Are you still dragging from the time change? Me too… but the bright side to losing an hour is that summer is just around the corner. To help you survive these next few months, why not get your Colorado summer bucket list written, beginning with:
1. Waking up early enough to catch a breathtaking sunrise...
2. ...and being the first one sat at Denver Biscuit Company.
I know I talk about the DBC a lot, but... this truly is the best breakfast in the state. (Trust us; their fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits are worth the drive to the big city.)
3. Getting a not-so-restful nights sleep at a haunted hotel.
Colorado is home to several haunted hotels, including the Imperial Hotel in Cripple Creek. What makes this establishment so spooky? Former hotel owner George Long met his untimely death when he (under suspicious circumstances) fell down a flight of stairs. Today, George can be "seen" groping women and playing the slots at his hotel.
4. Beating the heat with a cone from Durango's Cream Bean Berry.
One bite of this (Colorado-grown) cherry and almond ice cream and your life will be forever changed...
5. Diving into Paradise Cove.
It doesn't get anymore epic than this popular swimming hole located just outside of Guffey.
6. Watching a movie under the stars.
During the summer, different parks around Colorado offer free outdoor movies on a big screen. Bring your loved ones and a picnic dinner, and get ready to enjoy a movie under the beautiful night sky. Can't find a park that offers movie night? Then why not consider...
7. Treating the family to a night at the drive-in.
Drive-ins are hard to come by this day and age... but fortunately for Colorado, there are still a handful of these cinematic treasures, including Pueblo's Mesa Drive-In (pictured).
8. Climbing to the top of the Manitou Incline.
Be one of the few and proud who survive the butt-busting, 2,744 step incline.
9. Uncovering history.
Colorado is chock-full of historic dwellings and sights, but our personal favorite has to be the incredible Mesa Verde National Park, which is considered to be one of the best preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the country.
10. Hiking the Great Sand Dunes.
Sure, you've hiked up many a 14er... but have you tried hiking up 750 feet worth of sand? Game. changer.
11. Jamming out to your favorite band at the world's greatest concert venue.
The acoustics are unbeatable, the views unsurpassable... the 9,525-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre truly is the only place to see a concert.
12. Walking through the Paint Mines Interpretive Park.
Did you know that there is a distinct archaeological district located east of Colorado Springs? This 750-acre park houses unique colored clay and sandstone-capped spires that you won't see anywhere else.
13. Gazing into Marble's Lizard Lake.
No, this isn't a painting; It is indeed a real lake located near Marble, Colorado.
14. Trying as many different green chili recipes as humanly possible.
Green chili is the state food of Colorado... so why not visit a different restaurant each week to sample their recipe? By the end of the summer, you will be green chili pro and can crown the best of the best. (Pictured is Rita's Mexican Food in Pueblo.)
15. Being in four different places at once.
If you're like me, you've often felt like you need to be in four places at once...but have you actually ever done it? At the Four Corners, you can! Skip through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, and experience what it's really like to be in four places at once.
16. Cheering on the boys of summer.
This is our year, Rockies! I can feel it...
17. Finally, watching the sun set over the Rocky Mountains.
It truly is the perfect way to end a perfect summer day.
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