Four Great Day Trips Available From Denver

Millions of people visit Denver, Colorado every year hoping to have a great time.  The truth is that Denver always delivers on the promises of great times too.  When you think of all that Denver has to offer, from shopping to tourist attractions, it is hard for many other cities to top it in terms of what it can provide to its visitors.  While most people know that Denver is one of the more fascinating and fun cities to visit, there are also a great many quality places to visit within an easy drive from there as well.

Here are four great day trips available from Denver:

Rocky Mountain National Park

Located a little over seventy miles to the northwest of the city of Denver, the Rocky Mountain National Park has been entertaining travelers since it was established in 1915.  The national park is a large forested area and it is also surrounded by other protected forests including the Roosevelt National Forest, the Arapaho National Forest and the Routt National Forest.  Some of the roads within the park are closed during the winter because of snow. 

There are a number of popular attractions within the boudaries of the park including Longs Peak, Hallett's Peak, Bear Lake, Wild Basin and the Mummy Range.  One of the more popular drives in the park takes place on the Trail Ridge Road which connects the communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake on the east and west side, respectively.  Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide via Milner Pass and along the way also passes the Alpine Visitors Center.  There are a number of activities that visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park can take advantage of including hiking, caming, backpacking, horseback riding, rock climbing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and when in season, fishing.

Golden, Colorado

Less than a half hour west of Denver sits the community of Golden, Colorado.  Golden was in its earliest days a mining town and much of that aura is left today for visitors to enjoy.  The most famous resident of Golden is of course the Coors Brewery.  Tours of the brewery are available for tourists to take part in if they choose.  Among the other things to do in the Golden area include Lookout Mountain and the Buffalo Bill's Grave and Museum as well as the Foothills Art Center which features many local Colorado artists.

Mount Evans

Another great day trip from Denver can be found with a visit to Mount Evans which sits just sixty miles from the city itself.  The biggest attraction at Mount Evans is the Mount Evans Scenic Byway which is a paved road that goes all the way to the summit of the mountain.  This is the highest paved road on the entire continent of North America.  For those looking for a challenging hike, the summit is also reachable via a hiking trail too.  A number of high mountain lakes and other peaks can be viewed from the summit of Mount Evans.  Some of the best photographs of the mountains in Colorado are taken from the observation point at the summit of this magnificent mountain.  The fact that the state of Colorado has made the summit so accessibly by paving a road all the way to the top is something that entire state should be proud of.

Boulder, Colorado

Located about 35 miles to the northwest of Denver, the city of Boulder has a well earned reputation as a liberal college town.  Boulder is a wonderful community with many of the things you would expect to find in a city that has a strong educational influence.  There are great eating establishments, unique shopping opportunities and even interesting cultural attractions to see within the city of Boulder.

Pikes Peak Area

A sixty mile trip south of Denver will bring visitors to the beautiful Pikes Peak area of Colorado.  The Pikes Peak area is filled with a large number of attractions and is one of the most famous natural areas in the vicinity of Denver.  Pikes Peak is unique in that there is not only a great deal of things to do in the mountain region itself, but also a number of attractions in the shadow of the mountains too.  Some of the popular attractions in this area include the United States Air Force Academy, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, the Garden of the Gods, and more. 

The biggest attraction is of course the summit of Pike's Peak.  There is a paved road that reaches the top of the mountain and offers a great opportunity for viewing wonderful scenery.  There are also a number of hiking trails in the area, including trails that lead to the summit for those that feel up to the challenge.  One of the more unique ways to reach the summit of Pikes Peak though is by taking a ride on the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway which takes visitors by rail from Manitou Springs to the summit of the famous mountain.  With its long history and close ties to the Denver area, Pikes Peak remains one of the first class destinations for anyone staying in the city but wanting to experience the natural beauty of Colorado.

Georgetown, Central City and Black Hawk

A wonderful opportunity for a visitor to the Denver area to see many buildings from around the early settler era of the region is to take a trip west of the city where they can enjoy the communities of Georgetown, Central City and Black Hawk.  Some of the popular attractions in these areas are Victorian architecture, mine tours, the oldest church in Colorado, small casinos, an opera house, steam locomotive train rides, and many things associated with the old west days of Colorado . 

One of the things that makes Denver truly one of the best destinations anyone could hope to travel to is not only what is available to see and do within the city limits, but also the wealth of high quality attractions and places to visit within an easy day's drive from the city.  Part of the attraction of Denver is where it is geographically located in relation to the beautiful sights and wonderful experiences of everything that makes the whole state of Colorado a genuine treasure.  Those visiting Denver can rest assured that on the remote chance that they cannot find enough entertainment in the city to fulfill their vacation desires, there are also tons of great things to do in the vicinity of the city that can make up for it.  A visit to Denver is a great way to spend a full vacation or even just an extended weekend.