Things to do / Travel Guide
Are you looking to give yourself over to some of the most beautiful and awesome nature available? Are you seeking small mountain-town comfort, or big modern mountain-city excitement? Do the tales of old mines draw you near like moths to a campfire? If exploits and adventures such as these entice you, then you might be in need of a trip to the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies region.
The scene is the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies, blessed with one of the most well-known and picturesque mountain ranges in the country: The Front Range. The Front Range, which rises up from the prairie lands of eastern Colorado, features year-round snow-tipped peaks, excellent ski opportunities, beautiful golden aspens in the fall, lush fields with multi-luminous wildflowers in the spring, and crystal-clear streams and rivers in the summer.
Denver, Colorado
Denver is the dominant metropolis of the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies region. Like other great cities, it boasts ear-catching nicknames: “The Mile High City,” “Queen City of the Plains,” “The Rail City,” and the “Capital of the Rocky Mountain Empire.” History lives in the downtown, and its LoDo (Lower Downtown) is a Rocky Mountain focal point for nightlife, the arts, and all kinds of fun. Denver has been a city of hustle and bustle, and empiric wealth, for nearly a century and a half. You and the family could spend a full vacation in and around this city alone, by taking advantage of its rich history, the great outdoors attractions, and the exciting entertainment prospects to the hilt. Boulder and Fort Collins are also flourishing entertainment centers that you won't want to miss.
Mining Towns
The old mining towns, such as Cripple Creek, Idaho Springs, and Black Hawk, in many cases appear not to have changed much since the 1800's, when the mines were still making some people wealthy. The worn but resilient Victorian architecture, the dusty mountain roads lined with shops and houses, the old mine shafts that still creak in the night - they all still tell tales.
The Mountains
Give your eyes a rush! The scenic drives are so awesome and numerous that getting there is often the whole point. The mountain peaks, such as Pikes Peak and those in Rocky Mountain National Park, beckon. From north to south there are plenty of places to try your endurance on foot or on bike, such as near Boulder and within Colorado Springs. Skiing at nationally-acclaimed resorts such as Echo Mountain and Loveland are top-notch. The fishing and fly fishing are also sensational in the region, especially on the South Platte River in and near Denver or on the Cache La Poudre River and the Redfeather Lakes near Fort Collins.
Wyoming
Less than an hour's drive north of Fort Collins are the Wyoming cities of Cheyenne, the state capital, and Laramie. These two picturesque towns are known for their devotion to the railroad, and to livestock. Every August, Cheyenne holds its Frontier Days, as it has since the year 1897. This is the largest rodeo in the world, in which the city's very modest population of 50,000 increases six-fold, and is also flooded with horses and cows.
The eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies is ranch region; these ranches have opened their doors to visitors from all over the world - families and couples - for vacations filled with cows and horses, along many of the amenities of any five-star resort.
Give your senses a rush! In the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies, the scenery is stunning and outdoor activities are at their peak. This is a region to spend a lifetime exploring; if you're not that lucky, try a vacation? So hop on a plane or gas up the car for an unforgettable journey!
The eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies are on Mountain Time, two hours behind Eastern Time and one hour ahead of Pacific Time.
Here are a few pointers to keep in mind in this region: There are many mountain roads which, while in the summer they can be perfectly navigable, in the winter can totally freeze up. Many of these are therefore officially closed for the winter months. If you're planning a trip to the region in the winter, remember that many of the roads might be off-limits. It'll also be ridiculously cold at the higher elevations.
Also, in these higher elevations above around 9,000 feet, some people experience difficulty breathing. This is owing to the thinner air. At 14,000 feet, such as at the top of Pikes Peak, most people will experience some difficulty breathing. Also, try not to make the climb to a higher altitude too quickly, as this can increase breathing difficulty. You should ideally ascend about 2,000-3,000 feet a day.
At higher elevations, you need to take care to put on more sunscreen, as the thinner the atmosphere, the more the sun can harm the skin. In other words, the higher the altitude, the less atmosphere there is to insulate against harmful ultraviolet rays.
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