THE STATE OUTDOORS
With spectacular mountains and stunning national parks, Colorado is a paradise for those who love fresh air activities
FROM New York to LA, America has great cities for the tourist to discover. But as amazing as they are, for me it’s the great outdoors that really makes the country worthy of repeated visits.
Colorado in the Midwest may not be first on your list of American destinations but you should definitely consider it if you enjoy sweeping landscapes and breathtaking scenery. In September, Norwegian launched their first direct Dreamliner flights from the UK to the state capital Denver, so there’s no better time to go.
The Centennial State was put on the map when gold was discovered in the 19th century, bringing prospectors from far and wide.
If they came in the hope of striking it rich, they may well have stayed for the views. And nothing much has changed there because Colorado is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
The terrain is as diverse as it gets, from alpine mountains to lush forests and sand dunes to vast rivers.
The state has more than 50 mountains topping 14,000ft, 25 ski resorts, 11 national parks and 250 highaltitude golf courses. The Rocky Mountain National Park, about 80 miles north-west of Denver, is the country’s fourth most popular, with 4.5million visitors in 2016.
Spanning 415 square miles, the park features 350 miles of trails, ranging from gentle strolls to proper mountain hikes. It has more than 100 peaks above 11,000ft, creating jaw-dropping mountain ranges as far as the eye can see.
We’re also firmly in cowboy country, so if you want to buy the hat and jump on a saddle, this is the perfect location. Sombrero Ranches have been offering horseback rides in the Rockies since 1958, accommodating riders of all levels.
The friendly wranglers at their Moraine Park Stables will lead you through paths and valleys for two to eight hours and the time just flies by (sombrero.com, from $48).
While you can camp out in the park, there are no formal lodgings, so many people choose to stay in gateway towns on the edge and come in during the day with a pass.
Nearby Estes Park is a popular choice to stay and features a number of excellent bars, restaurants, a distillery and a boating lake.
From idyllic mountain resort cabins to modern hotels, there’s a diverse range of accommodation to suit your needs.
The three-star Hotel Ridgeline is a good, straightforward option a short distance from the park and it’s open year round. Also, the popular Latitude 105 Alehouse serves burgers and craft beers and is your go-to for Denver Broncos matches on TV.
At the heart of the town is the 185-acre Lake Estes Marina where you can enjoy a range of water
sports including kayaking and boating.
For those who prefer dry land, you can take bikes or tandem pedal cars around the perimeter.
All that exercise will definitely leave you hungry and Estes Park has a number of decent, unpretentious options.
Claire’s on the Park (clairesonthepark.com) offers hearty, meaty fare all times of the day, while Egg and I specialises in American-sized breakfast and brunch (theeggandirestaurants.com).
The clean mountain air you’ve been inhaling all day also happily makes Colorado the perfect location for making alcohol and you won’t be short of a drop during your trip.
Elkins Distilling is the first legal distillery in Estes Park and specialises in corn-based whisky. It only opened last year but has already made a name for itself, with a number of distinctive blends, including its award-winning white whisky.
Elkins also has its own laid-back and atmospheric bar which is well worth a visit (elkinsdistilling.com).
That same pure air is another reason why Colorado attracted so many visitors in the 1800s as it was sold as having curative properties for tuberculosis sufferers. In fact, so many Brits heeded the call that Colorado Springs, the state’s second largest city, was once known as Little London.
In a roundabout way, the potentially deadly disease is also – bizarrely – behind one of the most iconic films of the 20th century, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.
Freelan Oscar Stanley, the inventor of the steam-powered car, was diagnosed with the condition in the early 1900s and moved to Estes Park to improve his health.
The relocation did the trick and he liked the place so much he built The Stanley Hotel in 1909 (stanleyhotel.com).
This colonial style property was Stephen King’s inspiration for the story the film is based on.
He and his wife stayed in the Stanley in 1974, three years before The Shining was published.
The author said that night he dreamt of his young son screaming while being chased through the corridors and when he woke up he had the idea for the spooky tale.
You can go on paranormal tours of the building – or perhaps you’ll prefer the friendlier spirits from Elkins Distilling in the Whisky Bar.