Jan 9th, 2013 at 11:00AM: Of course I knew that Four Corners – the spot where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona meet – would be a tourist trap. But on a recent road trip from Durango to Monument Valley, Utah, I passed just five miles away from this geographically auspicious place and found that I couldn't resist the temptation to stop and see the only spot in America where four states meet.
The Navajo ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
colorado posts
Four Corners: A Delightfully Confusing Tourist Trap
Jan 9th, 2013 at 11:00AM: Of course I knew that Four Corners – the spot where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona meet – would be a tourist trap. But on a recent road trip from Durango to Monument Valley, Utah, I passed just five miles away from this geographically auspicious place and found that I couldn't resist the temptation to stop and see the only spot in America where four states meet.
The Navajo ...Durango, Colorado Inspires Dreamers, Even When It's Minus 9
Jan 8th, 2013 at 11:00AM: It's nine degrees below zero Fahrenheit and I'm the only soul out for a walk in downtown Durango on a Friday night. Everyone else in this idyllic town of about 16,000 in the southwest corner of Colorado is sensibly rushing into and out of businesses and some leave their cars running outside while they pop into shops or restaurants. It's my first night in a town that I've imagined as a kind of ...Ski Free In Aspen With Killer Hotel Deals
Dec 23rd, 2012 at 2:00PM: Think you can't afford Aspen? Think again. Two of the most elite hotels in town are offering can't-miss winter season packages that include free ski passes.
Did I stutter? Nope. It's part of a "ski free" promotion designed to draw visitors back to the Rockies after last year's notoriously dry winter. Happily, this year looks good, as I can attest from an Aspen visit earlier in the week, and the ...The Spirit(s) Of Christmas: Great Distilled Gifts To Give
Dec 19th, 2012 at 12:00PM: The holidays are stressful for many reasons, one of which is gift pressure. Host(ess), Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, gifts for neighbors, obligatory "thank you for the great mail delivery/haircuts/massages gifts."
You know what makes for a thoughtful gift that reduces stress? A bottle of something delicious. Unless, of course, your intended recipients don't/aren't old enough to drink. I can't ...Snowstorms Bring Plenty Of Powder For The Holidays
Dec 18th, 2012 at 8:00AM: Skiers and snowboarders who have been watching the weather, just hoping for an opportunity to hit their favorite ski resort this holiday season, are likely to be pretty excited at the moment. Snowstorms across the western United States have started dumping plenty of fresh powder on the region and it now looks like we could be on course for a much better ski season compared to last year.
A late ...Crested Butte's Nordic Inn: All That's Old Is New Again
Dec 15th, 2012 at 12:00PM: Skiing. Budget. Two words that don't generally go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, fans of fluffy Rockies pow have one more offbeat lodging option to choose from, with the re-opening of Crested Butte's classic Nordic Inn today.
The 50-year-old property, which was recently purchased from longtime owners Allen and Judy Cox, is the longest operating lodge in Gunnison County. The new proprietors have ...Ski Town Holidays: Not Just For Skiers
Dec 7th, 2012 at 2:00PM: It sounds crazy, but not all ski-town tourists are there to downhill ski. In fact, many don't even know how. I'll also let you in on a local's secret: not all permanent residents of ski towns know how to ski, and of those who do, many can't even afford a season pass.
The fact is, there are now more options than ever for non-skiers and those on a tight budget to engage in other winter sports, if ...More Colorado Ski Resorts Open In Time For Thanksgiving
Nov 14th, 2012 at 8:00AM: Hoping to hit the slopes for the upcoming long holiday weekend? If you're heading to Colorado then you're in luck, as many of the ski resorts will soon be opening for the season. Better yet, much of the state received fresh powder over the past few days, which means there should be some great conditions heading into Thanksgiving.
Keeping with tradition, Arapahoe Basin was amongst the first ...Planning An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner, Portlandia-Style
Oct 28th, 2012 at 2:30PM:
About four years ago, I wrote an Edible Aspen story on Brook LeVan, a farmer friend of mine who lives in western Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley. Brook and his wife, Rose (that's them, in the photo), raise heritage turkeys, among other things, and part of my assignment was to ask him how to celebrate a locally sourced, cold-climate Thanksgiving.
Brook, whom i've since dubbed "The Messiah of ...Visit Denver For Dia De Los Muertos
Oct 27th, 2012 at 10:00AM: If a ticket to Mexico isn't in the cards for Dia de los Muertos this year, you might want to consider Denver. It may seem strange that a non-border state throws down so hard, but Denver is, after all, in the Southwest, and as such, has a thriving Hispanic community, as well as arts and culture scene. This colorful, oddly joyous holiday dates back to pre-Columbian times, and has its roots in pagan ...Outdoor Adaptive Sports Programs: Where To Find The Nation's Best
Oct 25th, 2012 at 2:00PM: Like most of us, I didn't fully realize the extent of the daily hassles and challenges faced by those who use a wheelchair, prosthetic, or other mobility aid until it became somewhat personal. I'm fortunate to have two people in my life who've been an enormous source of both education and inspiration, and I'm writing this piece because of them. A little bit of background is in order:
When I ...Win A Lifetime Ski Pass For Colorado's Winter Park
Oct 24th, 2012 at 8:00AM: The 2012-2013 ski season gets underway on November 14 at Colorado's Winter Park Resort, where the snow has already been falling. To celebrate, the resort is giving away a host of prizes including skis, snowboards and other gear. But the prize that will be the most coveted amongst ski bums everywhere will no doubt be the ski pass that is good for an entire lifetime.
To be eligible to win, ...Ski Season Officially Begins, Arapahoe Basin Opens Today
Oct 17th, 2012 at 8:00AM: It may be hard to believe, but the North American ski season officially begins today. Colorado's Arapahoe Basin fires up the chairlifts this morning at 9 a.m. local time and soon there after, skiers and snowboarders will be making their first runs of the year. The resort has announced that its Black Mountain Express lift will be the first in operation, taking guests to the start of the High Noon ...Roadside America: Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley
Oct 13th, 2012 at 1:00PM:
If you were to ask most Americans if they'd heard of the Roaring Fork Valley, you'd get a blank stare. Mention Aspen, however, and the light goes on, regardless of their social or economic standing (blame reality TV, our cultural obsession with celebrity, and 1970s/Reagan-era excess).
Aspen may be the St. Moritz of the U.S., but its location at the upper (southeast) end of the western ...Colorado's Arapahoe Basin Offers Two-Season Double Down Ski Pass
Sep 26th, 2012 at 8:00AM: It may be hard to believe but a new ski season is closer than you think. The mountaintops of Colorado have already started to receive light snow and ski resorts across the Western states are already busy preparing for opening day. One of those resorts is the legendary Arapahoe Basin, which is generally amongst the first hills to open each year and the last to close as well. That long season makes ...Colorado's Chimney Rock Named National Monument
Sep 23rd, 2012 at 9:00AM: This past Friday, as part of his America's Great Outdoors Initiative, President Obama signed legislation that officially designated Colorado's Chimney Rock a national monument. The move extends permanent federal protection to the site, and 4700 acres surrounding it, all of which are located inside the San Juan National Forest.
At the center of the new monument is the 315-foot-tall rock spire ...Aspen's 'Revolutionary' New Restaurant: Is This The Future Of Fine Dining?
Sep 22nd, 2012 at 12:00PM: Aspen is well known for many things, some more savory (its restaurants) than others (Charlie Sheen arrests). There's also the world-class skiing, but a person's gotta eat, and Aspen definitely boasts some of Colorado's finest restaurants. In a ski town, that's saying a lot.
In June, Aspen's restaurant scene just grew a little bigger, better and more groundbreaking, with the opening of Chefs ...Stressed Out? Try A Walk In A Cemetery
Sep 18th, 2012 at 11:00AM: Cemeteries get a bad rap in the United States. The only time of year we really pay attention to them is Halloween, and then, it's to equate them with fear or evil. I suppose Memorial Day and Veteran's Day give cemeteries a little love, but those holidays are more about who's in the actual graves, and not about the places themselves.
Unlike many of the world's cultures, which celebrate or ...Last Minute Labor Day Road Trip Ideas
Aug 26th, 2012 at 1:00PM:
If a Labor Day road trip sounds like a good idea, you're not alone. Over 30 million Americans will be hitting the highways for the long weekend, traveling across town, from state to state or around the nation. Like that idea but have no plans? Here are some must-stay places along some of the best American scenic drives that are not just a place to park, but also a way to extend the journey ...2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge Begins Today
Aug 20th, 2012 at 8:00AM: The 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge is set to get underway this morning in Durango, Colorado, where 126 of the world's best cyclists will hit the road for the first stage of the race. The event, which is in its second year, will cover 683 miles (1099 kilometers) over the next seven days, finishing on Sunday, August 26, in Denver.
The event, which is being billed as "America's Race," features a ...
