A Solo Hike Through Wicklow Mountains, Ireland

Snow forecasts, fall foliage and bucket-list hiking trails all have considerable influence over where Coloradans venture for vacation within our state’s rectangular boundaries. But for food lovers, a memorable meal — better yet, several well-planned reservations — is what guides itineraries. Related: Mountain towns aren’t known for their dining scenes, but that is changing in Summit County Beyond the Front Range, several of Colorado’s mountain towns have become destination-worthy dining hotspots, buoyed by the culinary world’s top awards from Michelin and the James Beard Foundation.

Dining at a hotel restaurant used to be a glamorous experience. But imagining a hotel restaurant today may conjure up images of an empty dining room with a few patrons sipping cocktails at an eerily quiet bar. That said, the tides seem to be turning again as hospitality brands increasingly partner with award-winning chefs and concepts. A cicchetti board from Tavernetta Vail.

I have to confess that I made many trips to Albuquerque to see family during my childhood, but I never really explored the city or the surrounding area until recently. Not only did I find some unique activities and places to see, but I’m ready to return and continue discovering its history and character. Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, is a 6 1/2-hour drive from Denver or an easy 1 1/2-hour direct flight.

By Lisa Wells, Food Drink Life With autumn in the air and Halloween looming, bring some spookiness to your vacation with a haunted itinerary. These chilling destinations offer spine-tingling histories, unexplained phenomena and the chance for an unforgettable ghost encounter. Scary movies, haunted houses and ghoulish costumes are favorite trappings of autumn, delivering a dose of terror as Halloween draws near.

After one night in the Manitoba capital city of Winnipeg, 13 of us climbed aboard the Calm Air 62-seater from the charter terminal, ready for our arctic adventure. Soon, we began our smooth 2½-hour flight to Churchill, the “Gem of the North,” as its called, a small former railroad town built by the Hudson Bay Co.

Peering over the edge of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison from one of its numerous overlooks, it’s natural to feel weak in the knees. The dark canyon walls streaked with once-molten magma fall sharply down the river below, as if someone used a knife to slice a 48-mile slit in the earth’s crust.