Best Places to Visit in Colorado

As the eighth-largest state in the country, Colorado features a wealth of opportunities for travelers. No matter if you live on the Western Slope, in the heavily populated Front Range, or among the wide-open spaces of the state's northwest corner, you'll find something fun to do. Hike in a national park, munch on a giant turkey leg at the Colorado State Fair, or listen to great tunes at one of the numerous yearly music festivals.

The state is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit Colorado depends on which activities you’d like to do. If you want to get in some high-altitude hiking, summer is the perfect time to visit Colorado with its mild temperatures, sunny days and mostly snow-free peaks. If you love snow sports, winter is the prime season for ski towns like Vail, Breckenridge, and Crested Butte.

National parks

Colorado is home to many beautiful national parks. For those who love hiking and spending time outdoors, the following are places you won’t want to miss.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Among the top places to visit in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park features nearly 266,000 acres of mountainous and alpine wilderness. Hike among 300 miles' worth of trails; keep your eyes out for black bears; coyotes, and bighorn sheep; or take a scenic drive on the Trail Ridge Road.

The lowest elevation in the park is just under 8,000 feet. If you're visiting Rocky Mountain National Park from the "flatter" part of eastern Colorado, you may want to give yourself a day to acclimate to the altitude before engaging in strenuous hiking or other activities. Also note that during the peak travel season of May through October, the park requires visitors to purchase timed entry tickets to help alleviate crowding.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Featuring a landscape that might seem out of place in such a mountainous state, Great Sand Dunes National Park has some of the tallest sand dunes on the entire continent. Pick up a sled or a sandboard at an area outfitter and have fun sledding or sandboarding down the giant dunes.

Great Sand Dunes is an officially designated International Dark Sky Park. Come on a clear night to see millions of stars and the Milky Way. Great Sand Dunes is also just under a three-hour drive from the state's second-largest city, making the park one of the best places to visit near Colorado Springs.

Sports teams

Denver, the state's capital and largest city, has teams in all four major professional sports leagues. These teams claim several championship titles, giving fans bragging rights against their rivals. Fans can also cheer on the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League.

Denver Broncos

Winners of Super Bowls XXXII, XXXIII and 50, the Denver Broncos have a passionate following and a storied history that includes legendary Hall of Famers like Floyd Little, John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Peyton Manning. The team plays at Empower Field at Mile High, which has over 76,000 seats. The Broncos routinely sell out their home games, but if you're fortunate enough to snag a ticket against a fierce rival like the Kansas City Chiefs or Las Vegas Raiders, you can cheer the Broncos on along with the rabid fans and shout "IN-COM-PLETE" when the opposing quarterback throws another pass into the turf.

Colorado Avalanche

The state's professional NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche, relocated from Quebec in 1995 and promptly won the Stanley Cup in their very first season in Denver. Two more titles followed, in 2000-2001 and 2021-2022. The Avs play at Ball Arena in the city's downtown.

Denver Nuggets

Winners of the 2022-2023 title, the Denver Nuggets entered the NBA in 1976 from the old ABA and soon became known for their "run and gun" offense that emphasized scoring as quickly as possible. Former greats include Alex English, Dikembe Mutombo, and Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets share Ball Arena with the Avalanche.

Colorado Rockies

The city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Colorado Rockies play their home games at Coors Field in the downtown Denver neighborhood of LoDo. Given the city's altitude at a mile above sea level, you can expect to see lots of high-scoring games and home runs in the thin air. You can usually find same-day tickets at the stadium.

Annual events in Colorado

Colorado hosts several events held annually. Vibe to some blues and sip on some brews in a small mountain town, learn from and listen to various speakers at one of the state's famed ski resorts, or ride the many attractions at the state fair.

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

Held in the late summer each year, this three-day festival features some of the top acts in blues, gospel, rock, funk, and indie music. Partake of various craft beers and get some good grub from among the various food vendors. Tucked away in the San Juan Mountains, the host city of Telluride offers stunning scenery in a high-altitude environment. The town sits at an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet, so prepare accordingly.

Aspen Ideas Festival

Held each summer in one of Colorado's top resort towns, the Aspen Ideas Festival is where to go to hear and engage with world-renowned speakers in a variety of disciplines. Have your opinions challenged and learn something new about economics, politics, health, technology, the environment, and more.

If you wish to attend the entire festival, it's best to register well in advance. The festival does offer public tickets for individual events, so you can pick and choose the speakers you want to hear.

Colorado State Fair

Held in the high desert city of Pueblo, the state fair takes place from late August through early September each year. Ride the Ferris wheel or the carousel, or try something more adventurous like the Hurricane or the Tornado. Get your fill of carnival food like corn dogs, funnel cakes, and cotton candy.

It gets hot in Pueblo during the summer, so come prepared to deal with the heat. Wear sunscreen, a hat and light-colored clothing, and drink lots of water.

Check in at home during your trip

You want to have as much fun on your trip to Colorado as possible, but it's only natural to worry about your home while you're away. With a Vivint home security system, you'll get the peace of mind you'll need to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

With the Vivint app, you can control all your smart home devices right from your phone while you are visiting cities like Denver or Pueblo. With the Doorbell Camera Pro, see who shows up at your home and watch the recorded footage at your convenience.

To learn more about how Vivint can bring you peace of mind when you are away from home, give us a call today at 855.822.1220.