9 Underrated Places In Colorado That Even Natives Have Never Heard Of
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Annie
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If you are a Colorado native, you may think you know all there is to know about every attraction, but we are willing to bet there is a place or two that you have never even heard of, let alone visited. Case in point: These 9 underrated places in Colorado that most natives have never even heard of:
Geology rocks, so why not take in all kinds of earth science via the FREE Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum? Located in Golden, the Mines Geology Museum is a 15,000-square-foot exhibit that not only houses various kinds of rocks but fossils and minerals.
You have heard of (and visited) Mesa Verde a time or two, but did you know that Colorado is home to even more of these ancient homes? Hiding away in Cortez, the Ute Mountain Tribal Park offers an inside look at how the Ute Mountain Tribe once lived, as well as informative tours and tons of hiking opportunities.
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Get ready to re-live your heyday at Fifty-Two 80's: A Totally Awesome Shop! Whether you are a collector or wish to take a walk down memory lane, you will find something nostalgic to love at Fifty-Two 80's, including retro clothing, Care Bears, old-school Atari games, posters and life-size cardboard cutouts, and so much more!
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It's by no means as happy-go-lucky as Fifty-Two 80's, but the Ludlow Massacre Monument marks a dark time in Colorado history that cannot be forgotten. (In case you are unfamiliar with the Massacre, 19 men, women, and children were murdered by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company following a lengthy coal mine strike in 1914, making for an incident that shook the state to its core.)
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You have heard of the Redwood Forest in California, but how about the Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado? Hiding away near Florissant, the Fossil Beds contain some of the world's richest fossil deposits and ancient petrified redwood stumps.
Also known as the Purgatoire River Track Site, Picketwire Canyon is considered the largest dinosaur track site in America, thanks to its 100 trackways and 1,500+ individual footprints. Bonus: The hike to and from the track site is pretty spectacular, too.
Located just before the Colorado/Kansas border is the small town of Burlington and the historic Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel No. 6! Once housed at Elitch Gardens, the "Kit Carson Carousel" was built in 1905 and features hand-carved animals and the original 1909 Wurlitzer 155 "Monster" military band organ. Even better? You can still ride this nostalgia every summer!
Denver residents, listen up: Did you know that you have easy access to a fun and free wildlife drive? Welcome to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, "one of the largest urban refuges in the country" that features 300+ animals, including deer and elk, bison, eagles, and more.
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Last but certainly not least on our list of the most underrated places in Colorado is Cano's Castle, which - as you may have guessed from the picture - is constructed of beer cans, metal scrap, and other recycled treasures. Inspired by cannabis and Jesus, Cano's Castle is really one of those things you have to see to fully appreciate and/or believe.
Tell the truth: How many of these places have you heard of? Let us know in the comments! For even more hidden gem fun, you will want to take The Ultimate Colorado Hidden Gem Road Trip Will Take You To 7 Incredible Little-Known Spots In The State.
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Featured Addresses
Picket Wire Canyonlands, 1420 E 3rd St, La Junta, CO 81050, USA
Fifty Two 80's A Totally Awesome Shop, 1874 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210, USA
Cano's Castle, State St &, 285 E 10th Ave, Antonito, CO 81120, USA
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, 6550 Gateway Rd, Commerce City, CO 80022, USA
Kit Carson County Carousel, 815 N 15 St, Burlington, CO 80807, USA
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 15807 Co Rd 1, Florissant, CO 80816, USA
Ludlow Memorial, Trinidad, CO 81082, USA
Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park Visitor Center, Ute Mountain, Towaoc, CO 81334, USA
Mines Museum of Earth Science, 1310 Maple St, Golden, CO 80401, USA