Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, Colorado, is only 31-square miles — a tiny fraction of the huge Colorado Plateau, which covers more than 500 square miles. Yet this small section packs a mighty punch. It has some of the best redrock expanses, deep canyons and sandstone towers the Southwest has to offer. Best of [...]

Amazing at it sounds, considering that much of the Southwest is water poor, the area does have some terrific underwater adventure spots. The Downtown Aquarium in Denver, Colorado, is a great place to visit if you are in the area. Not only is the aquarium top notch, but the facility also has a unique dining [...]

Cripple Creek, elevation 9, 494 feet, just below tree line was not part of the Colorado gold rush that began in the late 1850s. It was thought the area was too high and barren of that precious metal. However, in October 1890, Robert Womack discovered extremely rich ore and the last great Colorado gold rush [...]

Colorado Springs was founded in July 1871, by General William Palmer. He intended the town to be the setting of a high-quality resort community, which turned out to be very successful. In its early days, the town earned the nickname “Little London” because of the many English tourists who visited. Nearby Pikes Peak, the Garden [...]

Imagine sandstone rock formations that soar 300 feet into the air and hang precariously over the valley floor, all set against the backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak. The rock formations resemble the fins of gigantic sea creatures breaking the surface of the sandy soil below. The soaring vistas and inspirational scenery make Garden of the [...]

The Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is just one of many species of bats to inhabit the Southwest. Their fur is reddish to dark brown or gray in color. They have broad, black, forward pointing ears, and wrinkled lips. Their tails extend more than one third beyond the tail membranes; most other bats have tails [...]

Each year around the middle of January, the four-day Winter X-Games competition is held in Aspen, Colorado. The events is nothing short of sheer fun … high flying, death-defying, out-of-control, snow madness! Each year, more than 200 of the best action sports athletes (and growing each year) compete in the winter events including skiing, snowboarding [...]

The residents of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, have a unique way of celebrating the holidays. Hosted by the Tread of the Pioneers Museum, each year local residents participate in a scavenger hunt to find a 3-foot-long, 50-pound hunk of wood. It’s called the Yule Log Hunt and is very popular with local residents. A Yule Log [...]

The “Mile High City,” Denver, Colorado, lights up the first weekend of December as the Denver Parade of Lights marches through two miles of downtown city streets. Giant festive balloons, high school marching bands, horse-drawn carriages, costumed characters and performers from throughout the Rocky Mountain region hit the streets of Downtown Denver every year. The [...]

The climate and natural resources of the Animas Valley in Colorado, has made it a gathering place for humans as far back as 14,000 years ago. The first inhabitants were hunter-gatherers who followed the buffalo herds and other game into the area. The settlement of Durango, Colorado remained sporadic for nearly 12,000 years until the [...]