Colorado For First-Timers (A Local's Guide) (Podcast #26)

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
If you're planning a trip toColorado, this is the episode for you.
Here's a 32nd teaser of the episode.

(00:36):
Hello and welcome.
My name is Betty Herd and I'm your hostfor the Travel Lemming podcast where my
guest today is a Denver local who hastraveled far and wide across Colorado.
She and her husband and dogshave road tripped, camped,
hiked, skied, you name it.
In seemingly every corner of the state,there is truly nobody I trust more as
my Colorado expert than Abigail Bliss.

(00:56):
Abigail, welcome to the show.
Thank you so much, Betty.
That's so nice of you to say.
I really do love where I live and feellike I truly have been to every corner.
So I'm excited to sharea bit of insight today.
I am excited as well and I'm sohappy to have you back so soon.
Abigail and I discussed roadtripping the American West with
Laura McFarland a few episodes back.
So if you're a road tripper, checkout that episode after this one.

(01:18):
We also saw Abigail discussing hertrip to Ireland at the end of 2024,
so lots of Abigail features, but I'mespecially excited to have you here
today to discuss the place you writeabout the most, the place you know
best and call home, which is Colorado.
Yeah, I am for sure excitedto talk about this topic.
I feel like of anywhere else I've been.

(01:38):
I know Colorado, you know,more deeply than anything else.
So yeah, lots to share today.
I wore my Colorado State sweatertoday where I almost went to college.
I have some personalexperience in Colorado.
Some of my best friends live there.
My brother lives there and my cousins.
So kind of been to, a few spots,but definitely not as many as you.
So, Abigail, tell our listenersa little bit more about you and

(02:01):
why you're our Colorado expert.
Sure.
Yeah.
So I have lived in Colorado fornine years now as of just last week.
It really does feel like home.
I came from the Chicagoland area,the Midwest, and so, you know, not a
place that had mountains and skiingand hiking and all the outdoor
recreation that Colorado offers.
And so that's really whatdrew me to this state.

(02:23):
And again, you know, I've gotten tosee so much of it in my time here.
As you mentioned, I have a couple of pupsand a husband who come on these adventures
with me and yeah, I feel like we have seenall the major mountain town destinations.
We've been to all the national parks,have skied at more than a dozen of
the ski resorts here in Colorado, soI feel like I know Colorado in all

(02:45):
seasons, in so many different ways and,I'm always excited to talk about it.
And for listeners who want to do a deeperdive into all the topics that we're about
to discuss, Abigail's written over ahundred guides so you can visit travel
lemming.com, type in Colorado in thesearch bar, and you can check out all
of those articles after this episode.
So I wanna start witha very basic question.

(03:07):
Why should someone travel to Colorado?
I feel like Colorado is a year-rounddestination, which makes it really
special in that, you know, you cancome in the dead of winter and have
a beautiful ski trip, or you can comeout in the summertime and maybe while
it's a hundred degrees in Denver, youcan escape to the mountains where it's,
you know, nice and cool for a hike orwhitewater rafting or whatever have you.

(03:29):
So I feel like.
You know, no matter whenyou come and visit Colorado,
it's bound to be a good time.
Especially if you like outdoor recreation.
And I think that that's the key driver ofso many people who come and visit, right?
They are coming out to ski,to hike, to, be outside.
And
I also feel like Colorado's peoplemake make the state really special.
I just feel like even though it mightnot be the most diverse of areas, I

(03:53):
feel that no matter what backgroundyou have, whatever walk of life you
are, you're coming into Colorado.
And I feel like.
The general population isgoing to warmly welcome you.
So I feel like it's just this funlaid back vibe where everybody
kind of has this sense of comraderyof, you know, we all like a lot
of the same things and oftentimesthat revolves around the outdoors.
So

(04:14):
Absolutely.
Yeah.
I do think Coloradans have a veryparticular kind of energy and I always
love being around them and they callit colorful Colorado for a reason.
It's such a gorgeous state.
Can you describe Colorado on a map sothat listeners who might not really know
the layout of the state can picture it?
sure.
Absolutely.
So.
To the east of Colorado, you're goingto see planes and a lot of agriculture.

(04:36):
And that's kind of the lifebloodof the eastern side of the state.
Kind of running through almostthe center is what is Denver,
kind of central to Colorado.
And then there's I 25,which runs north and South.
South.
And so to the north you're goingto find Fort Collins heading up all
the way into Wyoming, to the south.
That'll lead down into New Mexicoand you'll pass through towns like

(04:59):
Colorado Springs and Trinidad.
And then west of I 25, thatmajor throw fare is I 70.
And so that's going to lead you toa lot of your major mountain towns,
you know, into Summit County over inDevale, out west, into Grand Junction.
And then beyond that is the Utah border.
Kind of in the southwest corner of thestate, you're going to find destinations

(05:21):
like Durango and the San Juan Mountains.
That kind of then leads intothe four Corners region, which
borders up against like Arizona.
even beyond Colorado's borders,there's so much more to explore,
but I mean, that kind of, I think,gives you a bit of a layout.
Yeah.
Thank you so much for that descriptionand we'll definitely get into more
of those destinations in a bit here.
What are some of the bestthings to do in Colorado?

(05:41):
So I feel that, anyone who's comingto Colorado, will likely engage in
at least some outdoor recreation.
So again, it's a year-round destination.
If you're coming out in the wintertime,you'll get to take advantage of skiing and
snowboarding at so many different resorts,more than a dozen different resorts.
I think that come summertime,you have even more options
as far as outdoor recreation.

(06:02):
So things like hiking, backpacking,camping, climbing, mountain biking.
Whitewater rafting, fly fishing,you'll have to stop me, right?
Because there's so many thingsthat you really can't engage in.
As far as enjoying, the outdoors here inColorado, I think that you have everything
from the most extreme ways of recreatingto, you know, things that are really

(06:23):
approachable and accessible to people.
Colorado is home to four nationalparks, several dark sky destinations.
So again, there's just so manydifferent ways to be outside.
Beyond that though, I feel that Denveralso, or Colorado as a whole really
has such a great cultural scene, and.
Kind of, you know, starting offwith just like restaurants dining.

(06:44):
Denver especially has seen suchrapid growth in the restaurant
scene in the last few years.
Michelin just started coming out toDenver and a few select Colorado mountain
towns, just a couple of years ago.
And, it's really brought thisnational awareness to the restaurant
scene and, in Colorado as a whole.
So, we've got.
Some regional specials, things likegreen chili and Palisade peaches,

(07:06):
that the state is really known for,but just so many talented chefs
coming into the state as well.
So I think that makes, just anotherreason to come out and visit Colorado.
And then another thing too, kind ofin that cultural vein, I would say is
some of our like historic experiences.
Of course there's museums available in allthe major cities, just like you'd find in
any other major city in the United States.

(07:26):
But beyond that, I feel likethere's a lot of ways to engage
with that history in Colorado.
So there's things like, mine tours andcliff dwellings that you can go and tour
and, you know, historic train rides.
So, there really is, in my opinion,just something for every taste,
every interest to go and enjoy.
And out of all of these amazingthings that you've just described,

(07:46):
what would you say are your topfive main attractions in Colorado?
There's so many, like, this questionis so tough because I feel like.
There's just so many spots that Iwould recommend people go and see.
But if you are coming into Coloradofor the first time and your time is
limited, I would say that Rocky MountainNational Park is just a must see.

(08:07):
You know, again, it's one of thoseplaces that you can do something really
extreme, but you can also, you know.
Do activities that arereally approachable.
So things like scenic drivesanybody in the family of all
abilities can take advantage of.
Of course, Rocky MountainNational Park also has just some
of the best hikes in the state.
Places like Dream Lake, the TundraCommunities Trail, kind of like what

(08:28):
I was just mentioning off of TrailRidge Road, I think is really special.
And it's just a great placeto also see a lot of wildlife.
You know, everything from Elkand Marmite and maybe if you're
lucky, maybe even a black bear.
So, I love Rocky Mountain NationalPark and it's a really easy day trip
from Denver if that's where you chooseto, make kind of your home base.
Another popular national park.

(08:49):
At least among Coloradoans, maybelesser known elsewhere in the country,
is Great Sand Dunes National Park.
It's has some of the tallestdunes on the continent.
You can go sand sledding, sand boarding.
It's also a super dog friendlynational park, which is part
of why I really enjoy it.
You can take your pups all over thedunes, and there's a seasonal creek
that runs through during snow meltseason, so I think that's another

(09:11):
one to put on your bucket list.
I also really love Durango.
It might be my new favorite mountain town.
I've spent quite a bit of timedown there recently and it's
just such a special place.
And I think the number one attractionthere in Durango is the Durango and
Silverton narrow gauge railroad.
So that connects to mountain towns,Durango and Silverton, and takes you on

(09:31):
the scenic ride through the San Juans.
And again, it's just something that'saccessible for the whole family, but you
get some of the best views in the state.
But yeah, you know, you can also makethat kind of an extreme adventure too.
You can actually hike to some of thesewilderness stops and the train will pick
you up in the middle of nowhere and kindof take you back into one or other town.
So, it's just a really cool attractionthat I think is really special.

(09:53):
Colorado was also hometoo, several hot springs.
It's kind of hard to pick a favorite,but if I had to, I would say Strawberry
Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs.
It's kind of on the northern side of thestate and it, it's technically a resort.
It's accessible, it's paid and it'smaintained, but it just kind of gives
you more of like a natural feel thansome of the other built up resorts.

(10:14):
You're kind of like justsurrounded by these aspens and
pines and it's just stunning.
So, if you can make your wayup north, highly recommend
Strawberry Park Hot Springs.
And lastly, I'm gonna say my numberfive is Red Rocks Amphitheater.
It is just outside of Denver, about 15minutes from downtown, and it's this
massive concert venue that's flankedby these giant Red Rock formations.

(10:36):
And, you know, you've got acts whocome through that are local and some
of the biggest national names, eveninternational names that come through.
So Red Rock's Amphitheater is just, in myopinion, the coolest place to see a show.
Again, you're out in nature, butyou're taking advantage of this really
unique, big city cultural opportunity.
So yeah, you know, they also do likeyoga on the rocks, where you've got

(10:57):
hundreds of mats, like all these colorfulmats along the amphitheater stands.
And then, you know, they'll domovie screenings, comedy acts.
It's just a really cool venue.
So, so that's my top five.
It's a lot I know, but hopefullyyour listeners are taking notes.
So Red Rocks is one of the moststunning places ever, can you
kind of describe that place?

(11:17):
'cause I really feel like it,it truly is just like one of the
most incredible parts of Colorado.
Yeah, so I would say that, I wannasay around 10,000 person venue.
And it's entirely outdoors.
You have all these stands, I wanna sayit's like almost maybe 150, 200 rows that
are just like these concrete stands thatpeople, you know, can sit on, stand on.

(11:39):
It's, the entire amphitheater is inFlink by these giant Red Rock formations.
And then you've got the stage downbelow, so whether you're sitting
close to the stage and you can seethe performers well, or you're higher
up in the stands and you're gettingthis great view of downtown Denver.
I mean, there's reallyno bad seat in the house.
You know, the amphitheater sitsin the middle of a mountain park,
so it's covered in all theseother red rock formations, forest.

(12:02):
There's hiking trails surrounding it.
So, and it's also,again, really accessible.
You can get there from downtownDenver in a matter of minutes, so,
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's seriously one of thecoolest places I've ever been.
And before I'd ever seen a concertat Red Rock, someone had told me,
you can see anyone perform thereand you're gonna have a good time.
And when I went thereI was like, I get it.
Like I, I could see a band I've neverheard in my entire life and this would

(12:25):
be like the greatest concert ever.
So I really do recommend people goingand seeing a show there, even if you
don't necessarily know the artist,because sometimes the really well-known
ones are really, really expensive.
And then you can get really cheaptickets for the up and coming artists.
So I would highly recommend doingthat 'cause it's just one of the most
unforgettable experiences in Colorado.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
You know, my first Red Rock show wasstring cheese incident and you know,

(12:49):
I was, in college at the time and youknow, wasn't like a big jam band fan,
but then became one because that wasone of the most magical experiences.
And I feel like I have seensome of the funkiest performers.
I mean, to your point, it doesn'tmatter who's coming into town,
I take 'em to a Red Rock show.
So it's like everything from like.
Duran Duran to Dropkick Murphy's.

(13:10):
Like I just go whenever there'sa show and someone's in town.
Yeah, absolutely.
Everyone's gonna have a good time.
Exactly.
Are there any hidden gems that visitorsmight miss without your local insight?
There's so many, because again, it'ssuch a big state and there's so much
to do and I think that when you lookat, you know, the best of list, a lot
of times you just kind of see the sameplaces regurgitated over and over.

(13:32):
And not to say that those places aren'tincredible and deserving of a visit in
their own right, but there's so manyhidden gems, that don't get talked about.
So.
Off the top of my head, I have toshout out Ute Mountain Tribal Park.
I just went out there for the first timelast month and was absolutely blown away.
It's in the southwest corner of the stateand a lot of people are familiar with Mesa

(13:54):
Verde National Park, which has its cliffdwellings and its ancestral history with
the indigenous blow ins who once lived inthat region almost a thousand years ago.
But their structures, theartifacts still remain.
When you go to my severity National Park,I feel like it's more of like a, you
know, I don't wanna say commercializedexperience, but there's safety measures.
There's things that have been done toprotect artifacts that just aren't as,

(14:18):
you know, a little bit more of a, maybea family friendly, accessible experience.
But I feel that Ute Mountain TribalPark gives you a deeper appreciation
of maybe what Mesa Verde lookedlike back in like, A hundred years
ago in the 1920s or something.
So yeah, I went out there.
It is on tribal land.
The U Mountain Ute tribe livesthere and manages this tribal park.
And so the only way that you can getin is with an indigenous guide, and

(14:41):
they'll take you down this bumpy dirtroad for 45 minutes and this shuttle,
and you get out and you're in this reallysmall group of, less than 10 people.
They have, you climb down theseladders and you're looking at these
cliff dwellings that aren't, youknow, they haven't gone through any
kind of, you know, stabilization memeasures like you'll see at Mesa Verde.
They're just as they have been forhundreds of years, as you're kind

(15:05):
of walking through, you'll findthese like bits of pottery that
have like paint and textures to themliteral thousands of these shards of
pottery, like all over the trails.
And you're just able to pickthem up, handle them, obviously
do not take, but it's just like.
You really feel like you've steppedinto something out of a history book.
It's like somewhere I've never been.

(15:26):
So, and also just too, to have anindigenous guide kind of sharing
those stories, I think, it'sjust all that much more special.
So highly recommend that if you canget to the southwest side of the state.
saw, I saw your photos from thatand just seeing the photo of all
the pottery pieces everywhere.
I was like, I need to pack up andplan this trip to Colorado right now.

(15:46):
It looked so incredible.
I've never seen anything like that.
Yeah.
It's, it's wild.
I mean, I'm sure that there's otherlike really remote cliff dwellings
that like, if you're in the know, maybeyou know how to get to like, out in
like Arizona or Utah or what have you.
But, for this to be somethingthat, you can take a shuttle,
it's a tour, you pay an amount,you're safe, you're with somebody.

(16:09):
But to really feel like you havestepped the most remote, untouched
place is just really, really special.
So.
Highly recommend that park.
There's also wild horses runningaround, which I was really
Oh my God, that's so cool.
yeah.
Beyond that, I also highlyrecommend the Grand Valley.
I don't think Colorado's winecountry really gets talked
about on a national scale.

(16:30):
Maybe, some locals are familiar with it.
spent about a week in Palisade last fallduring the harvest season, when Palisade
Peaches are in season wine country.
I mean, it was just such a lovely getawayand felt so much more luxurious than you
get kind of from other places in Colorado.
But also really accessible too.
You know, it's not the same kindof maybe wineries that you'll

(16:53):
see in Napa where they're gettingthese crazy national awards and
you have to book out in advance.
It's still so Colorado in thatyou just kind of show up, drink
some wine along the river and it'ssome really good quality stuff.
There's also big bees orchard that'skind of in that Grand Valley region,
and so have to call that one out.
It's, it's an orchard.
And so they, they produce variousdifferent stone fruits, apples, it's

(17:14):
kind of a uick spot, but it's alsolike a really cool concert venue
that kind of goes under the radar.
So I feel like a lot of localseven aren't familiar with Big Bs.
So if you make it to Grand Valley,include that as part of your itinerary.
Yeah, another hidden Gem, puter Canyon.
I just mentioned to you better beforethis interview here that I was just
west of Fort Collins, where ColoradoState is, this past week and spent

(17:37):
some time in the Puter Canyon.
It's so little talked about.
I feel like it's just one of thoseplaces that's kind of maybe a little
bit more removed from some of theother bigger destinations like Denver.
But if you head that way, like some ofthe best fly fishing in the state, also,
again, one of the coolest concert venues.
I had never been to theMishawaka, but it's this.

(17:58):
Really intimate thousand person venue thatbrings in some national big name acts.
But you're like surrounded by nature.
You're right along the river.
If you raft there, your ticket is free.
So that's kind of cool.
Wow, that's amazing.
yeah, right.
And they just launched this new, glampingdestination, which I'm a big fan of.
So you can like camp a few miles downthe road, catch the shuttle, see a show.

(18:22):
It's just a great way tospend like a long weekend.
Yeah.
Couple more.
I've got a couple more hidden gems here.
See, lazy U Ranch.
Another one of these gotkind of lesser talked about.
Very luxurious ranch stays.
I was there this past winter and.
They do this, they, they're hometo more than a hundred, more than
a hundred horses that have all likeeither retired or have been rescued from

(18:44):
other ranches, and other situations.
And so they're kind ofjust all on retirement.
They really only come out forlike the occasional trail ride
for visitors there at the ranch.
And, they do this jingle wherethey have all the horses run out to
pasture in the beginning of the dayand then come back in the afternoon.
And so, watching that jingle,watching a hundred horses run

(19:04):
by you is the coolest thing.
And it's also, again, just a very,like all inclusive ranch stay where
you can have fine dining, but also allthese like rugged outdoor activities
like snowmobiling and, cross countryskiing, all the hikes in the summertime.
So tons to do there.
And my last hidden gem, I wouldsay is one of Vista Easter.

(19:26):
Vista bv.
People call it all different things.
But it's a great mountain town.
And I just feel like if you are really biginto hiking and you wanna do some really
big mountains, it has some of like thelargest collection of fourteeners there
in the collegiate peaks that you cankind of just summit one after another and
make BV your base camp for the weekend.
It's such a cool spot and I feel likedoesn't get nearly as much recognition as

(19:49):
so many other mountain towns in Colorado.
So again, I hope you're all takingnotes because there's just so
many great spots to check out.
Yes, absolutely.
Thank you so much forall those hidden gems.
I feel like Colorado justdoes such a great job of
incorporating the outdoors and.
Prioritizing nature in so many ofthese different spots, like whether
it's a concert venue or ranches orrestaurants, wineries, anything.

(20:09):
Like, it's just such a, it's such anatural environment and I feel like they
do it better than any other US state.
Maybe I, maybe I'm biased becauseI've been there so many times,
but I love that about Colorado,
So is there any specialetiquette that people should
know before visiting Colorado?
Yeah, I think there's like a couplethings off the top of my head.
I feel like, you know, again,we've been talking a lot about re

(20:31):
outdoor recreation and I think.
A lot of people come to Coloradowanting to engage in that, but maybe
aren't familiar with the etiquette.
And so I feel like it's really importantif you're coming out, you're going
to engage the outdoors to be familiarwith the leave no trace concepts.
So that really involves, youknow, the obvious, right?
You know, don't leave litter,you know, don't leave graffiti or

(20:56):
anything like that in a natural place.
But there's also sometimes things that Ithink that people who aren't as familiar
with being outside don't realize.
So like for example, you know,you might think that you're doing
something nice by feeding thelittle chipmunks and squirrels, but
that's actually not good for them.
Never feed the wildlife.
You don't wanna throw off theirnatural processes or what they
naturally should be eating.

(21:17):
Kind of in that same vein, thingslike apple cores, orange peels.
You wanna pack that stuff out,like even if, you know it might.
Biodegrade and you feel like that'ssomething that you've always done.
It's really not seen as an ethicalor, good practice here in Colorado
and anywhere in an outdoor environment.
Again, you don't want animals gettingto that kind of thing, or it's just

(21:39):
kind of on, slightly on the trail.
Right?
Things like waste, you know, ifyou're on a really big hike, I
feel like not everyone realizes,you gotta pack that out.
And if you are doing anythingelse, make sure you're away
from waterways and all of that.
So there are some just really goodthings to know as far as like making
sure that you're doing the best youcan as far as, protecting the outdoors.

(22:03):
We all want these places to beas natural and, you know, as.
Pristine and cared for as possible.
We want them to lastfor future generations.
So I highly recommend if you're goingoutside, be familiar with those practices.
Beyond that, cannabis consumption,I think that a lot of states have
now legalized recreationally, and sopeople are very familiar with kind
of what that looks like to go intoa dispensary to purchase cannabis.

(22:27):
But some states have varying laws,can't speak to all of them, but, here
in Colorado, you know, you cannot lightup a joint at a Red Rocks concert or,
walking down the street in Denver.
Not just a free for allanywhere you want anytime.
exactly.
Yeah.
It's, just like alcohol,there is limitations as to
where you can legally consume.

(22:47):
So just be aware of those practices.
One other thing too that, I just wantedto touch on, kind of going back to the
outdoors, is also just fire etiquette.
Like Colorado is a very dry, aridplace, especially in certain regions.
And so like, things like throwing acigarette butt out the window or a
joint butt or whatever have you, evenparking your, super hot car that's

(23:11):
letting out exhaust, like on dry grass.
Like there are things that humanscan do beyond just sparking a
bonfire and not putting it outproperly that can cause fires.
And so be really familiarwith those practices as well.
You don't wanna burn down a forest, right?
So, so, yeah.
yes.
Very good reminders for things that alot of people might forget to consider.

(23:31):
So our next segment is allabout where to stay in Colorado.
Where is the best place to stay forsomeone's first time in Colorado?
so if it's your very firsttime in Colorado, I would
recommend staying in Denver.
You know, again, we've talked a lotabout outdoor recreation, mountain
towns, but I just feel like Denveris such a great central region.

(23:52):
I mean, that's why I live here.
You can really get all over thestate, you know, via those two
highways I mentioned I 70, I 25, like.
Those are your thoroughfares.
It's how you're gonna getinto the mountains if you want
to take advantage of that.
But I feel like staying in Denver, you'regoing to get such a mix of different
activities from the big city to thoseoutdoor things that we've talked about.
There's also like the largest numberof, hotel options for all these

(24:14):
different budgets and whatnot.
Varying types of transportation.
Even if you don't rent a car,there's ways to get around the city,
even to get into the mountains.
Things like shuttles, light rails, buses,you name it, like Denver just has it all.
So I really think is a first time visitor.
It's just a great base camp,whether you're here for.
Three days or a week.
There's so much that you cando by, staying put in Denver.

(24:37):
It's also like probably theeasiest to get to, right?
You know, we have our internationalairport, Denver International,
just outside of the city.
So, if you're traveling in from anotherstate, that's probably going to be where
you're headed to begin with anyway.
So I think, first timers go to Denver.
The only other spot that I'd maybe likerank as like second place in another

(24:57):
spot to consider, would be Summit County.
So that encompassesseveral different towns.
Frisco, Breckenridge, Silverthorne,those are all great places to stay.
And again, they kind of have varyingdifferent price points, but it puts you in
the middle of the mountains and there's somany places that you can get to from that.
So whether you wanna, reallyhead in any direction, there's

(25:18):
a lot to see in that region.
So, so I think that'skind of a good number too.
And it's only about hour, hour anda half, maybe more with traffic,
but it's not super far from Denver.
So even if you're flying intoDIA, it's, it's pretty accessible.
Yeah.
And on the topic of Denver InternationalAirport, I feel like it's in the perfect
position in the United States, at leastif you're traveling within the United

(25:40):
States, that it's like pretty central.
So you can get really great faresfrom really any corner of the country.
I've gotten flights as low as$30 from Arizona to Denver.
I know that's really just a state away.
But, some really great dealsif, if you know where to look.
And also, I love that you can take thetrain from the airport to downtown Denver.
'cause the airport is kind of outthere in the middle of nowhere.

(26:01):
But if you don't have a car, it's fine.
You just take the train.
Yeah, I do that all the time.
I did it just last week.
so easy to just catch the light rail andit's, I think seven 10 bucks super cheap
to kind of get in and outta the city.
And it's always really clean and safe.
I always feel very safe on that train.
what about budget places?
Are there some major budget areas thatyou recommend staying or any particular

(26:25):
hostels, hotels, that kind of thing?
Whether you're a first time visitor,you're a budget traveler, I really
think Denver is such a great home base.
Especially if you're on a budgetthough, I would recommend looking at
kind of the suburbs surrounding Denver.
So, whether it's north,west, east, there's a ton of
affordable, kind of budget stays.

(26:45):
The typical hotel chains that,so many people are familiar with.
On my first couple of trips outto Colorado, I stayed on the west
side of town and stayed in a couplesuburbs, Littleton and Lakewood.
You can catch the light railfrom both of those places.
So you know, it's convenient evenif you, again, are budgeting and you
don't wanna rent a car, you can stillget into the Denver area, or into

(27:06):
downtown Denver from those suburbs.
And I kind of like the west sidejust 'cause it puts you a little
bit closer to the mountains.
So even if you wanna like, takean Uber from, you know, your stay
in Lakewood and Uber over to RedRocks for a show, it's really.
Not that bad and kind of putsyou closer to the mountains.
So I'd recommend the western suburbsabove anywhere else, but really any

(27:26):
of the Denver suburbs are gonna havea little bit more cheaper of stays.
Great.
So outside of Denver, are there anyother notable places to stay in Colorado?
yeah, I would say that, a couple placesalso are, great destinations that kind
of put you in the midst of it all.
One of them is Glenwood Springs,so that's right there along I 70.
it in itself is a fantastic destination,but again, it kind of puts you in the

(27:48):
central location, some next to someother major Colorado destinations.
So if you go east, you'll be inthe town of Vail, which is so
iconic, really well known for itsskiing, and kind of some Bavarian
inspiration as far as its architecture.
Um, really charming place to check out.
If you go south from Glenwood Springs,you'll end up in Aspen, which,
you know, again, is just iconic.

(28:10):
The maroon bells are there.
All like, you know, your luxury,boutiques and hotel stays, all of that.
Aspen is just iconic and again,a great place for skiing and
all kinds of outdoor recreation.
And then from Glenwood Springs, if yougo out west, you'll also end up in, kind
of, the Grand Valley as I was talkingabout earlier, that wine country through
Palisade, and beyond that Grand Junction,which has Colorado National Monument.

(28:34):
A lot of like desert scenery.
So yeah, just anotherspecial place to check out.
So Glenwood Springs, great hub.
If you just wanna, see some differentplaces that, are also iconic to Colorado.
Secondly I would recommend Durango,that's in the southwest corner, and again,
might be my new favorite mountain town.
I just really love it down there.
It's a college town, so it kind ofkeeps things like young and fresh, but

(28:56):
there's just a ton of locals tons offamilies, but also a lot of tourists.
You kind of get a mix of,you know, it all down there.
The Durango and Silverton Narrow gaugeRailroad again is such an iconic thing
to check out if you stay in Durango,Mesa Verde National Park, Ute Mountain
Tribal Park, the one that I was talkingabout with all of the shards of pottery
and the wild horses and whatnot.

(29:16):
And then it kind of gives youaccess to the San Juan Mountains.
So there's other really iconic placesto check out over there, like Silverton.
U Ray, Pagosa Springs, which isiconic for its hot springs, which
just went through a major renovation.
There's like 40 different pools nowavailable, so I think the Southwest Corner
is a great place to post up as well.
It's a little trickier to access, butonce you're there, there's a lot to do.

(29:39):
So, yeah.
Awesome.
And for me, if I may interject acouple of my, personal favorites.
That I've visited withmy friends and family.
I love Fort Collins.
I know it's like, kind of just, well a lotof people just consider it a college town,
but I feel like there's so much to it.
There's a lot of awesomeoutdoorsy things to the west.
You can go to Horse Tooth Reservoir.

(30:00):
They have the mountains.
I've gone to some awesome college events,like sports games and, and they have
like the cutest downtown bar scene.
I think that they call it the NapaValley of Beer in downtown Fort Collins.
Is that correct?
I've heard that,
'cause they have so many differentbreweries and, and just like an
awesome brewery and bar scene.

(30:21):
I absolutely love goingbar hopping down there.
And then, I love Crusted Buttejust went there last year and I
know you've had experience there.
We went camping and, and hiking withthe wildflower season, which is like
pretty much right now, summertime,the most gorgeous wildflowers
I've ever seen with such amazingmountains and lakes to swim in.
And I saw black bear andso much other wildlife.
It was so cool.

(30:42):
And then, my last one is Telluride, whichto me is like the Switzerland of America.
It's like the most gorgeousplace I've ever seen.
There's waterfalls in every direction,these gigantic mountains, and the gondola
takes you into town and it's so beautiful.
So those are a few of my favorites.
I don't know if you agree on any ofthose things, but that's really like
the extent of my Colorado experience.

(31:04):
I love that you've been to somereally wonderful places and some
places that aren't so easy to access.
I mean, things like places like Telluride,Crested Butte, those are fantastic places
to go and visit, but I feel like I know somany, even people who've lived in Denver
for forever who have yet to visit them.
So good on you for getting outthere and seeing some gems.
Telluride is pretty close to Durango,so really, whether you made that

(31:26):
your home base or the other, likeyou could kind of get between the
two of 'em within a couple hours.
So yeah, I love that.
It's funny too that you mentionTelluride reminding you of Switzerland
because the town just near it.
You Ray it's nickname is theSwitzerland of America, so
I didn't know that.
So you, you're right on pointwith being inspired by those
mountains there because Yeah.

(31:47):
Other people see it too.
But
God, it's so stunning there.
yeah, and I love Crested Butte.
I mean, the wild flowersthere are just spectacular.
I've never seen anything like it,like truly, like every hillside just
covered in these fields, wild flowers.
And I've been down there in thesummer as well as the winter time and
the winter, like if you're big intoskiing and you love super, super steep

(32:10):
slopes, like Crested Butte is the spot.
Like I've never seen a steeper ski resortand my experience, I'm sure is lesser
than some, but I mean, I was chattingwith some locals who were saying that
they, some of the runs really should beranked as like triple black diamonds.
So, so yeah, if you're looking for somereally challenging stuff, like Crested
Butte is a cool spot for that too.
Yeah.
Yeah.

(32:30):
I feel like Colorado has someawesome extreme sports destinations.
So on the topic of ski resorts, whatare maybe your top three ski resorts?
I think that they all have theirbenefits, i'm gonna say that
Breckenridge is one of my favorites.
It's been my go-to mountain forthe last four years now since
I started buying an epic pass.

(32:51):
I love Breckenridge.
I mean, you were just saying thesame thing about Fort Collins, but
it has such a great opera scene,like just the bar scene there.
The locals are so fun.
I think that you're gettingmore than just skiing there.
You're really getting likea full Colorado experience.
Yeah, I, I really love Breckenridgeand if you're here during like
December holiday season, definitelygo to Uler Fest if you can.

(33:14):
I just went to it for the first timethis past year, and they have this like.
Ridiculous shot ski thatinvolves like 1400 people and
like it's just a total party.
Everybody is just hyped that it'swinter time and it's ski season again.
So I just think Breckenridge is great.
There's, you know, just like a lotof resorts, there's skiing for every
ability level, but it's kind of splitup into these five different peaks.

(33:38):
And so certain peaks cater to certainpreferences as far as like difficulty
or features like Glades or moguls.
So you can kind of pick your peak and justkind of stay there and just make laps.
So, yeah, it's, it's a great resort.
I also really love Arapahoe Basin.
That's where I skied forseveral years before I started
buying a Big Mountain Pass.
And it is now on the Icon Pass.

(33:59):
It'll be, completely accessiblethrough the Icon Pass this coming year.
It was just recentlybought and I just love it.
Again, super steep mountain.
It's.
Still got this like reallycharming local vibe to it though.
Like people hang out in the lot, they'regrilling up breakfast burritos and
crushing beers at eight in the morning and

(34:21):
I love that vibe.
such a vibe.
Like Arapaho Basin is just fun andit embodies I think a lot of what is
Colorado's character of just beingfun, laid back, not taking itself
too seriously, but also being reallyserious in the way that it skis because
those mountains are really steep.
So, love Arapahoe Basin.
And then if I had to pick one more it'sone of those big industry giants now.

(34:44):
But I love Vail.
It is, I think, the biggestski resort in Colorado if I'm.
Correct that or Steamboat,but I just love Vail.
I mean, again, it's one ofthose that like, you kind of
have, the mountain is so big.
If you know what you like and what you'relooking for, you can kind of like get to
an area and just make laps on that theentire afternoon and maybe not, you know,

(35:04):
get stuck behind a beginner or vice versa.
Have somebody like skiing way toofast past you as you're learning.
So I think that it's a greatmountain that's really spread out.
You can kind of hang out inthe area that you wanna be.
I really like Blue Sky Basin, whichis like way back, it's like up the
front face, down the back, bowls backup again, so you're kind of out there.
But some of the best powder sashes I foundin Colorado, I also really like Vail too

(35:27):
because it gets this resorts in Colorado.
Actually Vail's number one, liketourism, like people who are coming
into Vail are coming from Mexico.
So you hear a ton of Spanish beingspoken on the mountain, which you
don't hear or see in any otherresort that I've been to in Colorado.
And like I said, I've been to a dozennow and I just love, you know, hearing

(35:48):
different languages, seeing peoplewho, maybe are visiting Colorado or
the United States for the first time,getting to experience something so cool.
So I, I think Vail's really special.
that's awesome.
but they're all great.
You'll find special placesreally cool runs at any resort.
So.
Absolutely.
And you mentioned the icon and epic passand I, being from Arizona and now living

(36:10):
in California, that was something I didn'tknow about until about five years ago.
So can you tell listeners who might notknow, what is an epic slash icon pass?
It's like, I feel like the numberone like speed dating question that
anyone's gonna ask you in Denver.
Like, are you an epic or icon skier?
Yeah.
People have got their opinions.
I've skied mountains on both passes andI think they're both wonderful in their

(36:33):
are those the only two ski passes?
Yeah, so there's otherpasses, here in Colorado.
Epic and Icon are the big ones.
There's also Powder Alliance, whichincorporates, purgatory Resort,
which is right there near Durango.
So kind of far out there.
It has a few other resorts.
Powder Alliance has a few otherresorts in the United States,
and internationally, but Epic andIcahn are kind of the big ones.

(36:56):
Of course, there's alsoindependent mountains.
So, like there's an indie pass that youcan get that gets you like a couple days
at a few different independent resorts.
Which Colorado still has several,but not as many as there once was.
A lot of 'em have reallyjoined either Epic or Icon.
So if you ski often.
Or even if you don't ski very often,it's, it might be, you know, the

(37:17):
most affordable, you know, optionfor you, especially if you're trying
to do like a really big mountain.
'cause a lot of the India resortsare great, but you know, there's just
like a few runs, maybe a couple lifts.
So kind of depends onwhat you're looking for.
But, I love both passes,both Epic and Icon.
You know, they incorporate some ofthe best mountains in the state.
And I know that both of those passes alsoincludes some international destinations

(37:40):
like Japan, Switzerland, and France.
Right?
Absolutely.
Yeah.
I mean, you can take that past somany other places in the United
States as well as internationally.
Oh wow.
So again, like you reallycan't go wrong with either one.
It comes down to personal preference and
Yeah.
And maybe the price tag.
Yeah.
Right.
And I think they range maybe like,what, 500 to a thousand dollars?

(38:00):
So if you're like local to Colorado, I'drecommend something like, epics is around
800, or the icon local, which a hundred.
Oh,
But if you get like the full pass withall of the international destinations,
loveland is where I learned how to ski.
It's an independent resort aboutan hour outside of Denver, and
it still is like a favorite.
It's so charming and kind of holds,just that local vibe again, where

(38:24):
people aren't taking themselves tooseriously, hanging out in the lot.
It's a cool one.
So maybe look there if you're on a budget.
Great.
Thank you so much for discussingall these awesome ski resorts.
I know that's such a major drawfor people visiting Colorado.
we talked about so many thingsto do and all these places to
stay, and I wanna kind of tie thattogether with the topic of safety.
So is Colorado safe and what shouldtravelers look out for when they visit?

(38:46):
I absolutely believethat Colorado is safe.
As far as things like crime, Idon't think you're really gonna
run into that in too many places.
I think that, if there'sanywhere dangerous in Colorado
that people maybe would.
Feel unsure about maybe downtown Denver.
Like there are certain neighborhoodsin downtown Denver that experience
the same crime that you mightexperience in any other major city.

(39:08):
Right.
You know, you might run into pettytheft and that sort of thing.
You know, homelessness is, anissue in certain parts of downtown.
So I feel like as far as like thosekind of concerns though, Colorado
really doesn't, that's not reallysomething that you have to worry
about in most places across the state.
I think more than anything youshould be more concerned about

(39:30):
things like wildlife and weather.
So that's kind of what I would warn peopleto be more aware of than anything else.
Colorado is a semi aridplace, and so again, like.
You gotta be careful with wildfires.
Storms roll in, there's kind of likea bit of a monsoon season in the late
spring, early summer here in Colorado.
So like major storms in themountains, afternoon storms all

(39:52):
through the summer are super common.
We do have some predatory type animals.
Wolves, or even smaller animals,you know, we've got rattlesnakes
too that you have to worry about.
So, again, like the frequency ofwhich you run into wildlife and it's
a matter of danger is so infrequent.
I feel like for me, I've had like.
Maybe one scary moose encounter andeverything else, I've always felt really

(40:14):
safe, but it's important to know whatto do should you run into, wildlife.
So, so yeah, that, those arekind of things I would warn
people about as far as safety.
Yeah, I don't think I've seenmore wildlife in any other
US state more than Colorado.
Like I said, last yearwe saw a black bear.
The one time we went camping, inCrested Butte, and I don't think
I've ever seen a bear in Arizona.

(40:35):
Never seen a bear in California.
And we also saw moose, like you said,like so many big beasts of the forest
that you just gotta watch out for allgreat tips for a safe trip to Colorado.
And you briefly mentioned, whetherat certain times of year, which leads
me to my next question, which iswhen should people visit Colorado?
I feel like, again, it's such likea year-round destination, but I

(40:57):
would say there's maybe like bettermonths to come out than others.
I would say if you're coming out toski in the winter time, I personally
love March more than any other time.
Some people might argue for Februarybecause that's when we get the most
snow, but I love March because it'sstarting to get a little bit warmer out.
There's maybe even a day or twoyou can just wear a t-shirt out.
Like I think March skiing is great.

(41:19):
The snow is still really deep.
There's still some great powderstashes, but it's a little bit warmer.
So I'd say March for a winter trip.
Try to avoid like spring breakthough, because you'll pay the most
for tickets and everything else.
As far as like.
Other outdoor recreation.
There's really no badtime in the summertime.
I think, again, depending on maybe whatyou're looking to do, there's maybe
better months like whitewater rafting.

(41:41):
In my opinion.
There's no better time than Junebecause that's runoff season.
And so, the water levels are really high.
The splashes are big.
It's the most thrilling time togo whitewater rafting in Colorado.
But it's not a great time togo fly fishing because all
the streams are blown out.
So it really, like, it depends again,on what maybe you're looking for.
As far as like hiking big peaks,like say a 14 er, a 14,000 foot peak.

(42:05):
July is great because finallythe snow is all melted.
So you can actually get up there, youknow, with a little bit more ease.
Yeah.
And then of course, likefall is just beautiful.
All the aspens turn yellow andit's just a beautiful time to go
leaf peeping and on scenic drives.
And the hiking is great.
Denver is also really comfortable asfar as temperatures in the fall time.

(42:26):
So if you're looking for like leafpeeping, I would say like mid-September
into like early October is great, butthere are like maps and tools that kind of
gauge, the best time to come out for that.
And highly recommend lookingbecause when the leaves turn, they
fall within like a week or two.
So, you know, can be a little bittricky, but those are some of my

(42:46):
favorite times to get around Colorado.
I would say maybe my least favoritemonth in Colorado is like April May.
And again, kind of dependingon where you're at, but mud
season, is sometimes an issue.
You know, again, with snow melt,some of the trails can be muddy.
So if you wanna hike and like.
Certain areas in April and may probablywouldn't be the best conditions.
But again, the state is verylarge and there's lots of

(43:09):
different types of terrain.
So you can kind of do a lotof things no matter what time
of year you're coming out.
And you mentioned Fourteeners.
Can you tell us a little bit more aboutwhat Fourteeners mean to Coloradans?
I know that's like a massive thing wherepeople try to summit all of them, right?
Yes.
That's another one of thosespeed dating questions like
how many fourteeners have you
Yeah.
Which I've hiked 15, so

(43:31):
Wow.
And there's like 50 plus, right?
I'd have to double check.
I think there's 53, 56.
There's kind of like a bit ofdebate around how many there are,
because technically there's supposedto be like a certain distance
between two peaks, two high points.
So that saddle between the mountainshas to be a certain distance.
Gotcha.

(43:52):
You know, my husband's a land surveyor,so unless somebody like him wants
to climb to 14,000 feet and shoota bunch of points and look through
historic data, kind of a lot of work.
Yeah.
there's 50 some, there's50 some fourteeners, and
they're really iconic too.
I think Colorado's culture, you know,there's a lot of people who wanna peek
bag them all, some at the mall and justkind of have those bragging rights.

(44:13):
But it's kind of goes back to whatI said, you know, at the top of this
interview, just kind of that comradery.
Like, I have never seen more excited, morealive people than on a 14,000 foot summit.
You know, people are just so stokedto like, have accomplished something
like that, be there at the top and,just kind of celebrating that together.
So it's some special energy on thosesummits and, yeah, they're just,

(44:36):
they're really challenging hikes.
I would not recommend it to somebodywho does not hike frequently or is
maybe adjusting to the altitude, but,there's a lot of pride in them, so,
Yeah, maybe get a few practice hikesin before tackling one of them.
For sure.
Absolutely.
I have yet to hike a fourteenermyself, but I have it planned with
my family, at the end of this year.
So I will let you know ifthat goes successfully.

(44:59):
Hopefully,
Amazing.
I have to ask, which one are you doing?
I think it's beer stat.
I've heard that's aneasier first one to try,
Absolutely.
That was my first fourteener,
Okay.
my doggy got up there as a puppy.
This was years ago.
So yeah, it was my first fourteener.
I took my brother up there a coupleyears ago as his first fourteener.

(45:19):
So it's definitely,
Oh, awesome.
I wouldn't say honestly, it's the easiest.
There's like some scramblingstuff at the top, like that
last like quarter mile or so.
But it's one that I think is like, itkind of gives you like a true taste
of that like mountain adventure.
Then you're kind of hookedand you wanna do all of 'em.
Okay.
You've sold me.
I'll do it.
I guess I'll do it.
So how much time do you recommendsetting aside for a trip to Colorado?

(45:43):
I think at a minimum you want threedays, a little bit more than a weekend.
We actually have a really greatthree day Denver itinerary on
travel lemming, that was written byanother local author, Laura Fallon.
And she kind of breaks down, howto spend a day or two in Denver and
then it also includes a day tripinto Rocky Mountain National Park.

(46:05):
I think it might maybe includelike a suggestion to go to a
show at Red Rock's Amphitheater.
So, you kind of get to see at least.
A little bit of the sites, ifyou spend three days and you make
Denver your base camp, but I wouldrecommend much longer than that.
I mean, I think in chatting, and kindof hearing me share about this state,
I am so passionate about it and I thinkthere's so many places to go and see.

(46:27):
So You know, if you can get morevacation time, and spend some more time
out here, like 10 days is more ideal.
I actually have another separateguide, that I wrote on Travel
Lemming that kind of breaks downlike a 10 day Colorado road trip.
And it takes you everywhere fromDenver to Steamboat Springs to
Glenwood Springs, down to Tarango,circle back through Colorado Springs.

(46:47):
So you get to really get a good senseof what Colorado offers if you can
dedicate more time and rent a car.
So yeah,
Yes.
And on the topic of renting a car,I wanted to ask you what are the
best ways to get around Colorado?
I think that rentinga car is the best way.
You know, it's like, I wish that.
Colorado had the kind of publictransit that maybe other places

(47:08):
do, but that is not the case.
So if you want to see the mountains andyou want a lot of independences to be able
to move at your own pace and see what youwanna see, I think a car is, it's gonna
give you a better trip here in Colorado.
again, if you only coming in for along weekend and you're just really
planning on staying in Denver, I dothink you can use public transit.
The light rail is a great resource that's,safe and affordable and can get you

(47:31):
several places throughout the metro area.
There's also things like thebusing that will take you like from
Denver up to Boulder or Denver upto Rocky Mountain National Park.
There's also now a ski train that'll takeyou from Denver to Winter Park Resort.
So even if you come in thewintertime, you can catch the
train to one of the ski mountains.

(47:51):
So you can get away with public transitif you're clever and you're willing to be,
a little flexible.
Yeah, right.
Patient, some of these publictransits, these modes of public
transit aren't the quickest.
But they work, you can, youcan still plan it if you, if
you're again kind of flexible.
But a car is best if you can swing it.
So, yeah.
Great advice.

(48:12):
And again, all of these placesthat Abigail has been discussing
will be listed in the show notes.
You can do a deeper dive in intothe destinations, the itineraries
that she's written, alongwith, our other Denver locals.
Now onto local cuisine.
Are there any dishes or drinks?
Famous to Colorado.
So I think number one is probablygreen chili, which I feel like we

(48:34):
may have stolen from New Mexicobecause it's also very big down
Yeah, I was gonna say, I thoughtthat was a New Mexico thing.
But I feel like, you know, in Coloradoit has such a, let's call it a regional
thing, you know, it's something thatColoradans, I think, take a lot of
pride in and use very generously.
So whether that be smothered green chiliburritos or it's on top of a hamburger,

(48:55):
you know, green chili is such a staple,you know, even just eaten with like
chips or a tortilla, like you're gonnafind green chili on a lot of menus.
So another thing I would recommend,Palisade peaches, if you're
here in the summer or earlyfall when they're in season.
They're just so good.
I actually did a story about the largestpeach producer in Colorado, last fall
and stayed at their orchard and, youknow, got to chat with that family.

(49:19):
I think they're a fourth orfifth generation family farm.
And, you know, they kind of explainedto me how these peaches, because they
grow at a higher altitude, they're kindof going through the fluctuations day
by day as far as temperatures whereit's really hot in the afternoons
and then gets really cold at night.
So it's locking in these sugarsand they're just the sweetest
peaches you can possibly imagine.

(49:40):
So.
Love Palisade peaches, if you can get yourhands on those when you come to visit.
And Betty, you kind of touched onthis too when you were chatting
about Fort Collins, but my thirdthing I'd recommend is craft beer.
Colorado is home to more than400 breweries across the state.
We take so much pride in our craftbeer and kind of just being pioneers
in that industry back in like thelate eighties, early nineties.

(50:01):
And so there's so many great breweries.
In Denver alone, I wanna saythere's over a hundred, but you'll
find them all over the state.
So we're almost at the end of our episode,and I wanna know if as a transplant,
who's originally from the Chicago area,do you have any advice for people who
are maybe thinking of moving to Colorado?
Yeah.
So I would say if you're likemoving to Colorado, you're

(50:21):
considering moving to Colorado.
I think that a couple things off thetop of my head that you should be
aware of is, one, the cost of living.
Colorado is not thecheapest place to live.
you know, I, I would say like Denveris comparable to maybe some other major
cities in the United States, but evenif, you know, you think you're gonna move
to a rural area and that's gonna be muchcheaper, that is not necessarily the case.

(50:44):
And I would say more likely not the case.
You know, these ski townsare extremely expensive.
A lot of people have, you know,they're, they're getaway home.
They're in so many ofthese mountain towns.
And so, housing is infrequent tofind and quite expensive if you do.
So, I would say, kind of just statewide.
The cost of living is somethingto be prepared for, maybe plan for

(51:06):
if you're considering a move here.
In addition to that, Iwould also say the weather.
I meet a lot of people who movehere from Florida, from Texas,
places that don't get snow.
And so, things like snow tires, chainslike that is very unfamiliar to them.
And these mountain passes can getquite dangerous in the wintertime if
you're not driving a proper vehicle.

(51:26):
So I would say that, yeah, the weatheris maybe something to plan for,
especially winter weather if you'recoming from a place that, doesn't
receive that type of, winter craziness.
So, so, yeah.
Those are a couple things off the topof my head, but I think beyond that,
just kind of knowing your reasons too.
Like if you, if you wannalive in Colorado, like.
I think you really have to wantto live here because again, the

(51:48):
cost of living can be prohibitive.
I feel like I've lived in Denver andmy social circle has changed three
times over every two or three years.
It's a kind of transient city.
I mean, Denver in particular, Ithink, where people come in and of go.
So I would say like maybeto plan for that as well.
If you're a transplant, it might bea little tricky to kind of form a
community and your community mightconstantly be changing because, I think

(52:10):
that some people, just don't wantto pay what it costs to live here.
So, so yeah, I, I think thoseare some things to keep in mind.
But I mean, aside from that, I thinkit's a wonderful place to live and I
would recommend it to lots of people.
So, so, yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Great insight and I'm surefuture Coloradans very much so.
Appreciate your advice.
Do you have any other tips toknow before visiting Colorado?

(52:32):
as a visitor, I would say likethe altitude is very real.
If you're coming in from sea level toDenver, like maybe it won't be too bad.
Maybe you won't notice anything.
But if you're, going from sea levelto somewhere like Leadville, which is
the highest incorporated city in theUnited States at 10,500 feet elevation,
like the altitude is very real.

(52:54):
And even beyond that, like even ifyou're coming up to like Summit County
and you're hanging out in Breckenridge,that's a 9,000 feet elevation.
So you're gonna potentiallyfeel that difference.
And so there's ways to combat, thepotential for altitude sickness, which
altitude sickness really is like,things like you might experience like
dizziness, lightheadedness, maybenausea, it's not fun symptoms, right?

(53:16):
It's gonna make you feel kind of crummy.
So I would say like.
Some things that you can do to combatthat potential would be stay hydrated,
like drink way more water thanyou're expecting, you think you need.
Especially if you're doing like anykind of strenuous outdoor activity.
So stay hydrated, number one.
And the other thing too kindof goes back to weather.
Like our temperatures vary drastically.

(53:37):
Like it could be, a 30 degree shiftfrom being 80 degrees in the daytime
to 50 degrees at nighttime, oreven more extreme in certain areas.
So, pack layers, like if you'recoming out to visit, just prepare
for every weather imaginable.
I mean, when I go camping in themountains, it's everything from like
shorts and chacos to my winter ski jacket.

(53:58):
So yeah.
Be prepared for all of it.
Yeah, I've been in Colorado before whereit dumped snow one day and then the
next day it was sunny and 75 degrees.
I was just like, this is so confusing.
What was I supposed to bring on this trip?
But I think you're very right.
Yeah.
Just bringing all, all differentkinds of layers for whatever weather.
'cause it's
Well that's all for today.
Abigail.
You were the greatest Colorado expert.

(54:19):
Again, all of Abigail's Colorado articlesare linked in the show notes so you
can read more about all of the topicswe've discussed after the episode.
Abigail's written over 100 guides fortraveling, like I said at the beginning
of the episode, so you will be totallycovered with her library alone.
If you like this episode, like andsubscribe to our channel so you
don't miss out on travel expertiseand inspiration around the world.

(54:42):
Again, we are posting on Thursdays.
again, Abigail.
I loved picking your brainabout Colorado today.
Thank you so much for having me.
This was so much fun.
Absolutely, and thankslisteners for tuning in.
We'll see you next time onthe Travel Lemming podcast.

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