Blog | Best Colorado Ski Resorts

Shimmering surfaces and thundering cascades beckon on sunny days in the summer and fall. While it may take some effort to reach many of the waterfalls and lakes near Vail, Colorado, you’ll be rewarded with stunning surroundings. Luckily, there are also locations that are easier to get to and offer other recreational opportunities. From hikes and views to paddling and fishing, these Colorado lakes and waterfalls are worth a visit.

When most travelers think about Vail, Colorado, they picture snow-covered mountains, ski slopes, elegant resorts, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a Rocky Mountain winter. But when the snow begins to retreat and the rivers and streams fill with clear mountain water, another side of Vail emerges. Summer and early fall transform the Vail Valley into an exceptional destination for anglers, with cold-water streams, mountain rivers, alpine scenery, and trout-filled waters running through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Colorado.

Colorado is often associated with world-class ski resorts, but the arrival of winter transforms the entire state into a destination for outdoor adventure. Beyond the slopes of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Aspen, Colorado’s state and national parks offer a completely different way to experience the Rocky Mountains. Snow-covered forests, frozen alpine lakes, dramatic mountain peaks, quiet trails, wildlife, and expansive winter landscapes create opportunities for travelers who want to experience Colorado at a slower and more natural pace. Whether you are an experienced outdoor enthusiast or simply looking for something different to do during a winter vacation, the state’s parks provide an impressive variety of experiences.

If you’re planning a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, choosing where to stay can make your Colorado trip considerably easier. The right hotel can put you close to the venue, restaurants, hiking trails, and the mountain communities west of Denver.

Denver is usually introduced through its mountains, outdoor lifestyle, breweries, sports teams, and proximity to some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado. But there is another side of the Mile High City that deserves just as much attention: its art, history, architecture, and cultural institutions.

There are plenty of reasons people come to Breckenridge, Colorado, but for many winter visitors, the mountain is where the vacation begins. Rising dramatically above the historic town, Breckenridge Ski Resort combines a large and varied ski area with something that many destination resorts struggle to provide: a real mountain town immediately below it. You can spend the morning skiing above treeline, return to town for lunch, walk along historic Main Street in the afternoon and finish the day with dinner or après-ski without feeling as though you’ve left the mountain behind.

There are destination weddings, and then there are weddings where the destination becomes part of the story.

A winter wedding in Aspen falls into the second category.

When snow covers the mountains, the streets of downtown Aspen glow beneath winter lights, and the surrounding landscape becomes a mixture of white peaks, dark evergreens, and warm interiors, the setting already feels like a celebration. Add a beautifully decorated venue, close friends and family, candlelight, a great dinner, and the possibility of skiing or enjoying the mountains together the next day, and it becomes easy to understand why Aspen has become such an appealing destination for couples planning a Colorado wedding.