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There are so many ways to have an adventure in Colorado: climb a mountain, paddle a kayak, go skiing or snowboarding, ride a mountain bike. Doing these things with friends or as part of a club can make them even better. But for some, getting outdoors with their cat is the best.

When an unprecedented collaboration of northern Colorado public lands agencies set out last winter to gauge the depth of public concern over increasingly crowded parks and forests along the Front Range, one thing stood tall, like Longs Peak lit in gold at sunrise.
Surging visitation fueled by Front Range population growth, and its impact on sensitive public lands, is alarming to those who adore Colorado’s outdoors.

National parks are federally protected places for a reason — they’re beyond incredible. Colorado preserves some majorly captivating sites while offering an exciting line-up of recreational activities.
Many guests are content with low-key offerings such as hiking, biking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and scenic driving. Some of us crave more. Thrill-seekers, read on.

As Colorado rolls into arguably its most beautiful time of year, even the most barren foothills lining the Front Range turn a vibrant green for a few weeks. If you look closer at this lush ground cover, you’ll be amazed at the detail within the rainbow hues sprouting amid the greenery.
Related: Colorado wildflowers are blooming early, with some areas peaking now

After five months of renovations, Denver’s Union Station building is set to fully reopen to the public Friday with a redesigned Great Hall and remodeled guest rooms at the Crawford Hotel.

There’s nothing quite like soaking up live music outdoors in the summer.
As if catching a concert in the fresh air, with a fluttering breeze and stars overhead, weren’t alluring enough, Colorado is home to a handful of jaw-droppingly, distractingly scenic venues.
Here are the most beautiful places in Colorado (possibly even the world), where the surroundings amp up the concert.
Red Rocks
Morrison

“Paris is always a good idea,” said Audrey Hepburn in the movie “Sabrina.”
Some 50 million tourists who visit the French capital every year seem to think so as well.
Perpetually at the very top of the most visited cities in the world, Paris further boosts its appeal this summer by hosting the Summer Olympics from July 26 to Aug. 11. The games alone are expected to draw between 2.3 and 3.1 million unique visitors with game tickets, about 64% of them from France, according to a study. It will be a busy summer, that is for sure!

Patrick Clarke | (TNS) TravelPulse
Travelers have plenty of accommodation choices when they travel this summer thanks to the emergence of home-sharing platforms like Airbnb, making it easier to save on their stay.
Upgraded Points recently analyzed average nightly rates for hotels and Airbnbs in 100 of the largest cities across the U.S. to reveal which places it pays to book a hotel stay over an Airbnb (entire home) or vice versa.

Long-time Vail residents fondly say, “Winter is great, but summer is why we live here,” despite the global popularity of its ski slopes.
While the winter experience at the sprawling slopes of the Bavarian-style resort is spectacular, Vail’s summer adventures are next level.
Offering an abundance of treasures one typically seeks in Colorado’s High Country for a summer getaway — great hiking, biking, golf, and sunny patios — Vail also throws in extras like llama picnics, a world-class farmers market, and one-of-a-kind festivals.

Great literature is deeply rooted in place, and Colorado towns have been inspiring authors for decades. Ready to try a fiction-fueled vacay? Here’s how it works: Pick a title from the list below, read it solo or with your book club, then follow our travel notes to immerse yourself in a real-life literary setting.