Each time you visit Colorado, it’s a great idea to try out something new and immerse yourself in the opportunities and unique experiences you can try out here. It can be a whole lot of fun, and the best part is that you can be as creative as you want. Here’s a quick Colorado travel guide you can use to find the best attractions for your upcoming visit. There’re a few mainstream attractions in Colorado, which are undoubtedly a must-see, including the Rocky Mountains, Great Sand Dunes, and Dinosaur Monument.
However, Colorado is also home to several hidden gems, so in this article, I will quickly go over the mainstream attractions and then introduce you to some of the less known places in Colorado that are truly amazing and worth visiting on a trip to Colorado!
1. Rocky Mountain National Park
Source: aarp.org
Undoubtedly, the most popular and visited attraction of Colorado, the Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a world of spectacular nature, and for good reasons. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a myriad of attractions, including mountain vistas, wildlife, hiking trails, and waterfalls. If you’re visiting Colorado for the first time, you must visit Rocky Mountain National Park, as no trip to Colorado is complete without seeing the Rockies!
2. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Undoubtedly, a remarkable place in Colorado! A stretch of land consisting of dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a dramatic slice of nature amid the Rockies! Colorado is known chiefly for its mountain peaks, but when you come across these massive sand dunes, you actually realize the natural diversity of Colorado!
3. Cliff Palace and Balcony House
The Cliff Palace and Balcony House are fascinating historical sites offering insights into the lives of the Pueblo Indians who lived here several hundreds of years ago! The Cliff Palace and Balcony House preserves, protects, and showcases several remnants, structures, pieces of pottery from the Puebloan era. If you’re a history buff, you can’t miss this site!
4. Dinosaur National Monument
Source: nps.gov
This is another natural amazement in Colorado, where you can see the dinosaur fossils on the face of rocks and several exhibits and artifacts dating back to the era when these massive creatures freely roamed the earth. The Dinosaur National Monument offers a visitor center and an exhibit hall that features several exhibits related to dinosaurs and is definitely worth a visit if you’re a history buff or are fascinated with dinosaurs.
5. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Another very trendy attraction in Colorado, exceptionally very popular with families with kids, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science features several amazing exhibits ranging from minerals and gems to mummies and many others. It covers science and history with great success, and it’s one of those places where you can learn a lot from. It’s definitely something you want to check out and enjoy right away.
6. Hanging Lake
This is an astounding lake that everyone should visit. It has turquoise water, and it looks stunning. That being said, the waterfalls are incredible, and you can take a lot of pictures here. With that in mind, the hike can be a bit steep, but it’s well worth it.
7. Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
Source: uncovercolorado.com
At the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, you learn more about these incredible insects and see them on display. They also have other invertebrates and even some horseshoe crabs.
8. American Museum of Western Art
In case you are more interested in art, this museum has got you covered. It has a very distinctive and unique story, and a lot of people love it because you can see art pieces from many decades ago. It’s certainly worth checking out, and the experience can be exciting all the time.
9. Strawberry Parks Hot Springs
We like the Strawberry Parks Hot Springs because you can get here whenever you want, even during the winter. It’s a fun place to relax and unwind, it’s very well established, and it’s one of the nicest things to do in Colorado as well.
10. Elitch Gardens
Source: pinterest.com
Amusement park enthusiasts will like the Elitch Gardens because it’s a very cool and fun place for people of all ages. You get to enjoy some really interesting rides, and you can de-stress and unwind without that much of a hassle.
11. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
This old-school railroad is amazing to check out, and the fact that it’s still fully functioning will blow you away. It’s important to note that you can also learn more about the history of rail travel, so it’s an enjoyable opportunity.
12. Nevadaville Ghost Town
In case you want to explore spooky locations, the Nevadaville Ghost Town is a great option. It can be rather scary, but at the same time, you get to learn the story of this place and enjoy the process. It’s exciting and certainly a different way to view Colorado.
Try out all these fantastic places, and I guarantee you will have a whole lot of fun. It all comes down to enjoying the experience and immersing yourself in these locations. There’s a lot to enjoy and explore, so you have to check it out for yourself!
Colorado features a myriad of attractions, and it often gets tricky to plan your visit to Colorado. The best way to see and enjoy Colorado is by picking the attractions you like and designing your itinerary accordingly. Colorado is enormous, and the several attractions are also scattered all over the state. So, don’t try to see it all in one go, instead break it up into multiple trips and select a few locations for each trip and then make the most out of it.
Author’s Bio – Being a software engineer in the U.S, Shreyashi has managed to travel to all 50 States of the country. Shreyashi wants to share her journeys and the experiences she had during her travels. She currently has a blog – Travel The Food For the Soul. Apart from her visit to Colorado, the rest of her blogs on USA destinations are covered here https://www.travelthefoodforthesoul.com/destinations-in-us/.
