Colorado: Scenic quick stops explore what the Rocky Mountain state offers visitors
We primarily went to Colorado to see family members, but we included a few excursions that made the trip even more fun, especially our visit to Red Rocks with Dave Draper, Nadyne Guzman and Dina Draper. With limited time to explore, we still found that Colorado has plenty for active tourists to do.
Colorado’s mountains attract most visitors to the state. On our previous trip to Colorado, we took the cog railway from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak. This time we stayed in the valleys.
The Riverwalk of Pueblo doesn’t match the energy and restaurants of San Antonio, but it gave us a pleasant place for a stroll in Colorado.
Linda enjoyed the wide open path at Pueblo’s Riverwalk, especially after battling the crowds in San Antonio.
Pueblo’s Riverwalk featured lots of flowers, sculptures and water.
The Riverwalk’s sculptures honor the people who contributed to Pueblo’s heritage.
The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs became our next stop. We arrived on a day perfect for photos, but we were joined by hundreds of tourists who had the same idea.
The park includes paved or dirt paths that make walking around the rock formations easy.
Only certified climbers are allowed to scale the cliffs.
Chatfield State Park near Denver provided a scenic and convenient place to hike.
The centerpiece of the park is Chatfield Reservoir, but the surrounding shrubs and grass provide a home to many animals, including deer.
The canal trail next to Chatfield State Park gave us a great place to burn calories and see the Colorado prairie.
The canal trail passed a pair of trees in contrasting life phrases.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre near Denver stood out as a remarkable example of blending natural and fabricated settings. With seating for nearly 10,000, Red Rocks has hosted many prominent musicians for concerts. A must-see attraction at Red Rocks is the museum and hall of fame.
Besides hosting concerts, Red Rocks offers great hiking trails.
The trails at Red Rocks reinforce the location’s name.