Summer is upon us, despite the recent Mother’s Day snow in Denver. But, that is Colorado for you, right? While our state does have interesting weather, the fact is we live in a place that is considered a destination to most people. So, as locals, there is no better way to spend a summer than going out to enjoy the best that Colorado has to offer. We put together several of our favorite things to do in the summer which we hope will help inspire some summer plans of your own.
Go West – Grand Junction
Grand Junction is a jewel and a great destination for those wishing to explore the beautiful Western Slope. It is best to plan a long weekend in Grand Junction in order to make the most of your time, because Grand Junction provides things to do for almost everyone. You can spend a day exploring the wineries of nearby Palisade where the region is starting to create wonderful Syrahs and crisp whites. If mountain biking is your thing, the Grand Junction area offers some of the best biking trails in the nation. In fact, for off-road biking enthusiasts, biking around Grand Junction and nearby Fruita are considered bucket-list items. Grand Junction also offers the Colorado National Moment that is great to explore with its red rock formations and stunning views of the Grand Valley. And, just a short drive to the east is the Grand Mesa that boasts more than 100 alpine lakes for fishing, cabin rentals and great hiking. In the evening, unwind with a cold beer and take in some baseball with the Grand Junction Rockies at the newly renovated Sam Suplizio Field.
Hit the Slopes
While the snow may be gone, summer is a great time to explore ski towns. Some have year-round mountain activities that keep the chairlifts running. Breckenridge offers a full mountain amusement park called the Breck Summer Fun Park that includes an alpine roller coaster and three different alpine slides as well as zip lines and much more. This is a great weekend getaway for those of us in Denver and offers great entertainment for all ages. Winter Park offers on-mountain activities such as an alpine slide, and Vail also allows people to venture up the Lionshead gondola for hiking as well as mountain biking.
Georgetown Loop Railroad
Just a short 45-minute drive from Denver is Georgetown and the famous Georgetown Loop Railroad. With a variety of tours throughout the day, the full loop is one hour and 15 minutes. You can also purchase tickets that include guided tours of the Lebanon Silver Mine. The guided tours with the loop take about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Throughout the summer months, they also provide special wine and cheese evenings. With onboard wine experts, you can learn about wine while riding the rails through the Rockies! With great outdoor mountain scenery, the Georgetown Loop Railroad is a must for any local and is exciting for kids, too.
Zapata Falls
At the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, on the way to the Great Sand Dunes and Alamosa, is Zapata Falls. The fall is described as a 40-foot-tall gusher so hikers on the half-mile, winding trail hear the falls and feel its cooling effects long before reaching it. The view from the trailhead provides you with a spectacular overlook of the entire San Luis Valley as well as a full field view of the sand dunes. This area is spectacular and worthwhile, especially if you have not visited the southern region of our state. While you can do the drive and the falls hike and be back to Denver in one day, we suggest spending a night or two so you can explore other areas of the Sun Luis Valley region. The area offers outdoor enthusiasts a great deal of hiking and camping opportunities.
How to Use This Information
These are just some of the many things to do in Colorado during the summer. We hope that they will help you further explore our great state and create some great adventures and memories for you and your family this summer. Of course, if staying around Denver is more your cup of tea, you can’t beat taking in a show (or movie) at Red Rocks or summer evening Rockies game at Coors Field. And, when it comes to beating the heat and keeping your home’s HVAC system operating efficiently while you are gone, we can help. With air conditioning as well as some of the latest in home automation, we can help ensure you have control of your systems even while you are away. Call 303-424-1622 or schedule online your free systems evaluation.
What are some of your favorite Colorado summer activities?
