Colorado's spectacular ski towns—like Aspen, Vail, Telluride, and Crested Butte—offer far more than just skiing: they offer some of the best hiking, mountain biking, fishing, shopping, dining, and lodging in the world, and all year round to boot. Author Evelyn Spence, a former editor at Skiing magazine and avid outdoorswoman, has turned the state's classic mountain towns upside down to find quirky annual festivals, superb Rocky Mountain cuisine, historic B&Bs, trout-filled streams, powder-choked runs, Manhattan-worthy shopping, and jaw-dropping drives, and combine them in this unique travel guide. Whether you want to sleep under the stars or inside a toasty wilderness lodge, this guide will help you plan the ultimate Colorado mountain experience.

For more than twenty years, the Insiders’ Guide® series has been the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information—from true insiders whose personal, practical perspective gives you everything you need to know. Whether you’re just zipping through Colorado’s mountains or settling into a new mountain lifestyle, there’s something enchanting about their out-of-the-way little valleys, high alpine meadows, old mining towns, and, yes, modern ski megalopolises. This authoritative guide shows you how to navigate each of the region’s unique areas, from Steamboat Springs to Aspen and on south to Durango, where you’ll discover everything from the best powder to fine dining with a view. Inside You’ll Find: • Countless details on how to live and thrive in the area, from the best shopping to the lowdown on real estate • The inside scoop on the best ski resorts, as well as on attractions, the arts, and summer activities, such as golfing, fishing, camping, backpacking, and health spas • Comprehensive listings of restaurants, accommodations, and popular events • Sections dedicated to chil dren and retirement

"A classy series with encyclopedic coverage."—National Geographic Explorer Colorado offers travelers unsurpassed access to the Rocky Mountains—whether your passion is exploring old mining towns, finding the best run at some of the world's best ski resorts, or roughing it in Rocky Mountain National Park. There's enough here to keep anyone busy year round. Explorer's Guide Colorado covers everything a traveler should see and do in this great state. Whether you’re looking to break trail in virgin powder on a winter getaway or sample fresh local produce from a roadside farmstand in the summer sunshine, Matt Forster is a great companion for your Colorado trip. He provides indispensable information on everything from sources of outdoor equipment rental to the best scenic back roads. The best inns, B&Bs, vacation cottages, and lots more are all covered here—from birding in the eastern plains to winery tours in Grand Junction—and everything in between. Features include hundreds of dining reviews as well as opinionated listings of inns, B&Bs, hotels, and vacation cottages. There are numerous up-to-date regional and downtown maps, and like all Explorer's Guides, this one provide handy icons that point out places of extra value, family-friendly establishments, wheelchair and wi-fi access, and lodgings that accept pets.

The San Luis Valley is a study in contrasts, evident in the 7,000-foot elevation gain from the low-lying valley floor to 14,345-foot Blanca Peak. The Great Sand Dunes are reminiscent of the Sahara Desert. Fourteen-thousand-foot peaks, the spire-like Crestone Needle and its neighbor Crestone Peak, pride of the Sangre de Cristo ("Blood of Christ") Range, are the natural landmarks for the valley's eastern boundary. At the northern end of the area are the Valley View Hot Springs which harness some of the steaming water that pours from the ground. In Crested Butte, trails set out into the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness from the vicinity of Gothic and Schofield Pass. Short day hikes into the alpine meadows are one option. Or, those seeking a longer experience can hike the 13 miles over spectacular East Maroon Pass on into Aspen. The state that brings you Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek and Telluride is renowned for its skiing and snowboarding. Justly so. Colorado has a greater number of ski resorts and areas than almost any other US state or Canadian province. In all, you can ski at two dozen places that vary in size from giants like the Aspen complex to rustic alpine Loveland Basin. Non-skiers find activities at the Colorado resorts as well. Experts have counted some 200 species of wildlife in the Rocky Mountain National Park. More than 400 miles of trails, many of them gentle, others challenging, provide hikes to beautiful alpine mountain lakes surrounded by snow-capped peaks. No visitor to this part of Colorado should miss Rocky Mountain National Park. Its 300,000 acres are filled by stunning mountain views and, thanks to the Park Service, remain largely in their natural state. Some 300 well-marked trails, many passing through meadows filled with wildflowers, attract numerous hikers to the park. Hiking in the Park, you are almost certain to be rewarded with stunning vistas, some of Colorado's most spectacular scenery, and rare encounters with nature, such as a bugling elk. Nearby is Steamboat Springs. Summers here guarantee you an adrenaline rush. Breaking in wild horses, barrel racing on horseback, galloping through forest clearings are all exciting. Climbers have attacked the rock faces of Rabbit Ears Pass. And, of course, you can reach the Mount Werner summits in style by gondola and then test your leg muscles against the long downhill walks or ski runs through knee-high meadows or on logging roads. Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, the year-round resort of Vail are all covered here. And then there is Aspen. As a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its four lift-serviced areas - Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk Mountain, The Snowmass, Aspen Highlands - encompass 160 miles of ski trails reachable by dozens of lifts that can hoist 25,000 skiers an hour. Where to stay, where to eat, how to get around, what to do - we cover it all in detail. Plus color photos throughout.

"A classy series with encyclopedic coverage."—National Geographic Explorer Colorado offers travelers unsurpassed access to the Rocky Mountains—whether your passion is exploring old mining towns, finding the best run at some of the world's best ski resorts, or roughing it in Rocky Mountain National Park. There's enough here to keep anyone busy year round. Explorer's Guide Colorado covers everything a traveler should see and do in this great state. From birding in the eastern plains to winery tours in Grand Junction—and everything in between. Features include hundreds of dining reviews as well as opinionated listings of inns, B&Bs, hotels, and vacation cottages. There are numerous up-to-date regional and downtown maps, and like all Explorer's Guides, this one provide handy icons that point out places of extra value, family-friendly establishments, wheelchair and wi-fi access, and lodgings that accept pets.

"A classy series with encyclopedic coverage."—National Geographic Explorer Colorado offers travelers unsurpassed access to the Rocky Mountains—whether your passion is exploring old mining towns, finding the best run at some of the world's best ski resorts, or roughing it in Rocky Mountain National Park. There's enough here to keep anyone busy year round. Explorer's Guide Colorado covers everything a traveler should see and do in this great state. Whether you’re looking to break trail in virgin powder on a winter getaway or sample fresh local produce from a roadside farmstand in the summer sunshine, Matt Forster is a great companion for your Colorado trip. He provides indispensable information on everything from sources of outdoor equipment rental to the best scenic back roads. The best inns, B&Bs, vacation cottages, and lots more are all covered here—from birding in the eastern plains to winery tours in Grand Junction—and everything in between. Features include hundreds of dining reviews as well as opinionated listings of inns, B&Bs, hotels, and vacation cottages. There are numerous up-to-date regional and downtown maps, and like all Explorer's Guides, this one provide handy icons that point out places of extra value, family-friendly establishments, wheelchair and wi-fi access, and lodgings that accept pets.

Discover the natural and cultural wonders of the Centennial State Whether you’re looking to explore Colorado’s rising cities like Denver, where the sun shines 300 days a year, or its little-known hidden gems, the recommendations in this guide will lead you in the right direction. From the expansive eastern plains to the towering Rockies, you’ll be an expert in no time at all. The perfect mix of urban charm and natural beauty can be found in Boulder, one of Colorado’s most well-known cities. The city boasts a strong commitment to the environment and healthy living, as well as eclectic shops and restaurants scattered along its simple streets. Colorado’s culinary offerings can be enjoyed all across the state: through high-end restaurants serving wild game, French cuisine, unique street foods, and everything in-between. As with every title in the Explorer’s Guide series, you’ll be get fascinating local history, up-to-date maps, and advice from an expert author. Matt Forster seen everything Colorado has to offer and will help you make the most of your trip.