You might easily spend a lifetime simply exploring the Centennial State’s scenic mountain country, which hosts a plethora of stellar vistas populated with wildlife, world class hunting and fishing, and historic mining towns with old-world Victorian inns or bed and breakfasts. Long term cabin rentals are idyllic bases of operation for your family’s Colorado escape. The Rockies present sights for everyone, from outdoors fanatics to history buffs.

Start your excursion of America’s Alps in the town of Durango, nestled in Colorado’s southwestern corner. In the winter, the tourist has their choice of five different ski resorts  within an hour’s drive. In the summer, there is an almost inexhaustible number of activities in and around the community, including hiking, backpacking and mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and golf. Rail fans will love riding the Durango & Silverton Railway, one of the last two remaining lines of the old Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad. Powered by steam locomotives and featuring both open cars and antique rail coaches from a century ago,  this is an actual operating railroad that during the winter is the only manner to get in and out of Silverton to the north.

Traveling over the San Juan mountains, on the “Million Dollar Highway”, along the Rio de las Animas Perdidas, literally meaning “River of Lost Souls”, you will run into most historic mining towns that consist of Silverton, Telluride, Ouray and Ridgway.  At Montrose, you will want to cut over to the east on U.S. 50, skirting the southern edge of Gunnison National Forest in order to go to Gunnison and Salida, which is home to one of the oldest whitewater kayaking events in the country, the FIBArk Race, which is the “weekend that Salida comes out to play,” held in June during the spring runoff.

It is tough to choose one place in Colorado’s mountain country that stands out over the rest but the Rocky Mountain National Park and nearby Estes Park in the north central part of the state are definitely front runners. Take advantage of neighboring cabin rentals, or stay at the historic Stanley Hotel, where writer Steven King got the inspiration for The Shining. Founded by a settler from Missouri in 1859, Estes park is located along the Big Thompson River, and is the gateway to the national park located just a few miles west.

You can travel the length of U.S. 34, the Trail Ridge Road, which has the distinction of being the highest uninterrupted highway in the country. This vivid drive will take you to an elevation of over 12,000 feet above sea level and some of the most colorful mountain scenery in North America, if not the world.

Of course, Colorado is the West, and that means cattle drives and horses. Well, the great cattle drives are long over and were primarily in the plane eastern section of the state, but you and your family can experience a little of it at one of the area’s many “dude ranches”. Even with the great quantity of highways and  jeep trails, there’s no better method to see this part of Colorado than from horseback.