The Rocky Mountains are a major tourist vacation spot in the western portion of the United States. Some of the most popular activities include hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, mountain climbing, and even gold prospecting. The mountain range is studded with small towns brimming with history, including a wide selection of ghost towns for exploring. Indeed, there are several books available about the backgrounds and the locations of some of the best ghost towns hidden off the beaten path.
In the Colorado section of the Rockies are a set of mountains called the Fourteeners. All of them are over 14,000 feet. Some require a lot of stamina to tackle, while others have roads that go almost to the top. These make excellent motorcycle day trips.
The range includes a lot of federal lands and national parks. The most famous one is probably Yellowstone, filled with geysers and wildlife. Other major national parks include Banff, Bryce Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, and Glacier. All of them are inexpensive to travel through and some have hotels and campground spots for rent. Other spectacular areas include Flaming Gorge and the Estes Park Tramway. If you prefer your vacations a bit more creepy, there's always the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. That's where Stephen King wrote "The Shining".
For those folks who like to travel using the old ways, there are horseback and mule outings and several narrow-gauge railroads still in operation.
Are festivals more your cup of tea? Try the Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Competition, Greeley Stampede, Boulder Creek, Cheyenne Frontier Days, or the Autumn Gold Festival. Lots of crafts, microbrews, and music for your entertainment! If you like movies, give the Telluride Film Festival a go.
Iron Noder 2017