Fodor's Colorado

by Fodor's Travel Publications

Overview

Whether you want to explore Denver, ski in Vail, or hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, the local Fodor’s travel experts in Colorado are here to help! Fodor’s Colorado guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.

Fodor’s Colorado travel guide includes:

• AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and do
• MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your time
• MORE THAN 25 DETAILED MAPS to help you navigate confidently
• COLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust!
• HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, activities, and more
• PHOTO-FILLED “BEST OF” FEATURES on “What to Eat and Drink in Colorado,” “What to Buy in Colorado,” “Best Outdoor Adventures in Colorado,” “Best Wildlife in Colorado,” and more
• TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and money
• HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, politics, art, architecture, cuisine, geography and more
• SPECIAL FEATURES on “Recreational Marijuana”, “Microbreweries in Colorado”, “What to Watch and Read Before Your Trip”, and more
• LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gems
• UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: Denver, Aspen, Vail, Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park, Fort Collins, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado Springs, Mesa Verde National Park, Steamboat Springs, Great Sand Dunes National Park, the San Luis Valley, and more.

Planning on visiting the rest of the American West? Check out Fodor’s National Parks of the West, Fodor’s Arizona and the Grand Canyon, Fodor’s Utah, and Fodor’s In Focus Santa Fe.

*Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition.

ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640974265
Publisher:	Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	07/27/2021
Series:	Full-color Travel Guide
Edition description:	14th ed.
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	302,344
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler's trip. We hire local writers who know their destinations better than anyone else, allowing us to provide the best travel recommendations for all tastes and budget in over 7,500 worldwide destinations. Our books make it possible for every trip to be a trip of a lifetime.

Table of Contents

About this Book ............ 6
When to Go ............ 7
What’s Where ............ 8
Quintessential Colorado ............ 10
If You Like ............ 12
Great Itineraries ............ 20
Mountain Finder ............ 24

Chapter 1: Denver ............ 25
Exploring Denver ............ 27
Where to Eat ............ 40
Where to Stay ............ 56
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 64
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 68
Shopping ............ 73
Denver Essentials ............ 75

Chapter 2: The Rockies Near Denver ............ 79
Golden ............ 82
Evergreen ............ 85
Central City & Black Hawk ............ 86
Idaho Springs ............ 88
Winter Park ............ 91
Georgetown ............ 97
The Rockies Near Denver Essentials ............ 99

Chapter 3: Summit County ............ 101
Dillon ............ 105
Keystone ............ 108
Arapahoe Basin ............ 113
Breckenridge ............ 114
Frisco ............ 121
Copper Mountain ............ 123
Leadville ............ 127
Summit County Essentials ............ 130

Chapter 4: Vail Valley ............ 133
Vail ............ 137
Minturn ............ 148
Beaver Creek ............ 149
Vail Valley Essentials ............ 159

Chapter 5: Aspen & the Roaring Fork Valley ............ 161
Aspen ............ 165
Snowmass Village ............ 183
Glenwood Springs ............ 187
Redstone & Marble ............ 194
Aspen & the Roaring Fork Valley Essentials ............ 196

Chapter 6: Boulder & North Central Colorado ............ 199
Boulder ............ 204
Grand County ............ 238
Fort Collins ............ 246
Boulder & North Central Colorado Essentials ............ 254

Chapter 7: Rocky Mountain National Park ............ 257
Welcome to Rocky Mountain ............ 258
Rocky Mountain National Park Planner ............ 260
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 272
Rocky Mountain Essentials ............ 273

Chapter 8: Northwest Colorado & Steamboat Springs ............ 275
Grand Junction ............ 279
Colorado National Monument ............ 285
Grand Mesa ............ 288
Meeker ............ 290
Craig ............ 292
Steamboat Springs ............ 293
Dinosaur National Monument ............ 303
Rangely ............ 304
Northwest Colorado & Steamboat Springs Essentials ............ 306

Chapter 9: Southwest Colorado ............ 309
Crested Butte & Gunnison ............ 313
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park & Montrose ............ 327
Telluride ............ 336
Ridgway ............ 347
Ouray ............ 348
Silverton ............ 352
Purgatory ............ 355
Durango ............ 358
Pagosa Springs ............ 365
Lake City & Creede ............ 367
Southwest Colorado Essentials ............ 375

Chapter 10: Mesa Verde National Park ............ 379
Welcome to Mesa Verde ............ 380
Mesa Verde National Park Planner ............ 382
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 388
Mesa Verde Essentials ............ 391

Chapter 11: South Central Colorado ............ 393
Colorado Springs ............ 397
Buena Vista & Salida ............ 419
Cañon City ............ 424
Pueblo ............ 427
Trinidad ............ 432
Cuchara Valley ............ 435
The San Luis Valley ............ 437
South Central Colorado Essentials ............ 445

Colorado Essentials ............ 449

Index ............ 471

About Our Writers ............ 480

Maps
Colorado ............ 18—19
Denver Area ............ 28—29
Downtown Denver ............ 32
Greater Denver ............ 37
Where to Eat in Denver ............ 42—43
Where to Stay in Denver ............ 58
The Rockies Near Denver ............ 83
Summit County ............ 104
Vail Valley ............ 136
Roaring Fork Valley ............ 164
Aspen Area ............ 166—167
North Central Colorado ............ 203
Boulder ............ 208—209
Fort Collins ............ 249
Northwest Colorado ............ 278
Southwest Colorado ............ 312
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park ............ 328
South Central Colorado ............ 399
Colorado Springs Vicinity ............ 404

Close Ups
Staking Out the Stock Show ............ 66
Denver Rocks ............ 72
Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel ............ 96
Hiking to the Continental Divide ............ 98
Golf ............ 107
Colorado’s Fragile Wilderness ............ 124
Hitting the Slopes ............ 151
Independence Pass ............ 165
The Sound of Music ............ 181
Saturday Market ............ 182
Doc Holliday ............ 189
Rafting the Roaring Fork Valley ............ 192
Quick Bites in Boulder ............ 219
Longs Peak: The Northernmost Fourteener ............ 268
The Legacy of Mike the Headless Chicken ............ 287
Black Canyon Flora & Fauna ............ 331
Woodstock of the West ............ 339
A Walk in the Founder’s Footsteps ............ 405
The Pueblo Levee ............ 429

Editorial Reviews

Fodor’s is pitched a few notches higher…aimed at a fairly discerning traveler with an appetite for background and the occasional surprise.” – New York Times

“The Fodor’s guides are notable for their ratings of sights, restaurants, shops, accommodations and attractions.” – Chicago Tribune

“In terms of comprehensiveness of coverage, the very accessible format, and the enthusiastic tone, this series remains one of the best on the market.” – Booklist

“Fodor’s super-informative guidebooks are known for accuracy and attention to detail.” – Sacramento Bee

“Fodor’s can help you plan the perfect adventure.” – Arizona Republic

From the Publisher