorado is square at all. If you're looking for skiing, fly fishing, hiking and an infamous cannibal this is the state for you. The traditional home to several Native American tribes, the first Europeans were Spanish settlers following the Rio Grande. After the Mexican-American War the Colorado Territory was created and eventually became a state on August 1st 1876. Today the state of Colorado is known for its great outdoor activities and delicious breweries.

Geography

Cities

• Arvada
• Aurora
• Boulder is a liberal town home to the university of Colorado right on the foot hills
• Colorado Springs is the home to Pikes Peak and the Christian Right
• Denver is the mile high city.
• Durango is the major city in the Southwest nestled in the San Juan Mountains.
• Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University and one of best breweries in Colorado
• Lakewood
• Pueblo is an old industrial town on the southern side of I-25
• Thornton
• Westminster

Ski Towns

Avon, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Telluride, Vail

Sights and Activities

Colorado Summer

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Rocky Mountain National Park

Located in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park is an amazing place. The main attraction is the section of preserved Rocky Mountain wilderness. There is no open grazing or use of motorized cars off the roads, which has kept this place pristine when compared to other parts of the Rockies. Although it isn't one of the most famous national parks, it's well worth the visit.

Mesa Verde National Park

The Ancestral Pueblo People built these amazing cliff palaces over 500 years ago. These homes have inspired and awestruck countless people since their rediscovery in the 19th century. Although it is very hard to get to these ruins, they rank up there with the many other famous ruins scattered around the world. Read more in the Mesa Verde National Park article.

Skiing

Article:Ski Areas in Colorado

Colorado is a big area for skiing. There are over a dozen major ski areas with terrain for any ability level. Although many of the bigger ski areas have become very corporate and expensive there are still some smaller ones with lots of charm. Remember that there is plenty of skiing outside of I-70 or Summit County.

Breweries

• New Belgium Brewery
• Bristol Brewing Company
• Phantom Canyon Brewery

National Parks

• Great Sand Dunes National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

State Parks

National Monuments

• Canyons of the Ancients near Cortez.

Other Sights and Activities

• Glenwood Hot Springs located in Glenwood Springs is a huge hotspring complex that has over a million gallons of water in it.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

Denver International Airport (DEN) is located on the northeast side of the city and is one of the largest airports in the world by size! It is the main gateway to Colorado, apart from a few much smaller regional airports.

Around 20-25 airlines serve Denver and international destinations include Mexico City, Montreal, Toronto, London, Cancun, Cozumel and Vancouver. All other destinations are domestic ones, including flights to Alaska, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Houston, Seattle, Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas.
Most of the domestic flights are operated by Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Skywest Airlines and budget airline Frontier Airlines.

By Train

The California Zephyr travels between Denver and Chicago and Denver and Emeryville (San Francisco).

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

Colorado has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Hotel and Motel Chains

There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include:

• Motel 6
• Super 8
• Days Inn
• Quality Inn
• Red Roof Inn
• Howard Johnson
• Best Western
• La Quinta Inns and Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Econo Lodge
• Travelodge
• Hilton
• Choice Hotels
• Ramada
• Radisson
• Starwood Hotels
• Marriott Hotels