Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 11
Introduction 13
Colorado Map 16
Trip #1 Denver
Day 1 Introduction to Denver and Colorado 21
Historic Site: History Colorado Center 21
Natural Site: City Park 22
Drinking Site: Buckhorn Exchange 24
Day 2 Downtown Denver 27
Historic Site: Downtown Denver Walking Tour 27
Natural Site: Confluence Park 31
Drinking Site: Falling Rock Tap House 32
Day 3 Uniquely Denver 34
Natural Site: Red Rocks Amphitheatre/Dinosaur Ridge 34
Historic Site: Molly Brown House Museum 36
Drinking Site: Great Divide Brewing 39
Trip #2 Denver Area
Day 1 Denver and Its Outskirts 45
Natural Site: Mount Falcon Park 45
Historic Site: Colorado State Capitol 47
Drinking Sites: Strange Craft Beer and Dry Dock Brewing South Dock 48
Day 2 South Denver and Its Suburbs 52
Natural Site: Devil's Head Lookout 52
Historic Site: Littleton Museum 54
Drinking Site: Laws Whiskey House 56
Day 3 Golden to Boulder 58
Historic Site: Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave 58
Natural Site: Golden Gate Canyon State Park 60
Drinking Site: Avery Brewing 62
Trip #3 Fort Collins and Estes Park
Day 1 Greeley to Fort Collins 67
Historic Site: Dearfield 67
Natural Site: Horsctooth Rock 69
Drinking Site: The Mayor of Old Town 71
Day 2 In and Around Fort Collins 74
Natural Site: Mount Margaret 74
Historic Site: Downtown Fort Collins Walking Tour 75
Drinking Site: Odell Brewing 78
Day 3 Estes Park to Lyons 81
Natural Site: Rocky Mountain National Park 81
Historic Site: The Stanley Hotel 84
Drinking Site: Oskar Blues Grill & Brew 85
Trip #4 Mountain Corridor
Day 1 Idaho Springs to Central City 91
Natural Site: St. Mary's Glacier 91
Historic Site: Central City Opera House 93
Drinking Site: Dostal Alley Brewpub 95
Day 2 Georgetown to Dillon 98
Historic Site: Georgetown Loop Railroad 98
Natural Site: Dillon Reservoir 100
Drinking Site: Pug Ryan's Brewing 102
Day 3 Vail 104
Natural Site: Booth Falls 104
Historic Site: Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum 106
Drinking Site: Vail Cascade Resort 108
Trip #5 Central Mountains
Day 1 Leadville Area 113
Historic Site: Camp Hale 113
Natural Site: Twin Lakes 115
Drinking Site: Silver Dollar Saloon 117
Day 2 Leadville to Aspen 119
Historic Site: National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum/Matchless Mine 119
Natural Site: Maroon Bells Scenic Area 121
Drinking Site: Element 47 123
Day 3 Glenwood Springs 126
Historic Sites: Doc Holliday's Grave and Hotel Colorado 126
Drinking Site: Glenwood Canyon Brewing 130
Natural Site: Glenwood Hot Springs 132
Trip #6 Western Slope
Day 1 Grand Junction Area 137
Natural Site: Colorado National Monument 137
Historic Site: Museum of the West 139
Drinking Site: Palisade's Everything Block 140
Day 2 Silverton to Telluride 143
Historic Site: Mayflower Mill 143
Natural Site: Box Cañon Falls 145
Drinking Site; Telluride Brewing 147
Day 3 Montrose Area 149
Natural Site: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 149
Historic Site: Ute Indian Museum 151
Drinking Site: Horselly Brewing 153
Trip #7 Southwestern Colorado
Day 1 Central Durango 157
Historic Site: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum 157
Natural Site: Animas Mountain 159
Drinking Site: Lady Falconburgh's Alehouse and Kitchen 161
Day 2 Gortez/Durango Area 164
Historic Site: Mesa Verde National Park 164
Natural Site: Knife Edge Trail 166
Drinking Site: Ska Brewing 168
Day 3 Lake City 171
Historic Site: Alferd Packer Massacre Trail 171
Natural Site: The Alpine Loop 173
Drinking Site: Packer Saloon and Cannibal Grill 176
Trip #8 San Luis and Upper Arkansas Valleys
Day 1 San Luis Valley, Part One 181
Historic Site: Fort Garland Museum 181
Natural Site: Zapata Falls 184
Drinking Site: Three Barrel Brewing 186
Day 2 San Luis Valley Part Two 189
Natural Site: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve 189
Historic Site: Town of San Luis 192
Drinking Site: The Rubi Slipper 194
Day 3 Upper Arkansas Valley 196
Natural Site: Rafting Browns Canyon 196
Historic Site: Saint Elmo 198
Drinking Site: Elevation Beer Company 201
Trip #9 Southeastern Colorado
Day 1 La Junta to Lamar 205
Natural Site: Vogel Canyon and Picket Wire Canyonlands 205
Historic Site: Bent's Old Fort 208
Drinking Site: The Buzzards Roost 210
Day 2 Las Animas to Pueblo 212
Natural Site: John Martin Reservoir State Park 212
Historic Site One: Camp Amache 214
Historic Site Two: Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site 216
Drinking Site: Walter's Brewery & Taproom 219
Day 3 Canon City 221
Historic Site: Museum of Colorado Prisons 221
Drinking Site: The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey 223
Natural Site: Royal Gorge Bridge & Park 225
Trip #10 Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek
Day 1 Around Colorado Springs 231
Historic Site: Air Force Academy 231
Natural Site: Pikes Peak Cog Railway 233
Drinking Site: Bristol Brewing 235
Day 2 Colorado Springs' Westside 238
Historic Site: Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy 238
Natural Site: Garden of the Gods 240
Drinking Site: Golden Bee 241
Day 3 Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek 244
Natural Site: Gold Camp Road 244
Historic Site: Old Homestead House Museum 246
Drinking Site: Boiler Room Tavern 249
Index 251
About the Author 255