Gift of Home Tour

Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley is hosting a time-honored event, now approaching its 56th year of holiday magic. The Gift of Home Tour is a beautiful Longmont holiday tradition. With a focus on charitable giving, making memories, and supporting local businesses, The Gift of Home Tour is Colorado’s largest self-guided holiday home tour. Homes will be “dressed up” for the holidays by decorators and decor stores, all with their own theme. The homes will feature items for sale and decorating ideas to get you ready for the holidays.Tour Dates & Times – December 2022
December 1: Opening Night Party 6-9pm  December 1: Opening Night Home Tour 6-10pm
December 2: Home Tour 1pm-7pm
December 3: Home Tour 9am-3pmEvent Contacts:
Hannah Williams, Project Manager hwilliams@stvrainhabitat.org 303-682-2485 x111
Christine Forster, My Big Day Marketing & Events mybigdayevents@outlook.com, 970-613-1455

Ars Nova Singers Presents: SOLSTICE

Rejoice in the imminent victory of light over darkness this holiday season. Bask in the ethereal glow of the cosmos with performances of Ave regina caelorum, Nunc dimittis, and Quem vidistis pastores. Take comfort in the triumphant warmth of Laura Mvula’s Sing to the Moon and Bob Chilcott’s The Shepherd’s Carol, which was commissioned for the 2000 Christmas Eve Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge. Our guest instrumentalist for this program is John Gunther, Professor of Jazz Studies at the CU College of Music, and Director of the Thompson Jazz Studies Program.

THUNKsgiving (12th Annual)

THUNK returns to Longmont for the 12th annual THUNKsgiving celebration. Enjoy 3 hours of live music from Americana Rock favorites THUNK along with your favorite brews from Bootstrap Brewing. Music from 6-9pm.

Cycle For Smiles

Join a group of enthusiastic cyclists for a fun ride in support of global surgical nonprofit Operation Smile! Colorado Cycle for Smiles is a fundraising event that consists of two rides that will bring together as many as 100 riders each cycling 40 miles. Each rider is tasked with raising $250 each – which covers the cost of as little as $240 to provide a child with a surgery and a new smile. Riders will receive a jersey, a swag bag and attend a post-ride celebration. Prizes will be awarded to the highest fundraiser for each ride. Pick your ride… Roaring Fork 40 begins at Basalt High School. Boulder 40 begins at Roger Groves Park.

Mollie McGee’s Holiday Craft Market

Shop over 150 booths with unique, hand-made artisan crafts! November 19 & 20 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

Mollie McGee’s Fall Craft Market

Shop over 150 booths with unique, hand-made artisan crafts! October 15 & 16 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

The Bud Depot Dispensary

Welcome to the Bud Depot Dispensary

The Bud Depot is a Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Lyons, Colorado. We’re the closest legal cannabis store to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park and Planet Bluegrass, not to mention we’re just a quick hop from Longmont and Boulder. We’re Open to the Public, and we sell Marijuana Seeds!

We’ve been serving the Front Range with beautiful organic medical cannabis since 2010 and our newly opened Recreational store now welcomes legal weed shoppers from around the world. We’re also the sister dispensary of Helping Hands Herbals in downtown Boulder and you’re invited to visit their Rec and Medical shops right on Pearl St and enjoy the same beautiful buds and excellent service!

Shop Cannabis Products

Our Recreational Dispensary welcomes shoppers from around the world who wish to purchase Colorado’s finest marijuana, edibles, concentrates and smoking accessories. Purchasing legal weed is not all that different from shopping at a liquor store – simply show your ID (21+) and come on in!

We’ve got an amazing array of organic weed by the joint, gram, 1/8th, 1/4 or oz as well as an outstanding variety of medibles and high potency extracts like shatter, BHO, earwax and hash oils. If you’re visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, Oscar Blues Brewery, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway or Planet Bluegrass, you’ll drive right by us!

In fact, we’re just a quick bike ride from Bluegrass! Come stop by – we have plenty of free parking and welcome visitors and locals alike who appreciate great service and, of course, top-quality Colorado cannabis. To learn more about shopping recreationally check our FAQ page. It’s as cool as you’d expect.

Vacation Planning Ideas

Colorado Vacation Ideas

You're ready to do some vacation planning. You could really use a break, and you've seen pictures of Colorado's majestic landscapes reaching 2 miles into the American sky. This is someplace you'd like to see and experience. It would take a few lifetimes to see, enjoy, experience, feel, and reach all of what Colorado offers. So, we're here to help you with your Colorado vacation planning and the best way to maximize your time while in Colorado.

Create Your Vacation Plan

With so much going on in Colorado it’s best to identify your vacation passion and the passions of the group or other person you are traveling with. Here is a list of considerations to help you get the best Colorado vacation experience.

Summer Vacation Planning

What summer Colorado activities are a priority for you and your group? Start by identifying the primary activity and prioritizing from there.

- Perhaps your bucket list includes visiting an adventure park, a scenic train ride, a hot springs visit, zip lining, getting a hike or two in, and rafting. Wow, that’s ambitious but it can be done. Once again, staying in a region like the Royal Gorge area can serve this up. If you look closely, you will find companies that even sell combinations of experiences in one day.
- If you're planning a backpacking trip. You will want to select a region, such as the Rocky Moutain National Park, and just stay there.
- If day hiking is more your thing. You will get the most hiking in by exploring a region versus trying to travel all over the state, but some travel is realistic.

Are you planning to tour the state? Will you need lodging or will you be camping along the way?

- Summer tourist season in Colorado is popular. If you’re planning on camping, tent camping or RV camping, you will need to plan ahead. Reservations at public campgrounds are necessary, especially during “peak season”.

Identify what “other” activities are important.

- Check-in with your travel companions and find out what activities they have in mind. You might find mutual interests or complete diversity. Knowing this will help you map out your route and where to find lodging.
- Activities such as Colorado events, historical tours, dining, art, farmers markets, rafting, or jeep tours.

Winter Vacation Planning

Will your winter vacation be at a ski resort?

- There are 25 ski areas in Colorado, not including cross-country ski touring centers. First, understand the abilities and expectations of your group. Then investigate your options for what they offer, type of terrain, expense, apres ski activities, and more.
- There are other resort options besides ski resort towns. Many guest ranches stay open in the winter and offer a variety of winter activities. This is true for out-of-the-way cabin rentals and some of the natural hot spring resorts.

Are all members of your group skiers, or are there snowboarders too?

- If you’re vacationing with a mix of skiers and snowboarders, as well as ability level. It’s best to closely examine the resorts with terrain parks and a mix of blue and expert-level ski runs. The larger resorts will have the most options.

Does your group want to travel to different resort destinations or stay at a specific resort?

- If touring different resorts is what you have in mind. Staying in the Central part of Colorado is by far the most efficient. As all these resorts can be traveled to by car in a few hours. Or, skip the winter driving around, stay at a designated resort, and focus on your fun there.

Is vacationing on a budget a concern?

- If being budget-minded is part of your vacation. Try planning your trip during the “off-season” or not “peak-season” times. Check out lesser-known resorts. In either case, you should be able to find deals on lift tickets and lodging.

Are off-slope activities appealing, such as shopping, dining, spas, events, or alternative activities?

- If your group needs alternative activities. The bigger resorts will have the most varied selection of activities to choose from. However, popular attractions like winter scenic train rides, natural hot springs, and guided tours such as snowmobiling or sleigh rides are not necessarily at the resort. Check out “other attractions” first and then decided on the resort to stay at.

Colorado's Endless List of Vacation Options

Colorado offers an almost endless list of vacation options. The first step is to understand if you want to tour around or stay in one place. Either has much to offer. However, touring the state will require more vacation planning. Please use our free vacation planning itinerary tool. This will help you keep track of the sights and experiences you don’t want to miss. Plus, organize your lodging and travel routes along the way.

Staying put at that special place in Colorado is also a good way to spend your vacation. With so much to explore in any given region of the State, it might make more sense for you just to find lodging in a favorite place and base all your activities on that location. In either case, feel free to request some of our free visitor guides, and use our free itinerary tool to help organize all the activities, keep the dates and times handy, and make your vacation more relaxing.

Colorado Destinations

Unique Colorado Destination

Colorado’s cities and towns are as diverse and beautiful as its landscape.

From the culturally rich city of Denver to the quiet mountain escape of Aspen. Colorado has a vacation destination for everyone. Are the high mountain peaks calling your name? Get to know Colorado and plan your trip to check off everything in your bucket list. Rafting, skiing, hiking, art shows, concerts, mountain biking, cycling, dinning, fishing, mountain retreats, exploring nature, and much more. Coloradoinfo.com has divided Colorado into 3 regions. Each of these regions represents unique characteristics and proximity.

View our interactive regional map of Colorado to take a closer look and find the locations you want to visit.
Order a free Colorado vacation planning guide to help find the perfect vacation spot!

The Central Mountains

The heart of the Rocky Mountains spans the state north to south, and is home to the highest elevated cities and towns in the country, which feature over two dozen ski resorts. This region is Colorado’s gem for world-famous ski areas, mountain lifestyle, and activities.

The Rockies Playground, recently named by the Colorado Tourism Office, is the most central region of the Rocky Mountains and includes some of Colorado’s most famous resort towns. Due to their close proximity and popularity as ski resorts, the name was chosen to appeal to potential tourists. This region’s towns include Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Glenwood Springs, Dillon and Leadville. However, significant resort towns lie north and south of the playground region, including Steamboat Springs in north-central Colorado. Resort towns in south-central Colorado include: Crested Butte, Monarch, Del Norte, Powderhorn and Wolf Creek. The Central Mountains region captures almost all of the mountain towns north to south, aside from Telluride and Durango.

The Central Mountains region includes several spectacular national forests.

All of which include amazing mountain scenery, wildlife, trail systems, nearby camping and towns. From north to south:

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
Steamboat Springs, a ski town. A large area with a variety of mountain attractions.
White River National Forest
The Rockies Playground, many ski resort towns. Engulfed in mountain recreation.
Pike and San Isabel National Forest
The Royal Gorge attraction. This area is rich with wilderness, fourteeners, Backpacking, Camping…More on recreation.
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest
Crested Butte ski resort and nearby Gunnison. A variety of summer & winter recreation.
Rio Grande National Forest
Wolf Creek ski resort, nearby towns Pagosa Springs and Alamosa, lie within the Mystic San Luis Valley. A huge wilderness area including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Alamosa National Refuge. This area is considered Colorado’s undiscovered jewel. Discover solitude and self-reliance.

The Front Range & Plains

A way of referring to how the plains of Colorado meet the eastern slope of the continental divide.

If you want to watch a broadway show or enjoy a museum exhibit, you will have the most options in the Front Range. The urban cities of Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs are well known for their performing arts, museums, and cultural festivals.

Front Range Mountain Attractions

The Front Range region includes notable attractions such as Estes Park, the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Pikes Peak, a whole family mountain attraction, lies just west of Colorado Springs. Featuring a scenic train, rafting, horseback riding and much more.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an amazing music venue in the foothills west of Denver.

Colorado’s Western Slope

A general way of referring to Northwest and Southwest Colorado.

The Western Slope is a much more remote experience. Grand Junction is the largest city in the area and is often referred to as a city with a small-town feel. This high plains region is rich in agriculture, canyonlands, and warmer weather. Offering up a distinctively unique variety of Colorado destinations.

Northwest Colorado, or The Great West

Features of this area are the national parks such as Dinosaur National Park, the remote Brown’s Park, and the wild horses of the Sand Wash Basin. This area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts offering a variety of camping, RV parks, off-road vehicles, horseback riding, rafting, cycling and exploring in general. While the mountains are melting down, northwest Colorado is in full bloom.

Southwest Colorado, or The Mountain Mesas

Another very diverse region of Colorado with a mix of Colorado destinations and ski resort towns such as Telluride, and Durango. Complemented by Montrose, a very agricultural community but also rich with adventure. In the very southwest corner of Colorado is Cortez. Surrounded by big attractions such as Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley . Cortez is also the gateway to the Four Corners and the Canyonlands of Utah

Longmont

Experience Longmont, Colorado

Longmont makes its mark along the Front Range as a fast-growing city with deep rural roots and a welcoming hometown feel. An appreciation of the past and a clear, ambitious vision for the future blend seamlessly in this charming Northern Colorado city. With a passion for top-notch quality of life and community togetherness, it’s no wonder Longmont was named an “All-American City” in 2006 and was listed among Money Magazine’s Top 100 Best Places to Live. Receiving the recognition twice, Money Magazine gave an honorable nod to Longmont’s enviable mix of “good jobs, low crime, quality schools, plenty of open space, comparable home prices and lots to do.”

The city is nestled against a spectacular Rocky Mountain backdrop crowned with snow-capped Longs Peak, along with skiing, fly fishing, boating, rock climbing and hiking adventures beckoning nearby.

Longmont’s agricultural and rural heritage is very much alive and thrives in the city’s many retail stores. Treasures can be found at the Quilt Show in Longmont, the Agricultural Heritage Museum, Callahan House and the properties of the St. Vrain Historical Society.

Longmont Economy

The local economy is strong and growing, providing a comfortable home for large high-tech and biotech employers such as IBM, Seagate and Amgen and numerous small independent businesses. The city also has a vibrant arts and cultural scene with more than a handful of engaging art galleries, The Longmont Theatre, The Old Firehouse Art Center and The Longmont Symphony – one of the finest community orchestras in the state.

A Diverse Friendly City

A diverse, safe and family-friendly city, Longmont features a long list of activities for all ages. Local recreation centers offer swimming, games, wall climbing and first-rate gym facilities. The city boasts 1,500 acres of parks and open space, including Sandstone Ranch, an award-winning sports and play park facility. Downtown is brimming with unique shops and restaurants and the historic east and west neighborhoods are a delight. Several major festivals and events highlight the regional calendar, including the popular downtown Festival on Main, Rhythm on the River, the Boulder Country Fair and Lyons’ RockyGrass bluegrass festival, which draws big-name headliners and music-lovers from across the nation.

Denver is a convenient 45 minutes south and offers metropolitan fun and entertainment year-round. Explore the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the lovely Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver’s Center for the Performing Arts has a varied and unique repertoire of exhibitions and events. Home to the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, not to mention the Colorado Rapids, winner of the Major League Soccer Cup, the city is full of non-stop prosports action. Travel north to check out the Eagles, a semi-pro hockey team that plays at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. A must-see, the city of Boulder and the amazing Flatirons rock formations are a mere 20 minutes away from Longmont.

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