Colorado State Travel Guide
In this Colorado state travel guide, I will show you what this amazing state has to offer on activities, food, and some ideas on where to sleep! Colorado is one of the top recreational states in the U.S. In the summer you can hike, backpack, camp, paddleboard, kayak, and did I mention hiking already? In the winter you can ski, snowboard, go hiking with spikes on, or hop on a snow mobile!
Let me know if you have visited any of these places, would like to, or have anything to add to this travel guide in the comments. Let’s begin on discussing what there is to do in Colorado.
What To Do in Colorado, USA
There is a variety of things to do in Colorado, and I will mostly cover what there is to do outside in nature. Colorado has hiking, seasonal activities, and outdoor recreational sports.
In the winter season of Colorado, you will quickly learn about snow spikes and snow shoeing. Snow Spikes go on the bottom of your hiking boots (preferably waterproof shoes) and help you grip ice and a few inches of patted down snow. Snow shoeing look like huge tennis rackets that help you balance on a few feet of snow.
In the summer season of Colorado, you will find regular hiking and people outside camping.
Garden of the Gods
One of my favorite spots I’ve been to in Colorado is Garden of the Gods. I love seeing huge red rock formations. This huge rock was at the entrance of the park next to a parking lot and pretty easy to find if you want to check it out. The park is open from 5 am to 9 pm. There was no fee to enter the park. This park offers free range climbing, jeep and Segway tours, bikes and electric bike rentals, and adventure programs.
Aspen Trees at Guanella Pass
This hike is a season one to catch the beautiful Aspen Trees! My travel blogger friend Alex (from eccontessa.com) and I went on September 24th. We caught the Aspen trees at their peak. Leaf-peeping has quickly become one of my favorite new adventures!
Getting to the Aspen trees was very easy. We saw a bunch of cars parked on the side of the road when we arrived at Guanella Pass, and decided to park near them. We walked about half a mile in to where you could get some really nice photos or walk on some nice trails.
The Incline
Located pretty close to Colorado Springs in Manitou Springs, The Incline is a staircase of 2,744 – 2768 steps. The steps vary depending on maintenance and deterioration. It is .88 miles and 2,011 elevation high. I took multiple breaks on the way up and had a lot of water with me! Once you reach the top, there is a hiking trail that you can walk down. I saw a few people going back down the stairs, but I’m not sure you are suppose to do that. There was no fee to enter the area, but I did have to pay for parking.
Poudre River in Fort Collins
Fort Collins is located in the Northern part of Colorado. The Pourde Caynon is a large stretch of scenic Colorado Highway 14. To learn more about this river visit VisitFTCollins.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
This amazing Great Sand Dunes National Park is in Alamosa Colorado located in the southwest area of the state. It is about 4 hours south of Denver. There is a fee to get into the park that costs about $25. A huge feature of the sand dunes is sand surfing.
It was a great way to spend the day! It takes about a 35 minute walk to get to the base of the sand dunes from the parking lot. We brought blankets to be able to sit on and watch the sunset. I recommend bringing a hard snack like trail mix as the wind brings up a lot of sand.
Red Rocks Amphitheater
This hike is right across from an Amphitheater entrance. I highly suggest hitting up this trail before going and seeing a concert. The view is beyond gorgeous here. You can check out their concert event calendar on the Red Rocks Amphitheater website.
Roxborough State Park
This hidden gem is called Roxborough State Park! I found this by searching on the google map for hikes near The Incline. It costs about $7 for a day pass to enter this park. There are 8 different trails that span 14 miles that you can take at all difficulty levels or you can just walk/drive around the park for an enjoyable time as well. I saw a few signs stating that rattlesnakes are native to this park. I went in February so I did not see any.
Paint Mines Interpretive Park
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is a really gorgeous flat plain trail that loops around multicolored rocks. Frost covered the terrain that morning so I did not get to see them. It was free to walk around and had a small parking lot, fitting maybe 10 cars, on the end I entered at. It was an easy walk for anyone who does not want to do a difficult level trail.
I will definitely be back here to capture this park’s beauty, you can check out more photos and information from the Paint Mines Interpretive Park here to see what I mean about the rock colors! It was pretty neat seeing the frost cover the ground making it feel like I was on a different planet by the way it covered some of the plants (see the right bottom corner for what I mean)!
Windy Saddle Park
This 4 mile long hike called Windy Saddle Park is located in Boulder, Colorado. It is an in and out trail, meaning that it does not loop. At the entrance of the park you will already see amazing views! It only takes about 10 minutes to reach the first rock scramble where I took some photos at. It’s one of my favorite spots in Colorado to go hang out at to meditate or to eat a scenic lunch. This is a moderate level of difficulty trail.
Estes Park
Estes Park is located in the Rocky Mountains National Park which one of four National Parks in Colorado. If you are wondering, the other national parks are Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
I have been to Estes Park twice since being in Colorado. The first time was going to see Dream Lake, photographed above. This hike was fun because you pass by many lakes to get to Dream Lake. Another highlight was meeting a new little furry friend who quickly came up to me to say hello. Checkout Estes Park tips and rules on Wildlife.
The second time I went to Estes Park was to stay at an Airbnb cabin inside of the Park. The cabin was fantastic with a real fireplace, a hot tub, two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one with a glass door shower and one with a shower/tub), and full kitchen. If you have not checked out Airbnb, sign up with my link for $65 credit. The cabin that I stayed in was the Bears Den Cabin.
To checkout more information go to the Visit Estes Website.
Lion’s Lair Trail
This in and out hike, Lion’s Lair Trail, is a pretty easy going hike with amazing views looking over the city of Boulder. The end of the trail turns into another trail if you find you do not feel like heading back and want to hike a little more. I climbed up on top of this rock, located near the middle of the trail, and the view was breath taking! Check out the Park’s and Open Space Boulder County for more information.
Other Fun Attractions in Colorado
Sand Surfing in Colorado
Referencing this activity with the Great National Sand Dunes Reserve discussed above, sand surfing is a great Colorado pastime! I also have this on my Colorado bucket list and will be editing this blog post again with hopefully some pretty epic surfing pictures. For sand surfing you will need something to cover your face from the sand and googles. Lastly, make sure you get a board that is specific to sand surfing.
Paddle Boarding in Colorado
Throughout Colorado you can find many small lakes where you can rent equipment and go Paddle Boarding. I went paddle boarding for the first time in Fort Collins at Horsetooth Reservoir. Paddle boarding is one killer ab workout! These blow-up paddle boards were borrowed from a friend.
It is $9 for a day pass to hang out at Horsetooth Reservior. Using this day pass you will get access to Carter Lake, Flatiron, and Pinewood areas. Many people take their boats and kayaks out on the lakes.
Skiing and Snowboarding in Colorado
This could be a whole blog post on it’s own since there is so much to learn about skiing and snowboarding from where to ski, what equipment to get, and what to wear! I am just going to discuss my experience going twice.
I took two ski lessons to prep myself for the season. The first was a private Ski lesson and then the second one was a group Ski lesson. I highly recommend doing a private lesson because you will learn a lot more faster and have a one-on-one tutor who can focus on correcting your form. Next year I plan on trying snowboarding out!
Funny story, I fell during the group lesson because I am still very beginner and it took a while for the instructor to come over to help me up since he was helping other people at the same time. My friends told me to practice putting my skis on and off at home and I didn’t take their advice. They were so right about practicing at home! I highly recommend putting your boots and skis on at home a few times before hitting the slopes for a lesson to get the very basics down.
As a side note, to get to the resorts you will want a 4-wheel drive vehicle (or put on tire chains) to make it through the mountains safely and legally as there are new laws prohibiting vehicles that do not meet driving standards. There is the possibility of getting ticketed or fined if you do not have chains put on your vehicle or a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Ikon or Epic Pass
For getting a pass to go snow boarding or skiing you have two options, the Ikon or Epic pass. These two passes support different ski resorts all around the world. Unfortunately, none of them over lap, so make sure that you and your friends get the same pass! These passes can be seasonal or for the day. If you opt in for the year pass, I suggest trying to get a season pass early on to catch any deals and discounts as they can cost you around $800.
Snow Mobile Riding in Colorado
This one is on my bucket list to do before I move out of Colorado or to come back and check out. I have seen a few friends snow mobile ride at some of Colorado’s Resorts. It’s definitely worth checking out! I will add more information later when I have experienced it for myself.
Rock Climbing in Colorado
Rock climbing is very popular in Colorado. You can also go “bouldering’, which is climbing up shorter rocks and hanging onto the rock. Ice climbing, yes ice climbing, is also a popular hobby in Colorado. I recommend finding a local rock climbing group to make some new friends and find out the best spots to hit up!
Parasailing in Colorado
There is a large parasailing community in Colorado! If you are interested in getting involved in this hobby it will run you a couple thousand dollars for all of the equipment. I suggest renting some gear to try it out!
Ice Castles
The Ice Castles in Dillion, Colorado is a must see! This impressive ice castle has been man made since 2011. It has multiple structures you checkout and explore. Ready for some fun facts? They are in 4 different locations, each castle is over 20 million pounds, and 12,000 icicles are grown each day!
Check these amazing ice structure on social media and grab your tickets:
Where to Eat in Colorado
From brunch , American comfort food, pizza, tacos, BBQ, fried chicken, and ice cream best spots in Colorado; I got you covered in this Colorado state travel guide post!
Reivers Bar & Grill
This fantastic bar and grill is located at 1085 S Gaylord St, Denver, CO 80209. To sit and eat you can choose from indoor seating, bar seating, and an outdoor patio area. The patio area had about five tables and was a very nice place to relax, eat, and take in some fresh air. One of the many reasons I loved going into Reivers Bar and Grill was because they decorate for the holidays! The other reason I loved going in was because the food was 10/10 ! You must stop by here to eat if you are in Denver.
What was ordered:
- Appetizer:
- Thai Cauliflower – Bangkok Thai seasoning, voodoo aioli, crushed peanuts, green onion
- Asian Brussels Sprouts – Sweet and Spicy sesame, goat cheese
- Entrees:
- French Dip – Slow roasted 1855 prime rib, Swiss, au jus, creamy horseradish, amoroso roll
- Reivers Burger – Swiss, fresh jalapeños, Applewood bacon, guacamole, crispy onions
- Special of the day:
- Lobster Benedict
- Dessert:
- Homemade Key-lime Pie
For more information check out their online space by tapping the links below:
- Website (Menu) for Reivers Bar & Grill
- Instagram for Reivers Bar & Grill
- Facebook for Reivers Bar & Grill
- Pinterest for Reivers Bar & Grill
Bird Denver
The best spot for American comfort food in Denver is located at 1529 South Pearl St. Denver, CO 80210. Bird Denver has easy access street parking. When you walk into the Bird Denver restaurant you will find a bar area, a dining room to the left, and stairs from that room leading up to a small area upstairs area to sit and eat. Venturing outside, you will find a patio, which is where I sat, that had about four tables. One of the tables sits up to about 8 people and has a fire pit in the middle of it.
Bird Denver serves appetizers (still dreaming of their Nashville Hot Chicken Bites which I’ll describe below), salads, soups, sandwiches, adult and kid brunch all day, dinner entrees after 4:00PM, sides, and desserts.
What was ordered:
- Appetizers:
- Nashville Hot Chicken Bites – diced pickles, Texas toast, Bird buttermilk sauce
- Zoes’ Mac ‘N’ Cheese — cavatappi pasta, sharp white cheddar, arugula, heirloom tomato, toasted bread crumbs
- Entrees:
- Avocado toast – avocado, two eggs, arugula, goat cheese, pickled jalapeno on multi-grain bread
- Bird burger – chuck brisket short rib patty, bacon, cheddar, smoked tomato and onion jam, mustard seed aioli, mixed greens on brioche
- Sides:
- Fresh Fruit
My favorite item on the menu (and dish in all of Denver so far) was the Nashville Hot Chicken Bites:
Bird Denver is great for brunch, dates, anniversaries, and a quick bites! Check them out on social media (and try not to drool all over your keyboard or phone):
Rebel Chicken
Female owned and operated since 2017, Chicken Rebel started from a food truck and now resides at 3618 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211. I first went to Chicken Rebel for an Marketing event. I fell in love with the welcoming staff and best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. My friend who is a Kentucky gal, said that she too thought it was the best fried chicken that she has had! Their chicken is organic raised in a humane environment drenched in delicious in-house made sauces.
At Chicken Rebel you will find indoor and outdoor seating. To access the outdoor seating, the lift up a garage-like door which really opens up the whole restaurant to the fresh air and sunshine! As you walk in you will be greeted by a large graffiti chicken that decorated the main wall, and arcade games along the wall as you head to the restrooms located in the back left corner of the restaurant.
What was ordered:
- Appetizers:
- Honey Hot Tots – honey hot sauce, sriracha mayo, Cajun spice
- Entrees:
- The Hometown Rebel – guacamole, bacon, rebel sauce. Alex added an egg
- The San Diego Sammie – (I asked for fried chicken version) bacon, American cheese, rebel sauce, lettuce, caramelized onions
We were pleasantly full to try dessert on this visit, but I have tasted and highly recommend their Stuffed Captain Crunch French Toast which comes with berries, cream filling, and whipped cream.
Head on over to their social media channels to see more mouth watering chicken and all five different variations of their delicious tots:
Tstreet Denver
If you are looking for a fancy affordable brunch location, you must go to 445 S Teller St, Lakewood, CO 80226 to check out Tstreet Denver. Not only did they have the prettiest plating in Denver, but the design and décor will captivate you. There is a large main dining area with about 20 tables that is lined with a gorgeous bar in the back, as well as outdoor seating on the far right side of the building.
What was ordered:
- Appetizers:
- Baked Brie – homemade Colorado peach marmalade, puff pastry, fresh baked flatbread
- Brussel Sprouts – sweet & spicy sesame, goat cheese
- Entrees:
- Lakewood Omelet – three-egg omelette, chorizo, roasted red pepper, caramelized onion, crema, hash browns
- Garlic Shrimp Paleo Bowl – blackened-garlic shrimp, zucchini linguini, tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, sautéed onions, water chestnuts, carrots, edamame, cilantro, sweet chili coconut-citrus broth
- Dessert:
- Homemade carrot cake with cheese frosting and caramel drizzle
To see more of this beautiful restaurant, head over to :
- Website for Tstreet Denver
- Instagram for Tstreet Denver
- Facebook for Tstreet Denver
- Pinterest for Tstreet Denver
Spanky’s Roadhouse
If you are looking for the perfect spot to watch sports games and enjoy the best finger-licking-good finger food ever, Spanky’s Roadhouse on 1800 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80210 is your restaurant! They have comfortable indoor and outdoor seating with the ability to view a TV from any angle of the restaurant you are at.
What was ordered:
- Appetizers:
- Amazeballs – breaded mac n’ cheese, Applewood bacon, jalapeno, homemade queso
- Fried Pickles – lightly breaded and fried pickle chips, chipotle ranch dressing
- Entrees:
- Chopped Caesar with grilled chicken – romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, parmesan crisps, croutons
- Chopped Caesar with grilled salmon – romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, parmesan crisps, croutons
- Dessert (a special that night) :
- Banana Cream Pie
Need more information? Check them out below:
- Website for Spanky’s Roadhouse
- Instagram for Spanky’s Roadhouse
- Facebook for Spanky’s Roadhouse
- Pinterest for Spanky’s Roadhouse
Mas Kaos Pizzeria & Taqueria
This restaurant has a unique theme of selling pizza and tacos under one roof. Have a friend group that can’t decide? Have a date who changes their mind a lot? This place is the dining location for you. There is a dining room upstairs, on both ends of the restaurant, a middle bar area, and out door seating. There was easy street parking outside of Mas Kaos Pizzeria & Taqueria at 4526 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212.
What was ordered:
- Appetizers:
- Guacamole + Chips – Hand-mashed avocados, fresh tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, serrano chiles, lime
- Make Your Own Pizza:
- Specialty wood fire baked Applewood bacon, red onions, roasted garlic pizza
- Street Tacos
- Queso y Frijoles- Asadero and cotija cheeses, black bean puree, molcajete salsa, avocado, cilantro
- Curried Cauliflower Chickpea – Jalapeno, avocado, red cabbage, lime crema, and cilantro
- Carnitas – Smoked pork, radish, poblano, molcajete salsa, diced yellow onion, cotija, cilantro
- Dessert:
- Churros
- Cheesecake
Get your pizza and taco cravings satisfied at :
- Website (Menu) for Mas Kaos Pizzeria & Taqueria
- Instagram for Mas Kaos Pizzeria & Taqueria
- Facebook for Mas Kaos Pizzeria & Taqueria
GQue BBQ
This amazing hickory smoke BBQ place, GQue BBQ, connects to their Ice cream parlor, The Ice Cream Farm. Located on 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive Suite 143B Lone Tree Co 80124 near the Park Meadows Mall, it is an amazing barbeque and desert duo to go check out after a stroll around some retail stores. This duo gives off an industrial-style vibe and offers indoor-outdoor dining options.
What was ordered:
- Entrees:
- The Pilgrim Sandwich
- Pulled Pork BBQ
- Sides:
- Side Salad
- Home made kettle chips
- Dessert:
- Their co-restaurant The Ice Cream Farm (details below)
Check out their mouth watering BBQ on their channels below:
- Website (Menu) for GQue BBQ
- Instagram for GQue BBQ
- Facebook for GQue BBQ
- Youtube for GQue BBQ
- Twitter for GQue BBQ
My Neighbor Felix
This Mexican Restaurant in Denver located at 1801 Central St. Denver, CO 80211. They have multiple seating options and an amazing brunch on the weekends. They have an indoor bar area, indoor dining, and very impressive outside patio. As you can see in the image above, they have tables with miniature fire pits which really made brunch special and set the mood. We also were able to watch some sports games on the patio with an outdoor tv that they had set up. Parking was easy to find on the street nearby for free. The food was all amazing! The Queso Fundido Skillet was the best queso that I have had from a Mexican Restaurant to date.
What was ordered:
- Appetizers
- Guacamole Fresco – avocado, pico de gallo, cilantro, house- made goddess hibiscus chips
- Queso Fundido Skillet – oaxaca cheese, ranchero cheese, jalapeno, caramelized onions, house-made goddess
- Brunch
- Tres Leches Waffles – spongy house-made waffles with sweet mexican milks, caramel, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, maple syrup
- Cochinita Pibil Benedict- slow-braised yucatecan pork, poached eggs, achiote hollandaise, red onion curtido, jalapeno, cilantro, served with poblano queso breakfast potatoes, green grapes
- Dessert
- Cinnamon Donuts- horchata cream, cayenne honey chocolate, caramel
- Churros – horchata cream
Checkout more from My Neighbor Felix and follow them on their social medias below:
The Ice Cream Farm
This amazing little ice cream shop is located in the Park Meadows outdoor shopping strip at 8433 Park Meadows Center Dr. Suite 143A Lone Tree, CO, 80124. It is right next to it’s partner restaurant GQue BBQ.
What was ordered:
- Ice Cream Sandwich:
- Doughnut strawberry ice cream sand-which with sprinkles
Check out more frozen treats on their pages below:
Where to Stay in Colorado
Best Colorado Hotels
Need somewhere to stay while you are visiting Colorado? Keep reading on in this Colorado state travel guide below…
The Maven
At the heart center of Denver, The Maven Hotel is located on 1850 Waze St. CO, 80202. My favorite part of the room was the waterfall glass shower that was located almost in the middle of the room. This huge mirror was also a highlight of the room to be able to get ready in style. Their rooms also have spacious balconies with outdoor lounge chairs that overlooked the city so you can get some fresh air and enjoy the views while sipping on some morning coffee.
Check them out and book your stay using one of the links below:
- Website for The Maven Hotel
- Instagram for The Maven Hotel
- Facebook for The Maven Hotel
- Tripadvisor for The Maven Hotel
Kachina Cantina
The hotel has multiple dining options including an indoor bar and restaurant downstairs called Kachina Cantina, shown below. We tried the Ceviche which was mouth watering!
There is also a breakfast spot around the corner called Morning Jones located on the Dairy Block which has a stretch of restaurants, bars, and shopping areas. Morning Jones is one of a few restaurants inside one building called the Denver Milk Market.
The Kimpton Monaco Denver
In Denver, The Kimpton Monaco Denver is located on 1717 Champa Street Denver, CO 80202. This location is in a perfect spot in downtown Denver close to union station, lots of amazing restaurants, convention center and the sports stadium. The Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants company has 77 other Hotels, 86 Restaurants and are established in 53 Cities around the world! We stayed in one bedroom with two queen size beds and one bathroom. The bathroom had a gorgeous glass shower and modern lit mirror perfect for getting ready.
Check them out and book your stay using one of the links below:
- The Kimpton Monaco Denver
- Twitter for The Kimpton Monaco Denver
- Facebook for The Kimpton Monaco Denver
- Instagram for The Kimpton Monaco Denver
AirBnBs
Use my Airbnb link to make an account today!
Mt. Princeton Chalet in Salida
This cozy cabin with a fireplace, outdoor grill, hot tub, and two beds, was about an hour from the Great Sand Dunes National Park. We thoroughly enjoyed staying in this neighborhood and eating outside on the picnic table in the morning.
Use my Airbnb affiliate link for $65 credit when you join Airbnb for qualifying bookings!
Camping
Disperse Camping
I went camping for the first time this year at Buena Vista disperse camping sites. I am definitely planning on going camping again soon and learning more tips and tricks to staying in the great outdoors and writing another blog post entirely on camping! To learn more check out the official Buena Vista Welcome Center Website.
I hope you enjoyed this Colorado state travel guide. Let me know in the comments below which Colorado destination is on your list!
Want to check out more of my adventures? Go to my Travel blog posts here.