Colorado Travel Guide

Colorado is surrounded by Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and New Mexico in the western half of the United States. Colorado is known mostly for its outdoor activities, such as skiing, river rafting, and mountain biking.

The people of Colorado are known for being extremely laid-back. Coloradans can be described as "cultured cowboys", both rugged and classy. Denver offers the hustle and bustle of a quickly growing city, however escape to the wilderness is less than an hour and a half away. City planners have also been careful to leave ample room for parks, greenways, and natural scenery throughout the city. There is even a kayaking course on the Platte River in the middle of downtown!

Here is a little history for you...Colorado was first occupied by Ancestral Pueblo Indians from before the time of Christ until approximately 1299 AD. Colorado was then home to various Native American Indian tribes, such as the Utes, who are credited as being Colorado's oldest residents. The United States claimed the eastern part of the state in 1803 with the signing of the Louisiana Purchase. Mexico later ceded the rest of the territory in 1848. The present borders were established in 1850, however Colorado did not officially become a state until 1876. At this time, Colorado was a land full of fur traders, trappers, mountain men, and gold seekers. A darker side of Colorado history is recalled by the brutal massacre of Cheyenne Indians at Sand Creek, a deed perpetrated by the infamous "Crimson Parson", Colonel Chivington. Similar acts led to the removal of most of Colorado's native inhabitants, which results in the present day situation where only two small Indian reservations exist, in the soutwest corner of the state.

In modern times, Colorado has boomed, becoming a very popular place for the outdoor crowd. Denver continues to mushroom and grow, while even the more remote cities and towns in rural areas are experiencing growth and expansion.

If you are coming to Colorado, understand that the state is often divided into two parts - the "Front Range" and the "Western Slope."  The Front Range is on the East side of the Continental Divide and has all the major cities (Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs)  The Western Slope has most of the famous resort and ski towns (Aspen, Vail, Crested Butte, Durango, Telluride, Steamboat Springs and Glenwood Springs), ski areas and awesome mountain ranges.