In the summer months, activities mostly center around the many nearby streams, which offer locals and visitors a chance to enjoy the native wildflowers and wildlife against the backdrop of the area’s majestic mountain peaks. Hiking, biking, golf, kayaking, and more are all on offer, along with access to the largest body of water in the state, Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Once the snow falls, Crested Butte transforms into a winter wonderland—an ideal destination for people who enjoy the outdoors, love to ski, and prefer getting off the beaten path. Though only a 35-minute scenic drive from the Gunnison/Crested Butte Regional Airport, it is removed from the highly trafficked ski resorts situated along I-70. Crested Butte’s location attracts only the most devoted skiers with a passion for perfectly powdered slopes, making it easy to understand why it’s often called the “Last Great Colorado Ski Town.”

Established in 1859, Breckenridge is a charming old mining town, bustling with people from all over the world. Visitors enjoy strolling along Main Street, lined with Victorian architecture, colorful clapboard homes, and historic buildings that are now home to one-of-a-kind restaurants and boutiques.

The town is home to Breckenridge Ski Resort, one of the most popular ski destinations in the U.S., featuring 2,900 skiable acres and the Imperial Express SuperChair, the highest chairlift in North America. In summer, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy hiking and mountain biking on the area’s variety of trails, gold medal fly-fishing on the Blue River, and whitewater rafting adventures on the Arkansas River.

In summertime, Telluride is truly magical. Often dubbed the festival capital of Colorado, it offers a variety of world-renowned events, such as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Telluride Film Festival. Hiking is easily accessible from all corners of the box canyon, with enough terrain in the Telluride region to explore a different trail every weekend. Plus, there are opportunities for biking, rock climbing, golf, fly fishing, and more.

Often recognized as one of the best ski towns in the U.S., Telluride boasts world-class skiing, as well as opportunities for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and so much more. The Gondola—the only free public transportation system of its kind in North America—links the towns of Telluride and nearby Mountain Village in a spectacularly scenic 13-minute ride, providing easy access to an array of adventures year-round.

What Makes it Unique The Vail Valley is an iconic destination where visitors from around the world flock to enjoy the beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and two of the most popular ski resorts in the state: Vail and Beaver Creek.

Nestled between the Gore and Sawatch Mountain Ranges lies the town of Vail, located just 100 miles west of Denver. Established in 1966, Vail has grown into one of the most famous alpine destinations in the world. In winter, skiers and snowboarders enjoy over 5,200 acres of skiable terrain, including Vail’s legendary Back Bowls, featuring seemingly endless views. Other winter activities include snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, sleigh rides, and more.

In the summer months, Vail offers a variety of activities to enjoy, including scenic nature trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Take in the majestic views of the Gore Range with a scenic gondola ride, and experience Vail Mountain’s Epic Discovery, where families can enjoy summer activities including the exciting Forest Flyer mountain coaster. The Gore Creek provides kayaking adventures and gold medal fly-fishing. And Vail’s several golf courses offer breathtaking views of the surrounding Holy Cross Wilderness.

What Makes it Unique Located in Grand County and only 65 miles from Denver, Winter Park is situated at an elevation of over 9,000 feet and is known for its easy accessibility to an array of exhilarating Rocky Mountain activities.

Known as “Mountain Bike Capital USA,” Winter Park offers over 600 miles of mountain biking trails to explore, as well as two downhill bike parks that can be enjoyed by all skill levels. In addition, the resort provides a variety of summer activities–ranging from fly-fishing for trophy trout in the Fraser and Colorado Rivers, to whitewater rafting and kayaking, to hiking and horseback riding—as well as golf at one of the area’s four spectacular golf courses.

Hundreds of miles of trails provide access to the backcountry and are perfect for taking in the incredible scenic vistas, waterfalls, and alpine lakes of Colorado’s Arapaho National Forest and the Wilderness areas of Indian Peaks, Byers Peak and Vasquez. Nearby is the ever-popular Rocky Mountain National Park, with over 265,000 acres of protected natural land and wildlife habitat to explore. Teeming with moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and other Colorado wildlife, Rocky Mountain National Park is a can’t-miss destination for any Colorado traveler.