Denver

Nicknamed "Mile High City" (due to its altitude), Denver, Colorado's capital, associates the poshness of America's Eastern Cities and the most rebellious characters of the West.

Founded in 1858 by golddiggers, it was only in 1870 that Denver began to develop itself, following the discovery of important amount of precious metals - mainly silver.

The dry and sunny climate in both summer and winter and the short distance to the mountains are Denver's principal attractions. The city possess many magnificent parks such as the famous Botanical Garden.

From the highest steps of the Corinthian-styled State Capitol Building, you will enjoy a great view towards the snowy peaks.

A visit to the commercial district of Larimer Square will bring your imagination back to Denver at the end of 19th century.

A short outing to Lookout Mountains and you will discover Buffalo Bill's Tomb, as well as a great scenery towards the depth of Clear Creek Canyon.

Aspen

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, 69 miles south of Denver, is the general district of Pike National Forest. Pikes Peak (14,115 feet) stands on top of the city. A long road leads to its summit.

Towering Colorado Springs Pikes Peak offer a dazzling panorama to everyone who gets to climb it to the top. It's on its altitude that inspiration came knocking into Katharine Lee Bates's mind to write her famous poetry, "America The Beautiful". To reach the top of this rocky natural wonder, you can take a ride on Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the world's highest sky train, first built in 1889.

Pikes Peak owes its name to Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, who was the first to see what he called "The Great Peak", and the one who, after having failed to climb it, swore that no man would ever be able to reach the mountain's top. History proved him wrong, because only fourteen years after, James Edwin was the first - and not the last - to climb up the mountain.

Just in the south, you will find the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, a leisure station in Cheyenne Mountain valley. From Broadmoor Hotel, a sky train will bring you to an exceptional zoo.

The discovery of the most remarkable Western Canyons begins from Colorado Springs : Royal Gorge Canyon of the Arkansas River, which we will cross by the world's highest bridge, 1,053 feet high from the river.

Cripple Creek

Cripple Creek is separated from Colorado Springs by 36 miles of breathtaking landscapes. Founded in 1891, this mining town became one of the most prosperous in the West and gave not less than 600 tons of gold during its exploitation years. Today a small city, Cripple Creek had up to 50,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 20th century. After the impoverishment of the veins of gold, end of the goldmining era, golddiggers began to run casinos, which are more and more nowdays.

Not to miss : Mollie Kathleen Goldmine, 1000 feet underground, one of the most active ones. It was exploitated up until the 1960s.

The mining cities of Cripple Creek and Victor offer their visitors a unique experience : the revival of an era, once upon a time when there was the world's biggest goldmines at the area. Localized in the southwest side of Pikes Peak, these historical sites have produced more than 21 million ounces of gold since their creation on the 5th of April 1891.

The Golden Loop Historic Parkway drives you to the places where once the precious metal was extracted. This golden road, connecting Colorado Springs with Cripple Creek, is today an unpaved road with nice panoramic view, used for jeep circuits.

Durango
In the southwestern part of the State, Durango is the gate to enter Mesa Verde National Park.

Revive the Old West romance by riding one of the steam trains circulating across the mountainuous grounds of Colorado, on the last narrow gauge railway still existing in the USA. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway takes along its passengers, in victorian-styled wagons, going on a trip crossing the San Juan National Forest and the magnificent Animas Canyon, along the 45 miles separating Durango and Silverton.

Mesa Verde National Park