Elegant ski resorts, modern cities and small towns with Wild West charm – this is Colorado in the United States. But only in part, because the true Colorado is out there in the snow covered over 4,000 meters high Rocky Mountains and the endless prairies where Indians once hunted buffalo. Of the 4.75 million population of 589 000 people live in Colorado’s capital Denver, which has by its prime location on the openness of the East Coast and the pioneering spirit of the West. The city welcomes visitors with many parks, wide avenues and the brand-new Colorado Convention Center. Past the State Capitol in Civic Center Park in the northwest, the route passes through downtown to the modern town of Denver in the Victorian style. During a city tour offers visitors some of the sights such as the Denver Art Museum and the Denver History Museum. Everything looks to what souvenirs can be found in the 16th Street Mall on Cleveland Place. This historic square has many small shops, boutiques and galleries where you can shop to your heart’s content.
The state of Colorado is particularly famous for the world-famous ski resort Aspen. It lies 250 km southwest of Denver in the Roaring Fork River Valley in the Rocky Mountains. Aspen has a well-organized ski resorts and year after year, the international crowd meets here to rendezvous. Even in summer, Aspen is a hip destination. Whether mountain biking in the White River National Forest and rafting on the Colorado River, is offered here as a lot. Another nice destination of Maroon Lake and the Independence Pass would be a great day trip.
But not only the varied recreational opportunities attract tourists to Colorado, but of course the fantastic scenery, such as in Colorado Springs. The city of 370,000 inhabitants situated at the foot of Pikes Peak and mighty still breathes the atmosphere of the Wild West, particularly in Old Colorado City Historic District. The transition zone between the west of the Rockies and Prairie City shows bizarre rock formations of red sandstone and the ride on the Manitou and Pike’s Peak Cog Railway to the ends of the mountain town with a spectacular panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains.
One of the most dramatic natural spectacles in the western United States there are about one hour’s drive southeast of Grand Junction to Montrose – the 800 m deep and 330 m wide Black Canyon. About 2 million years planed the Gunnison River at the rock until it was finished. A further highlight is the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve to admire. The nearly 200-meter high sand dunes and towering, snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains are a fantastic sight. The huge “sand box” is located 60 km northeast of Alamosa, however, the park is located high above 2000 meters. But the unforgettable view from there makes it somewhat difficult climbing the sand dunes up for it.
Whether skiing in Aspen or hiking in the Rockies, a vacation in Colorado is always an adventure worth and will probably never be forgotten.