Colorado & the Rockies For Dummies^®, 2nd Edition

by Nicholas Trotter

• ISBN13: 9780764576478
• ISBN10: 076457647X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-08-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Want to roam incredible National Parks or luxuriate at a posh resort? Ride the rails or ride the range? Explore quaint small towns or booming big cities? Ski the slopes or browse in the shops? Whether you want urbane luxury, back-country adventure, or something in-between, you'll find it between the pages of this friendly guide that gives you the scoop on: Rock climbing, whitewater rafting, trout fishing, mountain biking, skiing, and golfing The Natural Wonders and wide range of environments The breweries and their signature brews Local delicacies such as buffalo, rattlesnake, and Rocky Mountain oysters 3 great itinerary options Like every For Dummies travel guide, Colorado & the Rockies For Dummies includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn't miss-and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	4	(2)
Part I: Introducing Colorado	4	(1)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to Colorado	4	(1)
Part III: The Front Range	4	(1)
Part IV: The High Country	5	(1)
Part V: The Western Slope and Southern Colorado	5	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Quick Concierge	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	6	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Part I: Introducing Colorado	7	(34)
Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of Colorado	9	(6)
The Best Outdoor Adventures	9	(1)
The Best Old (And New) West Experiences	10	(1)
The Best Ski Areas	10	(1)
The Best Luxury Hotels	11	(1)
The Best Restaurants	12	(1)
The Best Small Towns	12	(1)
The Best Accommodations for Families	13	(1)
The Best Natural Wonders for Kids of All Ages	13	(2)
Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into Colorado	15	(6)
History 101: The Main Events	15	(2)
Taste of Colorado: Local Cuisine	17	(2)
Background Check: Recommended Books and Movies	19	(2)
Chapter 3: Deciding When and Where to Go	21	(14)
Going Everywhere You Want to Be	21	(5)
Traveling the Front Range	24	(1)
Going beyond the Front Range: The High Country	25	(1)
Scheduling Your Time	26	(1)
Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons	27	(4)
Spring	29	(1)
Summer	29	(1)
Fall	30	(1)
Winter	31	(1)
Looking at Colorado's Calendar of Events	31	(4)
January	32	(1)
February	32	(1)
March	32	(1)
April	32	(1)
May	33	(1)
June	33	(1)
July	33	(1)
August	34	(1)
September	34	(1)
October	34	(1)
November	34	(1)
December	34	(1)
Chapter 4: Following an Itinerary: Four Great Options	35	(6)
Taking In the High Passes (And Higher Peaks)	35	(2)
Touring Colorado with Kids	37	(1)
Colorado for History Buffs	38	(1)
The Ski-'Til-You-Drop Tour	39	(2)
Part II: Planning Your Trip to Colorado	41	(46)
Chapter 5: Managing Your Money	43	(9)
Planning Your Budget	43	(4)
Totaling up your transportation	44	(1)
Calculating lodging costs	45	(1)
Eating out	45	(1)
Budgeting for attractions	46	(1)
Pricing activities and tours	46	(1)
Shopping for Colorado goods	46	(1)
Controlling nightlife costs	47	(1)
Cutting Costs - But Not the Fun	47	(2)
Handling Money	49	(1)
Using ATMs and carrying cash	49	(1)
Charging ahead with credit cards	49	(1)
Dealing with debit cards	50	(1)
Toting traveler's checks	50	(1)
Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Wallet	50	(2)
Chapter 6: Getting to Colorado	52	(7)
Flying into Colorado	52	(3)
Getting the best deal on your airfare	53	(1)
Booking your ticket online	54	(1)
Driving In	55	(1)
Arriving by Rail	55	(1)
Joining an Escorted Tour	56	(1)
Choosing a Package Tour	57	(2)
Chapter 7: Getting Around Colorado	59	(9)
Driving around Colorado	59	(7)
Handling the highways	59	(2)
Negotiating road hazards	61	(3)
Getting the best deal on a rental car	64	(2)
Winging It	66	(1)
Riding the Rails	66	(1)
Taking the Bus	67	(1)
Chapter 8: Booking Your Accommodations	68	(6)
Lining Up Your Lodging Choices	68	(2)
Booking a B&B	68	(1)
Bunking down at a motel	69	(1)
Staying at historic or luxury hotels	69	(1)
Choosing a chain	69	(1)
Going to a guest ranch or dude ranch	70	(1)
Camping out	70	(1)
Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate	70	(4)
Surfing the Web for hotel deals	72	(1)
Reserving the best room	73	(1)
Chapter 9: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests	74	(6)
Traveling with the Brood: Advice for Families	74	(2)
Making Age Work for You: Advice for Seniors	76	(1)
Accessing Colorado: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities	77	(1)
Following the Rainbow: Advice for Gay and Lesbian Travelers	78	(2)
Chapter 10: Taking Care of the Remaining Details	80	(7)
Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance	80	(2)
Staying Healthy When You Travel	82	(1)
Staying Connected by Cellphone	82	(1)
Accessing the Internet away from Home	83	(2)
Keeping Up with Airline Security	85	(2)
Part III: The Front Range	87	(92)
Chapter 11: Denver	89	(45)
Getting There	89	(3)
Arriving by air	89	(3)
Arriving by car	92	(1)
Riding in (Not on horseback)	92	(1)
Denver Neighborhoods	92	(5)
Downtown (the Central Business District)	95	(1)
Lower Downtown (LoDo)	95	(1)
The Golden Triangle	95	(1)
Uptown	96	(1)
Capitol Hill	96	(1)
Cherry Creek	96	(1)
Central Platte Valley	96	(1)
Other Denver neighborhoods	97	(1)
Getting Information after You Arrive	97	(1)
Getting Around Denver	98	(3)
By mass transit	98	(1)
By taxi	99	(1)
By car	99	(1)
On foot	100	(1)
Where to Stay	101	(6)
Where to Dine	107	(6)
Exploring Denver	113	(8)
The best things to see and do	113	(6)
Touring historical sites	119	(1)
Other things to see and do	119	(2)
Staying Active	121	(2)
Seeing Denver by Guided Tour	123	(1)
Faux trolley tours	123	(1)
Real trolley tours	123	(1)
Guided tours	124	(1)
Considering One-, Two-, and Three-Day Itineraries	124	(1)
Shopping in Denver	125	(3)
The best shopping areas	125	(1)
What to look for and where to find it	126	(2)
Nightlife	128	(5)
Hitting the local clubs	128	(2)
Drinking up	130	(1)
The performing arts	131	(2)
Fast Facts: Denver	133	(1)
Chapter 12: Side Trips from Denver	134	(8)
Riding through the Golden Circle	134	(5)
Getting there	134	(1)
Exploring Golden, Idaho Springs, and Georgetown	135	(3)
Where to stay and dine	138	(1)
Following Five Classic Mountain Drives	139	(3)
Guanella Pass Road	139	(1)
Mount Evans	139	(1)
St. Mary's Glacier	140	(1)
The Peak-to-Peak Highway	140	(1)
U.S. 285 to South Park and beyond	140	(2)
Chapter 13: Boulder	142	(19)
Getting There	143	(1)
Getting Around	144	(1)
Where to Stay	145	(4)
Where to Dine	149	(4)
Exploring Boulder	153	(7)
The best things to see and do	153	(1)
Other things to see and do	154	(1)
Staying active	155	(1)
Hitting the slopes	156	(1)
Shopping	157	(1)
Nightlife	157	(3)
Fast Facts: Boulder	160	(1)
Chapter 14: Colorado Springs	161	(18)
Getting There	161	(1)
Getting Around	162	(1)
Where to Stay	163	(4)
Where to Dine	167	(2)
Exploring Colorado Springs	169	(5)
The best things to see and do	169	(3)
Other things to see and do	172	(1)
Guided tours	173	(1)
Staying active	173	(1)
Shopping	174	(1)
Especially for kids	174	(1)
Nightlife	174	(1)
Hitting the bars and clubs	174	(1)
Enjoying classical music	175	(1)
Fast Facts: Colorado Springs	175	(1)
Heading Out to Canon City and Royal Gorge	176	(5)
Getting there	176	(1)
Exploring Royal Gorge	176	(1)
Finding places to stay and dine	177	(2)
Part IV: The Nigh Country	179	(118)
Chapter 15: Rocky Mountain National Park	181	(21)
Choosing a Season to Visit	184	(1)
Getting There	184	(1)
Driving to the park	184	(1)
Busing in to the park	185	(1)
Planning Ahead for Your Park Visit	185	(1)
Learning the Lay of the Land	186	(2)
Arriving in the Park	188	(2)
Paying fees	188	(1)
Getting around	188	(1)
Considering safety	189	(1)
Enjoying the Park	190	(4)
Taking a hike	191	(3)
Roving with rangers	194	(1)
Watching wildlife	194	(1)
Staying Active	194	(1)
Inside the park	194	(1)
In the gateway communities	195	(1)
Where to Stay and Dine in Estes Park and Grand Lake	195	(6)
Estes Park	196	(2)
Grand Lake	198	(3)
Fast Facts: Rocky Mountain National Park	201	(1)
Chapter 16: Middle Park	202	(10)
Winter Park and Fraser	202	(8)
Getting there	204	(1)
Getting around	204	(1)
Where to stay	205	(1)
Where to dine	206	(1)
Exploring Winter Park and Fraser	207	(3)
Fast Facts: Winter Park/Fraser	210	(1)
Heading farther into the Parkland	210	(2)
Two classic ranch-resort experiences	210	(1)
Staying active	211	(1)
On the slopes	211	(1)
Chapter 17: Summit County	212	(12)
Summit County Essentials	212	(6)
Getting there	214	(1)
Getting around	214	(1)
Where to stay	215	(2)
Where to dine	217	(1)
Exploring Summit County	218	(5)
The best things to see and do	218	(1)
Especially for kids	219	(1)
Staying active	220	(1)
Hitting the slopes	221	(1)
Nightlife	222	(1)
Fast Facts: Summit County	223	(1)
Chapter 18: Leadville and the Upper Arkansas Valley	224	(16)
What's Where? The Arkansas Valley and Its Attractions	224	(1)
Leadville highlights	224	(1)
Buena Vista and Salida highlights	225	(1)
Leadville	225	(7)
Getting to Leadville	225	(1)
Getting around	226	(1)
Where to stay in Leadville	226	(1)
Where to dine in Leadville	227	(1)
Exploring Leadville	228	(2)
Staying active in Leadville	230	(1)
Hitting the slopes	231	(1)
Fast Facts: Leadville	232	(1)
Buena Vista, Salida, and the Upper Arkansas	232	(7)
Getting there	233	(1)
Where to stay in the Arkansas Valley	233	(1)
Where to dine in the Arkansas Valley	234	(1)
Exploring Salida	235	(2)
Staying active in Salida	237	(1)
Hitting the slopes	238	(1)
Fast Facts: Buena Vista and Salida	239	(1)
Chapter 19: Vail and the Vail Valley	240	(11)
Vail Essentials	240	(6)
Getting there	240	(1)
Getting around	241	(1)
Where to stay	241	(3)
Where to dine	244	(2)
Exploring Vail	246	(4)
The best things to see and do	246	(1)
Staying active	247	(1)
Hitting the slopes	248	(1)
Shopping	249	(1)
Nightlife and culture	249	(1)
Fast Facts: Vail	250	(1)
Chapter 20: Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley	251	(23)
What's Where? The Region and Its Major Attractions	251	(2)
Aspen highlights	252	(1)
Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Redstone highlights	253	(1)
Aspen	253	(11)
Getting to Aspen	254	(1)
Getting around Aspen	254	(2)
Where to stay in Aspen	256	(2)
Where to dine in Aspen	258	(1)
Exploring Aspen	259	(4)
Shopping in Aspen	263	(1)
Nightlife in Aspen	263	(1)
Culture in Aspen	263	(1)
Fast Facts: Aspen	264	(1)
The Roaring Fork Valley	264	(9)
Getting there	265	(1)
Getting around	266	(1)
Where to stay	266	(1)
Where to dine	267	(3)
Exploring Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Redstone	270	(2)
Shopping	272	(1)
Nightlife	273	(1)
Fast Facts: The Roaring Fork Valley	273	(1)
Chapter 21: Steamboat Springs	274	(12)
Getting There	274	(1)
Getting Around	275	(1)
Where to Stay	275	(3)
Where to Dine	278	(2)
Exploring Steamboat Springs	280	(5)
The best things to see and do	280	(1)
Other things to see and do	281	(1)
Especially for kids	282	(1)
Staying active	282	(2)
Hitting the slopes	284	(1)
Shopping	284	(1)
Nightlife and culture	284	(1)
Fast Facts: Steamboat Springs	285	(1)
Chapter 22: Gunnison, Crested Butte, and the Black Canyon	286	(11)
Gunnison and Crested Butte	286	(6)
Getting to Gunnison and Crested Butte	286	(1)
Getting around	287	(1)
Deciding where to stay	287	(1)
Dining in Gunnison and Crested Butte	288	(2)
Exploring Crested Butte and Gunnison	290	(2)
Enjoying the nightlife	292	(1)
Fast Facts: Gunnison and Crested Butte	292	(1)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park	293	(3)
Getting there	293	(1)
Where to stay	293	(1)
Exploring the park itself	294	(1)
Other things to see and do	295	(1)
Staying active	296	(1)
Fast Facts: Montrose and Delta	296	(1)
Part V: The Western Slope and Southern Colorado	297	(70)
Chapter 23: Grand Junction and the Western Slope	299	(13)
Grand Junction	300	(9)
Getting there	300	(2)
Getting around	302	(1)
Where to stay	302	(1)
Where to dine	303	(1)
Exploring Grand Junction	304	(4)
Shopping	308	(1)
Fast Facts: Grand Junction	309	(1)
Taking a Side Trip to Dinosaur and Dinosaur National Monument	309	(3)
Getting to Dinosaur	309	(1)
Seeing the sights	309	(1)
Where to stay in Dinosaur	310	(1)
Where to dine in Dinosaur	311	(1)
Chapter 24: The Southwestern High Country	312	(40)
What's Where? Southwest Colorado and Its Major Attractions	313	(2)
Telluride highlights	313	(1)
Ouray and Silverton highlights	313	(1)
Durango highlights	313	(2)
The Four Corners highlights	315	(1)
Telluride	315	(9)
Getting to Telluride	315	(1)
Getting around in Telluride	316	(1)
Where to stay in Telluride	317	(2)
Where to dine in Telluride	319	(1)
Exploring Telluride	320	(3)
Nightlife in Telluride	323	(1)
Fast Facts: Telluride	324	(1)
Ouray and Silverton	324	(8)
Getting to Ouray and Silverton	324	(1)
Getting around Ouray and Silverton	325	(1)
Staying in Ouray and Silverton	325	(2)
Dining in Ouray and Silverton	327	(1)
Exploring Ouray and Silverton	328	(4)
Shopping in Ouray and Silverton	332	(1)
Finding nightlife in Ouray and Silverton	332	(1)
Fast Facts: Ouray and Silverton	332	(1)
Durango	333	(8)
Getting to Durango	333	(1)
Getting around Durango	333	(1)
Where to stay in Durango	334	(2)
Where to dine in Durango	336	(1)
Exploring Durango	337	(3)
Shopping in Durango	340	(1)
Nightlife in Durango	340	(1)
Springing off on a side trip to Pagosa Springs	340	(1)
Fast Facts: Durango	341	(1)
Mesa Verde and the Four Corners	342	(9)
Getting there	342	(1)
Getting around	342	(1)
Where to stay	343	(1)
Where to dine	344	(1)
Exploring the world of the Ancestral Puebloans	345	(6)
Shopping	351	(1)
Fast Facts: Cortez, Dolores, and Mancos	351	(1)
Chapter 25: The High San Juans and the San Luis Valley	352	(15)
Lake City	353	(4)
Getting to Lake City	353	(1)
Getting around Lake City	353	(1)
Where to stay in Lake City	353	(1)
Where to dine in Lake City	353	(2)
Exploring Lake City	355	(2)
Fast Facts: Lake City	357	(1)
Creede	357	(5)
Getting to Creede	358	(1)
Getting around Creede	358	(1)
Where to stay in Creede	358	(1)
Where to dine in Creede	359	(1)
Exploring Creede	360	(1)
Staying active in Creede	361	(1)
Culture in Creede	361	(1)
Hitting the slopes in Creede	361	(1)
Fast Facts: Creede	362	(1)
Alamosa and the San Luis Valley	362	(4)
Getting there	362	(1)
Getting around	363	(1)
Where to stay	363	(1)
Where to dine	363	(1)
Exploring Alamosa and the San Luis Valley	364	(2)
Fast Facts: Alamosa	366	(1)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	367	(12)
Chapter 26: Ten Signature Colorado Experiences	369	(5)
Summitting a Fourteener - on Foot or (If You Must) by Car	369	(1)
Riding the Ski Train to Winter Park	370	(1)
Dropping Trou and Soaking in a Hot Spring	370	(1)
Taking in a Concert at Red Rocks	370	(1)
Dining on Native Game	371	(1)
Cowboy Up at the Stock Show	371	(1)
Go from the Sublime to the Ridiculous in Glitter Gulch	371	(1)
Goooooooo, Broncos!!!!!	372	(1)
Sampling a Colorado Microbrew (Or Two)	372	(1)
Getting off the Beaten Track - without Getting Lost	372	(2)
Chapter 27: Beer, Beer, Beer - Ten Breweries and Their Signature Brews	374	(5)
The Wynkoop Brewing Company, Denver	375	(1)
New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins	375	(1)
Breckenridge Brewery, Denver and Breckenridge	375	(1)
Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins	375	(1)
Walnut Brewery, Boulder	376	(1)
Flying Dog Brewery, Denver	376	(1)
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, Boulder	376	(1)
Golden City Brewery, Golden	376	(1)
Ska Brewing Company, Durango	376	(1)
Dolores River Brewery, Dolores	377	(2)
Appendix: Quick Concierge	379	(8)
Colorado A to Z: Facts at Your Fingertips	379	(4)
Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites	383	(2)
Major airlines	383	(1)
Major car-rental agencies	383	(1)
Major hotel and motel chains	384	(1)
Finding More Information	385	(2)
Tourist information	385	(1)
Useful Web sites	385	(1)
State guides	385	(2)
Index	387