America’s “Alps” are widely celebrated to be the Colorado Rockies, and the skiing in winter compares quite favorably with that in Switzerland and Austria. The Colorado Rockies are quarters to many world-class ski resorts and the state is dotted with historic mining towns from the 19th Century as well as some of the most stellar surroundings in North America. Colorado is a large state with many miles separating each ski resort or vacation destination. Depending upon the duration of your vacation time, you may want to consider this when selecting an area of Colorado to visit.
Southwestern Colorado is a magnificent area to go to see with gorgeous mountain views and abundant outdoor activities in the winter and summer months alike. Durango in particular, near Purgatory Ski Resort, has outstanding ski runs, snow mobile trails, cross country skiing trails and lodging with views of the spectacular San Juan Mountain Range. Purgatory Ski Resort itself has great dining options, but a journey into town for shopping and more great dining options are near by and transportation is easily accessible.
The town of Silverton is close to Durango, which you can travel to via the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which takes you through a winding beautiful mountain track. You can also take Hwy 550, which by automobile, is also a beautiful drive. Silverton is an old mining town, filled with old west flavor including saloons with piano players, gun fights, horse back riding, hiking and old fashioned ice cream parlors. Mining is no longer operational in Silverton, but a few shops sell all the fools gold and mining accessories a person can ever hope for.
Mesa Verde National Park is close to Durango as well and has amazing cliff dwellings of Native Americans over 700 years old. See the hieroglyphs engraved into walls, ancient artifacts, and numerous dwellings preserved. There are quite a few vacation lodges surrounding Mesa Verde. For information on vacation lodging, contact Mesa Verde National Park.
Four Corners National Monument is also in Southwestern Colorado, the only place in the U.S. where you can be in four states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah) at one time. Navajo Indians sell their turquoise and silver jewelry all throughout this region along with their handsome weaving. If you haven’t ever eaten Navajo flat bread, you are in for a delight as it is all hand made fresh that day.
Heading northward along U.S. Highway 550 along the Uncompaghre River, you will come across a number of scenic and historic towns including Telluride, Ouray and Ridgeway. You and your family could easily spend several weeks in this segment of the Centennial State, and luckily, there is no shortage of Colorado vacation rentals all along the way, many of which are bed and breakfast houses in carefully restored Victorian-style properties, giving you a taste of what life might have been like in the heyday of Colorado’s mining trade and the “Robber Baron” Era.
Southwestern Colorado is a astonishing place to visit for tourists who take pleasure in an enthusiastic life style in the great outdoors. Camp sites are everywhere, RV campgrounds are all over this great state, as well as fantastic Colorado condo rentals. Any vicinity west of the Rocky Mountain Front Range in Colorado is spectacular scenery with all types of outdoor activities from river sports to hiking to simply sitting around a camp fire.