Plan your summer vacation to the Colorado Rockies

04.06.2024 - 14:29 / lonelyplanet.com

Don’t tell winter, but summer is my favorite season in Colorado.

Sure, skiing is great and I love venturing up to the mountains for exhilarating powder days and cozy evenings with hot chocolate in front of a roaring fireplace. But ever since moving to Colorado more than a decade ago, I’ve eagerly awaited the day when the snow begins to melt, the ground begins to thaw and pale purple pasque flowers start to emerge – sure signs of spring, followed quickly by glorious summer.

Every year, I always plan at least a handful of long weekends in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains between May and September. I fill my days with al fresco dining, hiking and mountain biking, street fairs and festivals, birdwatching, art exhibits, brewery visits, farmers market strolls and more. Here are my top tips for planning the ultimate summer vacation in the Colorado mountains.

On a map, Colorado’s mountainous region may look small and manageable. But, in reality, many of the state’s high-elevation destinations are spread out and separated by impassable terrain—you may end up needing to drive a few hours to reach a mountain town that looks super close on paper. (Case in point: Aspen and Crested Butte are only 11 miles apart as the crow flies – and people often hike between the two – but they are more than 3 hours apart by car.)

As such, it’s best to hone in on one specific region and base yourself there. When you stay in one of the following mountain towns, you’ll have easy access to outdoor adventures, as well as restaurants and bars, boutiques, arts venues and a variety of lodging options. From each one, you can easily explore neighboring towns without spending tons of time in transit. 

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Vibes: High-end shops, galleries, historic Victorian homes and mega-mansions, all surrounded by lush green wilderness. Outdoor activities are a major focus in the summer, but Aspen also has a thriving arts and culture scene, with lots of museums, performing arts venues, concert series, historic sites and cultural events.

Do: Spend a quiet afternoon among the flowers and hummingbirds at the John Denver Sanctuary. This serene park, located on the banks of the Roaring Fork River, features massive boulders etched with song lyrics and quotes. Turn it into a picnic by grabbing snacks and charcuterie fixings from Meat & Cheese, a beloved downtown restaurant and farm shop.

Eat: Make a reservation to dine at Bosq, which became the first and only Aspen restaurant to win a coveted Michelin star when the guide came to Colorado last year. Here, chef-owner Barclay Dodge plates up wild foods his team forages from the mountains. It’s pricey, but absolutely worth it.

Stay: Spend the