Secret National Parks: An Alaska National Park As Big As Connecticut. Annual Visitors? 23,000

By Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse As autumn starts to settle over the U. S., plenty of leaf-peepers are eagerly awaiting the annual show of Mother Nature’s splendor — that is, leaves turning to brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. But, understanding precisely where and when this phenomenon will reach its peak vibrancy in various areas of the country takes more than just guesswork. For those keen to witness the trees’ colorful transformation, national parks are always popular because where better to view the changing of the seasons than places where forests are preserved and protected?

Just in time for Halloween, Estes Park’s Stanley Hotel will host a horror-themed weekend that includes interactive events and screenings of a new series from Peacock and Blumhouse Productions. Blumhouse, the company behind frightening films such as “Get Out,” “Sinister” and “M3GAN,” is turning the historic hotel into an immersive experience, according to a statement.

Steer, steer on the wall; what’s the cowboyiest state of them all? Here in Colorado, we pride ourselves on our cowtown, Wild West heritage, but are we actually out there working the land in our Wranglers, or just strutting our stuff at the Grizzly Rose in our Rockmounts? If the cowboy spirit is all self-reliance and hard work, where do hipsters and $10k-a-month apartments fit in? In movies, cowboys look like the gunslinging John Wayne, the sometimes morally dubious “hero” battling it out with Native Americans and outlaws.

By Sally French | NerdWallet Thanksgiving week draws major airport crowds, so it can be a brutal time to travel. And in 2024, the number of passengers screened in U. S. airports has already reached all-time highs multiple times. Because the Sunday after Thanksgiving is usually the busiest airport day of the entire year, it’s likely the 2024 Thanksgiving week will also break records. But some days within Thanksgiving week are significantly busier at airports than others.

Fall leaves in Smith Lake at Washington Park on Oct. 21, 2019 in Denver. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) Look beyond Colorado’s shimmering yellow aspen trees for wonderful leaf-peeping this fall. Adam Moore, the supervisory forester at the Colorado State Forest Service’s Alamosa field office, emphasized that leaf-peeping is not limited to the mountains. “There are trees and shrubs other than aspens that create brilliant colors,” he said. In addition to the trees in the high country, take the time to peer into the canyons or explore the streams and riverbanks to see brilliant yellows and reds. Rather than looking at fall foliage while sitting in mountain traffic, you could plan a hike, a river float, or a paddle adventure instead. Or, if you want to stick closer to home, explore the urban forests in Denver or Colorado Springs. “Some cities have the best fall foliage,” Moore said. Beyond the aspen In Colorado, there are other plant options and colors to consider. Here’s where to look: Ponderosa pine stands: If you see colors in Ponderosa pines, they most often are gambel oaks, which turn orange, red and off-yellow. River or stream banks: Narrowleaf cottonwoods turn yellow; Great Plains cottonwoods turn bright yellow; golden willows turn golden yellow; and wax currant and golden currant shrubs turn orange to reddish. Bushes and shrubs: Rocky Mountain sumac shrubs turn brilliant red; chokecherry bushes turn blood red; caragana multi-stemmed bushes turn yellow or red; and wild rose shrubs turn yellow or brilliant red.

Denver sound artist Jim Green, whose best-known public art includes a playful installation under a block of Denver’s Curtis Street and the train calls at Denver International Airport, died on Wednesday in Florida at age 75. Green was a prolific and highly collaborative artist, friends and colleagues said, pushing the boundaries of art with playful, subversive pieces that surprised and delighted anyone who encountered them. Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostTravelers who ride the train at Denver International Airport — and that’s most of them — have for decades heard artist Jim Green’s work “Train Call,” which features playful sounds and recognizable voices.