The diverse terrain of the Centennial State, which includes the Colorado Plateau, mesas, high desert regions, deep canyons, grass-covered Colorado Eastern Plains, and the majestic Rocky Mountains, creates a lasting impression on visitors.
Even though Aspen, Colorado Springs, and Denver, the state capital, are among the most popular tourist attractions in Colorado, the diverse towns offer spellbinding experiences to any vacationer who escapes to these interconnected communities.
Durango
Located in the thriving Animas River Valley in the foothills of the La Plata Mountains, Durango, named for its Mexican counterpart, serves as the administrative hub of La Plata County.
Visitors to this pioneer mining community, which was established by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company, should explore the Main Avenue Historic District’s shops, including Animas Trading Co., Studio & Gallery, and Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen.
Take a magnificent journey from Durango to Silverton across mountains, forests, and abandoned mines by boarding the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
In addition to the town’s other attractions, such Purgatory Ski Resort, Mesa Verde National Park, and The Colorado Trail, you should not miss seasonal events like the Snowdown Festival in January and the Durango Ragtime & Early Jazz Festival in April.
Mancos
Mancos, a peaceful town in Montezuma County, is located in the Mancos River Valley along US Route 160 Highway. It is about 18 miles from Cortez, the county seat, and 27 miles from Durango.
Mancos, the commercial center of East Montezuma County, is well-known for being close to well-known locations including Mancos State Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Four Corners Monument.
With the Mancos Creative District, which spans several blocks in the Downtown and includes numerous late 1800s buildings, art galleries like Artisans of Mancos, and the 1910-built Mancos Opera House, Mancos has gradually transformed into a “art colony” in recent years.
The town holds humorous events every year, such as Mancos Days in the last weekend of July, the Labor Day weekend motorbike rally, and a balloon festival in September.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte, a hillside village in north-central Gunnison County on the western side of the Slate River Valley, is distinctive in that it has two nicknames: The Last Great Colorado Ski Town in the winter and The Wildflower Capital of Colorado in the summer.
The world-class downhill skiing and snowboarding facilities of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort have helped the once coal mining town of Crested Butte evolve over the years into an outdoor lover’s paradise and a highly sought-after vacation spot for wealthy people.
In addition, there are several hiking trails maintained by the Crested Butte Land Trust, cross-country skiing trails, and an ice-skating rink at the Nordic Center.
You can also go to any of the annual festivals, including the Crested Butte International Film Festival in September and the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival in July.
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Gunnison
Located along the Gunnison River in Gunnison County between the Sawatch Range and Elk Mountains, Gunnison was named in honor of Captain John Williams Gunnison, the region’s most notable European-American explorer.
In addition to being the location of Western State Colorado University’s main campus, Gunnison provides visitors with a wide range of outdoor activities set against the picturesque background of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit the Gunnison Pioneer Museum to learn about the area’s past; hike in the neighboring Tomichi State Wildlife Area, Curecanti National Recreation Area, and Sapinero State Wildlife Area; go skiing at the Monarch Ski Area and Crested Butte Mountain Resort; and use the Gunnison Valley Observatory’s cutting-edge telescopes to observe the clear night sky.
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Telluride
Telluride, the largest populated town and seat of government in San Miguel County, is located in a remote area of Southwest Colorado at 8,750 feet on the western flanks of the San Juan Mountains.
There are plenty of summer and winter recreational activities available to thrill-seekers who venture to this abandoned silver mining camp beside the San Miguel River.
The Telluride Historic District occupies a significant amount of the city’s developed area, and Colorado Avenue, the town’s major business thoroughfare, is lined with numerous well-preserved 19th-century buildings.
In addition, the Sheridan Opera House, the diverse artifact collections of the Telluride Historical Museum, and the countless shops like Hook, art galleries like Gold Mountain Gallery, and restaurants like The Butcher & The Baker Café in Downtown are all worth seeing.
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