COLORADO – WHAT TO EXPECT
With the title of being the highest-altitude state in the United States, Colorado has an excellent location in the mid-western part of the country. Colorado, which is the eighth largest state in the USA in terms of area, attracts attention with its interesting geographical structure. There is no doubt that you will find the opportunity to do countless activities in Colorado, which is one of the first places that comes to mind when you say adventure and ski tourism in America. Colorado, which takes its name from Rio Colorado, that is, the Colorado River, means red colored / dirty as a word. The most distinctive feature of Colorado, which entered among the states of the United States as soon as the American Declaration of Independence was signed, is that the US Air Force is located within the borders of the city of Colorado Springs of this state. Home to Aspen, which has its name written in golden letters among the world-famous ski resorts, Colorado is undoubtedly the first place that comes to mind when it comes to ski tourism. In addition, with its plateaus, forests, plains, mountains, rivers, desert lands, valleys and many more untouched natural beauties, it continues to be the center of attention for nature tourism and adventure tourism enthusiasts.
Of course, each city of the province, where it is not possible to visit all of them in a single trip, attracts the attention of tourists with a different holiday understanding. The most famous of the state, which includes many national parks, are as follows: Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado National Monument, Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Rocky Mountains National Park in Grand Lake and Estes Park. Located in the south of Wyoming, north of New Mexico, northwest of Oklahoma, west of Kansas, northeast of Arizona and east of Utah, the state of Colorado has navigable weather all year round. In Colorado, where outdoor activities and nature sports are incredibly popular, dry weather prevails throughout the year.
The Rocky Mountain region, which has a different culinary understanding because it is the southwestern part of America, is most famous for its steak. The suitable soil structure and quality standards of Colorado, where viticulture and wine tourism are at the forefront, brought many awards. You should definitely taste the Colorado wines, which have an extraordinary aroma with the blend of plum, honey, peach and cherry specially produced from Vitis vinifera grapes. A Food and Wine Classic event is held every year in June in andaround the Aspen Ski Center, which is considered the center of food and beverage of the Rocky Mountain region.
Denver
Denver is a city located in the US state of Colorado, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, at the junction of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. Denver, the capital of Colorado, is 1636 m above sea level. It is called the “Mile High City” because it is located at an altitude. According to 2012 data of Denver, which is the 20th most populous city in America, its metropolitan population is 2.599 million; The population of the city is 634 thousand. Denver, Colorado’s largest city, is an important industrial, commercial, and transportation center. Denver, which is among the top 20 cities in America in terms of prosperity, is a successful city in the tourism sector as well as trade, mining and industry. Denver, as a city whose popularity has increased in recent years and has become a tourism paradise, has “Denver Zoo, Botanical Garden, Evans Park, Red Rocks Park, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Union Station, Kirkland Museum of Decorative Fine Arts, Molly Brown House, It is home to many must-see places such as Dikeou Collection. Denver has a colorful and vibrant nightlife that appeals to everyone. Therefore, you can find venues with different concepts such as “Green Russell, Funky Buddha, Mercury Cafe and Rose Dining Room” in the city, from bars to pubs, from restaurants to nightclubs, and have fun until the first light of the morning.
Denver has a colorful and vibrant nightlife that appeals to everyone. Therefore, you can find venues with different concepts such as “Green Russell, Funky Buddha, Mercury Cafe and Rose Dining Room” in the city, from bars to pubs, from restaurants to nightclubs, and have fun until the first light of the morning. Denver is famous for its steaks, Rocky Mountain oysters, steakhouse classics and omelets. There are also restaurants in the city where you can find delicacies from world cuisines. Denver has an advanced public transportationnetwork that you can reach anywhere you want for all these activities and excursions! With more than 1000 buses and at least 125 routes, the most preferred vehicles in the city are buses and trains. To take advantage of these vehicles, you can buy daily tickets or pay in cash. However, we recommend that you buy tickets from the Airport, Safeway markets or RTD branches, as the tickets are more discounted. Ticket prices vary between $2.60 and $9 depending on the distance you travel. In Denver, which has a warm and temperate climate, the temperature hovers around 20 degrees in summer and drops to 1 degrees in winter. The hottest month of the year is July with 22 degrees, and the coldest month is January with -1 degrees. Therefore, the best time to travel to Denver will be April-May and September-October.
Colorado’s unique places
Colorado is a place that awakens the imagination and inspires the soul with its dramatic scenery and natural beauty. The state is a magnificent place with its diversity from the majestic Rocky Mountains to the hills, rivers and high deserts of the Colorado Plateau. The mountain town brings together skiers, hikers, mountaineers, mountain bikers and all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts, but it is also a great place to relax and enjoy the mountain air. Nature walks in parks and provincial roads are one of the best ways to see the amazing places offered by the state. Remains of the cultures that inhabited the area and the dinosaurs that once roamed the land are best understood by visiting some national parks and monuments. Colorado is a unique place to reconsider your future travel plans.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Located just a few miles from Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. High mountain peaks, meadows, forests and abundant wildlife manifest themselves in the best way. The park has more than 100 peaks over 10,000 feet, including Longs Peak, the park’s highest level at 14,259 feet. Reaching an altitude of more than 12,000 feet, the Trail Ridge Trail is the main park route and provides easy access to this incredible area. You can walk in the comfort of your car or continue on the road for a walk or an easy walk. The park has a wide system of walkways ranging from full-day and multi-day walks to less than half a mile. If you are lucky, you can see eagles, cattle, deer and other animals. Walking, wildlife watching, camping, fishing, horseback riding, climbing and rock swimming are the most popular activities in Rocky Mountain National Park. Winter in the park retains its unique beauty and magic. Although the weather is cloudy, most roads are open all year round. People often come here to ski at this time of year, and these sports offer guided tours.
Mesa Verde National Park
Whether you have seen cliff houses before or not, Mesa Verde will surprise you and allow visitors to see the actual ruins of the park. Located in the center of the park, Cliff Palace is one of the most impressive settlements in the southwest with its dramatic scenery and incredibly protected ruins. Mesa Verde was home to the Ancestral Pueblo, whose dwellings lived from about 600 AD to 1300 AD. Although the cliff houses are the most magnificent, there are thousands of archeological monuments inside the park. A number of hiking trails that do not require a security tour take you to places of interest and attractions, including petroglyphs. Located near the cities of Cortez and Mancos, Mesa Verde is reached by a long road that runs over the surrounding mountainous area. It takes about 45 minutes by car from the main road. Close to the highway, there are visitor centers where you can get information about parking and road conditions before driving.
Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods is a unique combination of mountains with hollow stone towers 300 meters above the ground, with massively balanced piles of stones and rocks that complete the landscape. Most are short and easy trails, about fifteen miles long that bring you closer to dramatic rock formations and take you to a surreal landscape. The park is a popular rock-climbing area, but other activities in the park include bike paths, mountain biking, horseback riding and Jeep and Segway tours. The Garden of the Gods serves as a museum that showcases visitors to the park’s exhibits and a 20-minute video on the park’s geology. The views from the visitor center are incredible and the cafe with large windows is a great place to eat.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Colorado, the town of Durango enjoys a beautiful setting at the base of the surrounding mountains. The historic town area has large, well-restored old buildings that function as hotels and restaurants. Some are done in southwest decor with an old West feel. During the summer, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the city’s main attractions. This historic train offers day trips to the mountaintop from Durango in the valley to the old mining town of Silverton. Durango is also the Colorado Trail, a 500-mile backcountry trail that runs from Denver to Durango. You can do a day hiking or mountain biking along the way, go out and come back the same way. The trail follows scenic Junction Creek and then climbs to Gudy’s Rest, where many people have lunch and wander around afterwards. There are numerous hiking and mountain biking trails in the town of Durango and the surrounding mountains. In winter, Durango is a complete ski town supported by the nearby. Purgatory Ski Resort, just 15 minutes outside the city. This is a family resort that attracts locals and skiers from the southwest. Some skiers also settle in Durango, which has reasonably priced hotels. Telluride is two hours away.
San Juan Skyway scenic roundabout and million dollar highway
A majestic sight stretches from the old mining town of Silverton to the town of Ouray along the road called the Million Dollar Highway. This is a 46km two-lane highway that hugs the mountainous regions and overlooks jaw-dropping slopes and valleys to inspiring mountain peaks.
Beginning in Durango, the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway is a full loop that will travel to Silverton, the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, Placerville, Telluride, Dolores, Mancos, and back to Durango. If you have less time or if you only plan to drive in one direction, you can do Silverton from Durango to Silverton, the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, beyond to Montrose or further north to Grand Junction. Some highlights along the way are the towns of Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride. Set over more than 9,300 feet and surrounded by mountains, Silverton has a main street with several shops and restaurants. In the summer, it can be ridiculously busy, but in the winter, most of the businesses are closed and it can feel like a ghost town. Ouray is another mountain town known for its hot springs, with the main lookout sign saying “The Switzerland of America”. If you choose to do the skyway, you can go in. Known for the Telluride Ski Resort, this is one of America’s prettiest mountain towns, with a traditional main street and stunning mountain scenery. You can ride a free gondola up the mountain for a better view of the area.
Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park
Gunnison’s Black Canyon is a gorgeous, rugged-looking canyon, and it’s far enough away to have a feeling of being unexplored. Steep cliff walls rise from the Gunnison River, creating a narrow and dramatic canyon. The depth of the canyon is approximately 2,000 feet, with Gunnison Point and Chasm View 1,800 feet and Warner Point 2,722 feet. The main thing to do here is just to look over the canyon and love the surroundings, or hike the walkways and short hiking trails on the rim. These are usually straight and easy roads. If you’re adventurous, you can hike in the canyon, but the trails are not maintained or marked, conditions are tough, and you’re basically responsible for your own and rescue costs. There are three campgrounds in the park; The North and South Rim camps are open to tents and caravans, but the East Portal istent-only. Gunnison National Park’s Black Canyon is about 75 miles southeast of Grand Junction.
Dinosaur National Monument
Located in northwest Colorado, the Dinosaur National Monument combines natural and cultural history with dramatic scenery to create one of Colorado’s most interesting sites. Dinosaur remains embedded in the exposed rock walls reveal evidence of giants who once roamed these areas. The petroglyphs offer insight into the cultures and people who lived here long ago, while the surrounding cliff walls and green and Yampa Rivers envelop the dry landscape. Your first stop should be the Quarry Visitor Center, where you can access the main attraction at The Quarry Exhibit Hall in the park, built on the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry. A massive wall of windows lets in natural light, making it feel more like an excavation site than a museum. Fossils are still found in various states, from stone masonry to fully assembled skeletons.
Dinosaur National Monument is so diverse that the possibilities here range from a simple driving tour of the monument, hiking, fishing, rafting, and camping to far beyond the archaeological features. There are a number of scenic drives throughout the park, on both scenic and all-wheel drive roads. Hiking trails range from short nature walks to day hikes of half a mile to eight miles. Campsites open to some tents and RVs, as well as tent-only campgrounds, are spread around the park. If you’re thinking of checking out the park, it’s possible to spend a few days in this area.
