Planning the ultimate Colorado adventure vacation? Want to experience the best of the Rocky Mountains with you, your family, or that special someone? Colorado is a big state with a broad array of activities, adventures, and attractions to experience, from summer fun in the sun to wintry powder exploits on a pair of skis or a snowboard. When it comes to planning and executing the ultimate Colorado adventure vacation, there are a lot of questions. Luckily, we came stocked with a few answers. Let’s get into it.
1). Q: What is there to do outside in Colorado?
A: The more appropriate question might be, “What isn’t there to do?” Colorado is a veritable playground of outdoor adventure. In the summers, there’s golf, fly-fishing, hiking, biking, tennis, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hot-air ballooning, disc golf, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, dude ranches, and 4×4 off-roading – just to name a few.
In the winter, the pristine snow comes aplenty in the Rocky Mountains, and resorts like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, and Telluride provide some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. There’s also cross-country (Nordic) skiing, snowshoeing/skinning, ice fishing, fat-tire biking, dog sledding, fire pits, and sleigh rides to round out your Colorado adventure vacation in the winter.
2). Q: Where are the best places for adventure vacations?
A: You can’t go wrong anywhere in the Rocky Mountains, but some destinations were seemingly made for dream vacations. For most, simply hearing the name “Aspen” conjures images of exhilaration, opulence, and pampering. With its amazing skiing, fantastic high-end restaurants, and an apres-ski and nightlife scene that’s second to none, one thing’s for certain: there’s no place like Aspen.
3). Q: What is the best time of year to visit Colorado?
A: Colorado has traditionally been a winter destination because of the epic skiing, but these days more and more vacationers are headed there in the summer months. The warmer months provide thousands of acres of pristine wilderness for hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, rafting, camping, horseback riding, golf, and off-roading. Another allure is that vacation rentals at high-demand destinations like Aspen are considerably less expensive during the summer months.
4). Q: What can you do in Colorado in the winter?
A: Skiing and snowboarding are 1A and 1B on the list. And it’s not a shortlist. In addition to everything you can do on the mountain – like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing – there’s also ice skating, fat-tire bike trails, fire pits and s’mores, boutique and luxury shopping, fantastic restaurants and chic, trendy nightclubs and bars. At resort destinations like Aspen, you can fill your days with memorable activities from sun-up to sun-down.
5). Q: How do I plan a winter vacation in Colorado?
A: Make a shortlist of your favorite Colorado destinations – maybe your top two or three. Then, get online and browse vacation rentals and hotels at your desired locations. Keep good notes and bookmark any favorites, like Lift One Condominiums. Book your accommodations as early as possible for the biggest selection. Reserve your airfare and/or transportation at this time, too. The Aspen airport is only about five minutes from Lift One Condominiums, and there is a free bus to and from the airport.
6). Q: What are things to do in Colorado during the summer?
A: In the summer, the most popular activities are hiking and biking. There are thousands of miles of trails to explore in Colorado. The Rio Grande Trail, from Aspen to Glenwood Springs, is a paved trail that is more than 40 miles long. That’s one long trail! Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley also have some of the state’s finest public and private golf courses. On the lighter side, shopping and outdoor patio dining can’t beat during the temperate summer days at high-altitude destinations like Aspen. Think sunny, bluebird skies, a slight breeze, and temperatures in the high-70s and 80s for most of the day.
7). Q: Is July a good time to visit Colorado?
A: Yes, a dozen times over. In Aspen, the Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration downtown is one of the highlights of the summer. There’s a huge parade that draws crowds to the streets for a fun-filled day of activities, booths, street food, live music, and other fun happenings. Later in the evening, there is often a firework display or laser light show to celebrate our country’s birthday.
8). Q: What are the popular outdoor activities found in Colorado?
A: In the winter, it’s all about skiing and snowboarding. In the summer, one of the more exciting adventures is whitewater rafting. It provides the thrill of skiing, but in a group setting. Whitewater requires you to work in cooperation with your raftmates. There are rafting adventures on several rivers around Aspen, including the Roaring Fork River, Colorado River, and Arkansas River. Some of the most scenic rafting in the West is less than an hour from Aspen in the magnificent Glenwood Canyon.
9). Q: Is Colorado good for kids?
A: Colorado is perfect for kids: tons of fresh air, sunshine, and unlimited outdoor activities. What more could you ask for? Aspen, in particular, is a walkable town with lots of paths, trails, parks, and open spaces to explore on your Colorado adventure vacation.
10). Q: How many days should you spend in Aspen?
A: Most resorts in Aspen do have a stay minimum. Some minimums are three days, others are seven days. Oftentimes, it depends on the time of year. For example, Christmas week, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve, is almost always a seven-night minimum. In the summers, stay minimums can be as little as three days. At Lift One Condominiums, the minimum night stay is three nights for most of the year. But don’t worry: You’re going to need at least that long to enjoy everything in Aspen!
11). Q: What’s so special about Aspen?
A: Aspen was a silver mining town in the 19th Century, long before skiing became popular in the Rocky Mountains. So, while Aspen is an amazing ski resort, it’s also a diverse mountain town with all kinds of businesses. It has a rich history and culture that other places, like Vail, don’t have. (Vail was built exclusively as a ski resort in the mid-20th Century.) Aspen has a silver mine you can tour, a historic opera house, and numerous vintage buildings that date back more than 100 years.
12). Q: Is Aspen cool in the summer?
A: Summers in Aspen can’t be beaten. It’s typically around 80-90 degrees during the heat of the day in June, July, and August. You might even need a light jacket or hoodie in the early mornings and evenings if you’re out on the town. Mostly, it’s perfect jeans-and-t-shirt weather and what a Colorado adventure vacation is all about!
13). Q: How much does a ski trip to Aspen cost?
A: You might think that skiing in Aspen is more expensive than other resorts due to its reputation for glitz and glam. But that’s not the case. Lift tickets and ski rentals in Aspen are similar to comparable resorts such as Vail, Keystone, Winter Park, and Telluride. They are all very close in price; only a few dollars separate each one year over year.
14). Q: What is the most affordable time of year to visit Aspen?
A: For skiing, you should be able to get a good rate for most of December until the 23rd of the month. In January, you can probably score an affordable deal on lodging from the 3rd until the last weekend of the month when Winter X Games takes place. February, except for President’s Week, is a good time, and early March, before Spring Break, is another period where there are fewer crowds and you should be able to score a better nightly rate. All of April, until closing day, is also a perfect time for late-season turns in the snow at a good rate.
Browse our current vacation rental inventory and start planning your next Aspen adventure. Simply enter potential stay dates to view available properties. You can reserve your lodging online and receive an email confirmation code, or you can call us toll-free and discuss your options and payment with a vacation specialist.! Email us or call 800-543-8001.
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