Colorado: A four season destination

The State of Colorado has long been synonymous with the great outdoors and the beautiful, diverse landscapes that are spread across the state. A four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, Colorado boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet and, of course, 25 renowned ski areas and resorts.

Colorado’s mountains, forests, plains, rivers and mesas harbor 960 different wildlife species, many not seen outside of the Rocky Mountain Region, and its cities, such as Denver, offer more than 850 miles of paved off-road trails that connect to hundreds of miles of dirt trails and mountain bike adventures.

Today, it is the access to these great natural resources and recreation venues, coupled with the states burgeoning dining scene, best-in-class cultural attractions and facilities, unique accommodations offerings, and legendary Western heritage that help attract visitors from across the globe to play in our backyard.

Denver International Airport plays a key role in welcoming these guests to our state. As the 5th busiest airport in the country, it opens the doors of exploration not only to Denver and Colorado, but the entire Western region. Tourism is one of the state’s top economic drivers, providing hundreds-of-thousands of jobs to our citizens and driving significant revenues for the state.

Our tourism industry is continually looking for opportunities to showcase our unique offerings and sense of Western hospitality to travelers from across the globe, and is excited to welcome groups such as Routes Americas, to experience all that we have to offer.

As we look ahead to 2015, we’re excited to celebrate some significant milestones, major attraction openings, and special exhibits and events including:

  • Rocky Mountain National Park’s 100th Anniversary Celebration: Through September 4, 2015, Rocky Mountain National Park will be celebrate its centennial with a series of speakers, special activities and community events. Rocky Mountain National Park hopes that their 100th anniversary will inspire visitors to experience and connect with the park that has inspired 100 years of protection, and that will continue to enchant and delight visitors and stewards for another 100 years
  • Denver’s Union Station. Denver’s recently renovated Union Station is set to become the “Grand Central Terminal” of Colorado, providing enhanced train travel to destinations across the U.S. and serving as the key commuter hub for Denver residents and visitors. The Station includes 13 new restaurant and retail outlets and the luxurious new 112-room Crawford Hotel.
  • Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century at the Denver Art Museum. This worldwide-exclusive exhibition at the Denver Art Museum, on display through March 15, 2015 includes an astonishing assortment of jewelry, timepieces and precious objects from the Cartier collection. Many of the pieces in the exhibition were owned by aristocrats, celebrities and royalty, including Princess Grace, Elizabeth Taylor, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, J.P. Morgan and the Aga Khan, among other luminaries.
  • 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The world’s greatest skiers are hitting the slopes in Colorado. Taking place February 2-15, 2015, this prestigious event in Vail and Beaver Creek represents the largest and most impressive collection of ski racing talent in the world, second only to the Olympics. All in all, the event showcases more than 700 athletes from more than 70 nations. The 2015 event is only the fourth Championships ever held in the United States, all of them in Colorado.

There’s a lot happening in Colorado in 2015, and we look forward to sharing it with you soon.

Al White

Al White is the director of the Colorado Tourism Office. Prior to his position with the CTO, White served eight years in the Colorado House of…