The more we travel, the more we realize that the towns and cities outside the major metropolitan areas are where we most enjoy spending our time, especially in the United States. On our Colorado trip, we had a few days before heading into Denver, and these destinations really stood out to us.
Colorado Springs
~1.5 hours from Denver
We wish we had spent more time here! We came to visit Garden of the Gods, but we also discovered that Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Next time we’re in town, we’ll definitely visit the museum and make the trek to Pikes Peak. When we visited in April, the road to the summit of Pikes Peak was closed because of the weather.
Golden
~20 minutes from downtown Denver
Golden was our home base at the start of our trip, and we absolutely loved it! This town is fantastic, with a charming downtown filled with local shops and great restaurants. It’s also home to the Colorado School of Mines, which has an excellent free Earth Science Museum.
Golden was the perfect location, offering easy access to hiking trails while still being just a short drive from Denver. Shout out to my college roommate, who told us this was where we should stay for our trip—she was absolutely right! Plus, Golden is only about 10 minutes from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Dinosaur Ridge.
Estes Park
~1.5 – 2 hours from downtown Denver
Estes Park is the charming mountain town you’ll pass through before entering Rocky Mountain National Park. We were short on time but wish we had more time to explore its unique shops and everything the town has to offer.
We also loved the architecture. The homes and buildings fit the mountain setting perfectly and added to the town’s charm. After our hike, we ate at Hunter’s Chop House, and it may have been the best steak I’ve ever had! Next time we’re in town, we’re setting aside an entire day to explore and soak up Estes Park’s rustic mountain atmosphere.
Morrison
~25 minutes from downtown Denver
Morrison is a small mountain town where you’ll find Red Rocks Amphitheatre, nearby hiking trails, and the Dinosaur Ridge Trail. It is also very close to Golden, only about a 10-minute drive away. With so many outdoor adventures, scenic views, and unique geological attractions, Morrison is a great place to explore while visiting the Denver area.
Boulder
~35 minutes from downtown Denver
Boulder is a larger city, but we visited to explore the NCAR/UCAR Mesa Lab. It was about a 20-minute drive from where we were staying in Golden and offered incredible views of both the mountains and the plains.
Once again, we could have used more time to explore everything the Boulder area has to offer! We’ll just have to go back.
What is your favorite city or town in Colorado? Next time we visit, we would love to explore more of the mountain towns and hidden gems throughout the state!
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