I live and travel all over Colorado and I want to share some gems with people planning a Colorado vacation. Contrary to popular belief, Colorado is not usually buried in snow from October through April. Some areas of Colorado have an average winter temperature of 50 degrees, very nice. Since I am writing this in winter, my favorite ski areas are Monarch by Salida, Cooper Hill (not Copper Mountain) in Leadville, Crested Butte by Gunnison and Sunlight by Glenwood Springs. The reason I like these areas is because they are not as well known, aren't as expensive as Vail, Breckenridge and those areas in that I-70 corridor and you don't have to wait in long lift lines. They are decent areas, have from easy to black diamond and for the savings in money and time spent in lift lines it is worth it to have a few less trails to pick.

I am going to start from my favorite area, Canon City and move through the state. I have two favorite things to do in Canon City, one is whitewater rafting through the gorge and the other is visiting Buckskin Joe and riding their train.

Rafting through the gorge is too awesome. It isn't for beginners but the rafting companies have many different trips all on the Arkansas for various levels. Rafting the gorge is some of the best whitewater anywhere. Class 3-4 rapids and what a rush! If you don't want to get wet, don't do it 'cause you will get wet. I have used different professional companies and there are some I would use again and some I wouldn't. They also have 1/2 day and full day trips. I have done both and my recommendation is a 1/2 day just because a full day trip really wears you out. Make sure that they take safety first and foremost. I will give any personal recommendations upon request.

When I am in Canon City in the summer, I plan a 1/2 day afternoon raft trip and then the next day go to Buckskin Joe's park. I'm usually too worn out from rafting to try and do both in the same day. Anyway plan on staying at least 4 hours if not longer. I usually stay from about 6 hours. This is set up like an old west town. The buildings are real from as far back as 1860. They have really good gun fights a good magic show and singer. The staff is very friendly and you can tell they enjoy what they are doing. If they still have it try the BLT sandwich in the restaurant. It was huge and on a flat bread. You need to take their train ride too. It is really relaxing and scenic and when they say you get the best view of the Royal Gorge, they are right, you do. I really like Buckskin Joe because I am able to bring my dog and she was really welcome. I took her to get a drink of water and they give you dog dishes and everything, that is just so cool.

I would not recommend doing the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. I used to like going there but now it is really too commercialized. In my opinion it has been ruined from all the stuff they have added. It used to be just the bridge, the incline and the tramway and a few shops, scenic an nice. Now there is too much and it is too expensive. The train ride on the bottom is so-so but kind of long after the first 1/2 hour, it is the same coming and going. If you decide to take it make sure you sit on the river side or else you will just be looking at the canyon walls. Personally, I would save your money, do Buckskin Joe's train, even if you don't do the town.

Moving on to the Alamosa area, I try to visit the Great Sand Dunes when I can. This is just amazing to me. It is like someone picked up some desert sand dunes and dropped them right down in the middle of the mountains. Really, where did they come from, maybe continental drift? Trying to climb to the top is probably the best exercise ever. Make sure you bring and drink a lot of water. this holds true wherever you go in Colorado. The climate is very dry. Some other things you might want to do in the southwest region is the Durango Silverton Train. It takes you from Durango to Silverton and it is an old steam train. The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings are pretty neat, I haven't been since they had a fire there so I don't know if they were effected by the fire. If you like scenic drives, pick a road and go, they are everywhere.

Moving over to the western slope and Grand Junction, I would recommend taking time to visit the Grand Mesa. It is a beautiful Mesa that overlooks the Grand Valley. It is kind of a mini version of Utah Canyonlands. If you travel back from the western slope to the eastern slope take Highway 50. It is a two lane paved state highway but so super scenic it is worth the ride. You can also hit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison just outside of Montrose. I would recommend taking the time for this side trip. Blue Mesa recreation area is very beautiful for fishing and boating as long as the water level is up, it has been down for a few years.

Going back to the eastern slope, I really enjoy Colorado Springs. There are so many choices of fun activities and things to do it is hard to get them all done in one trip. I am a big zoo lover so the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of my favorites. This is a zoo built into the mountain and just really a fun zoo and neat setting. It isn't a huge zoo but they have a nice variety of animals and some very neat exhibits for the animals. If you like visiting zoo's make sure to add this one to your list.

Everyone should experience Pikes Peak at least once. We drove up one time and rode the cog train up the other time we went. I think I like the train the best just because there is a tendency to want to look at the scenery and it is pretty hard to do when you are driving. The train ride was nice and relaxing and allowed the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the view. The train ride is more than driving up about 3 times more. Make sure to only drink water and not carbonated drinks when you go up on Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak is America's Mountain so everyone should get up on top and look out to Kansas.

Plan time to visit the Garden of the Gods. This is a beautiful rock formation park and is free. This is where the famous Kissing Camels rock formation is located. You can't climb the big rocks like Kissing Camels or Gray Rock, so don't try, you'll get in trouble. You can hike the trails all around the park or bike through the park.The Air Force Academy is also free and the Cadet Chapel is really neat. The campus is beautiful too and I think worth a visit.

Seven Falls is a unique thing to see in Colorado. It is high up on Cheyenne Mountain and is 7 falls cascading down the mountain. I really like going at night when it is lit up. If you can't get to Mesa Verde, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings will give you a take of what Mesa Verde is like on a smaller scale. The Indian dwellings are neat to look at and try to climb up and through. They were moved there and built into the side of the canyon. Of course no visit to Colorado Springs would be complete without a visit to the North Pole and Santa's Workshop at the foot of Pikes Peak. It really makes you think you are right up there with ol' St. Nick himself.

Venturing up the pass to Cripple Creek, I like to go to the Mollie Cathleen Mine in Cripple Creek and also like to partake of their gaming industry. I like Cripple Creek better than Blackhawk and Central City for gaming. Blackhawk and Central City are too busy and if you try to go there on a weekend night, it is hard to find a machine to play on or tables games to sit at. They try to be more like Vegas casinos. Cripple Creek casinos are more hometown style. Another neat thing there is the Cripple Creek to Victor train ride. It is a steam engine train and a nice short ride for people who like train ride.

What do I have to say about Denver? Well Denver is pretty much like any other large city across the country, big and a lot of traffic. Denver has much of the same things you can find in any big city. Performing Arts Theatres, Art Museums and other museums, 16th Street Mall in the heart of downtown Denver, sporting teams, really everything any big city would have. One unique thing for Denver is that it does have an Aquarium in downtown Denver. Though not the Monterey Aquarium, it is a neat addition to Colorado and kind of unexpected in the Rocky Mountains. The Denver Museum of Natural History is a must see too as it displays many of the dinosaurs found in Colorado. Of course, I like the Denver Zoo. This was the former home to Klondike and Snow two polar bears who are now at Sea World in Orlando, I believe. Other than those things mentioned above, Denver is a city regardless of the backdrop and therefore not a place to spend a Colorado vacation.

I personally steer clear of the I-70 corridor and the Vail Valley. It is too expensive and not my thing, however I will go into Glenwood Springs. I like Glenwood Springs as a nice off the beaten path, place to stay. If venturing to Glenwood, you must take in the Hot Springs Pool. What a nice relaxing way to wind down from skiing at Sunlight or a day of hoofing it around the Glenwood Caverns. The Glenwood Caverns are a lesser known caving expedition and worth a visit.

Going further north in Colorado you will run across Ft. Collins. This is a neat town as well. It is a college town and its main base is Colorado State University. It is mostly recreation based activity I like doing water sports at Horsetooth Reservoir. If it is still there, I probably won't spell it right by Avagodro's Ice Cream is the best. I haven't been there since 2001.

Estes Park is pretty neat to visit but not much to do around the area particularly in the winter. Of course, Estes Park is probably the most famous for the Stanley Hotel, the hotel used for "The Shining". It is supposedly haunted and for ghost hunters a neat place to stay as you can almost picture Jack Nicholson coming down the hall with an axe.

Colorado is most known for their beautiful mountains and the state and national parks. Respect nature and you will enjoy visiting any one of these parks.

This is about all I have to share for now. I look forward to many more years of traveling through Colorado.  What a great state to live in an visit.