7 Superb Ideas For Your Next Colorado Vacation

Colorado has a lot to offer visitors: the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, thrilling outdoor activities like hiking, biking, skiing, and snowboarding, delicious food, and unique cultural and historic sites. This list, presented in no particular order, highlights some of the best places to stay, eat, and have fun on your next trip to the Centennial State.

The #1 entry is the Crawford Hotel, located above Denver's Union Station. Guests can enjoy historic details such as 65-foot ceilings, large windows, and chandeliers. Many Denver bars and restaurants are nearby, such as Urban Farmer, Kachina Cantina, and Sunday Vinyl.

The Crawford can be reserved for private meetings and other functions. It has several venues available to book, including the Great Hall of the train station, best suited for large corporate gatherings, weddings, and cocktail parties.

Up next, at #2, we have Lola, a Mexican restaurant in the Lower Highland neighborhood of Denver. The menu is inspired by the Baja region, with items such as charred octopus, ceviche, and shrimp tacos. It also serves margaritas and other cocktails.

Lola's chef, Javier Plascencia, is from Tijuana. He and the restaurant have been featured in numerous press outlets, such as the New York Times, the Denver Post, and Eater. The establishment is available to rent for special events, and has various spaces, like the sunroom, that can accommodate all types of soirees.

Coming in at #3, we have C Lazy U Ranch in Granby. This resort offers several activities to guests, with many options suitable for children. Activities include archery, trap shooting, hatchet throwing, fly fishing, and more. There is a swimming pool and spa on-site.

C Lazy U's heated indoor arena provides year-round horse riding for visitors. At the end of each week, the ranch hosts a "Shodeo" which includes horseback riding competitions and equestrian-skill events. Another activity option is the Ropes Course, which consists of a rock wall, vertical playpen, and a zip line.

The #4 entry is Garden of the Gods Park, a registered National Natural Landmark in the city of Colorado Springs. The site is known for its sandstone rock formations set against the backdrop of Pikes Peak. Visitors can enjoy a hike on their own or sign up for a guided nature walk.

Other activities at the park include Jeep and Segway tours, as well as rock climbing. Every February, Garden of the Gods celebrates the bighorn sheep in the area with youth activities, door prizes, educational talks, and shuttle rides to lookouts where visitors can hopefully glimpse these and other animals.

For #5, we present the Fort Collins-based Armstrong Hotel. It has several dining options, such as Mugs Coffee Lounge, Choice City Butcher and Deli, and Ace Gillett's Lounge and Supper Club. The latter serves craft cocktails and often showcases local music acts.

Room options include the Signature King, which comes with a soaking tub, pillow top bed, and complimentary wireless internet. The hotel is available for private celebrations, and offers a dedicated event space, The Library, which has monitors and a built-in speaker system.

Next up, at #6, is the Post Brewing Company, which makes beer and sells Nashville-style hot fried chicken and other food items. It has several locations in Colorado, including Lafayette, Boulder, and Longmont. The company brews many varieties of beer, such as the You Do You, a tart wheat ale made with blood orange.

Featured by Guy Fieri on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Post claims its chicken is humanely raised and all natural. The poultry is brined for hours, dipped in buttermilk, seasoned with gluten-free flour, spiced, and then fried before serving.

Last but not least, for #7 we have Hotel Boulderado, a historic inn that was built in 1909 in downtown Boulder, near the well-known Pearl Street Mall. The five-story brick building incorporates both Italian Renaissance and Spanish Revival features. The hotel has hosted several celebrity guests, including actress Ethel Barrymore and musician Louis Armstrong.

The Boulderado is home to many eateries and bars. Located in the basement, License No. 1 serves craft cocktails and frequently hosts musicians and DJs. The hotel has many event spaces and can be booked for a variety of celebrations, including weddings.