Surrounded by mountain views, these natural mineral hot springs are like no other on Earth, with a perfect blend of minerals and an absence of sulfuric odor. The newly renovated Durango Hot Springs Spa combines the benefits of natural mineral hot springs soaking with therapeutic and relaxation massage and a full complement of spa treatments. Durango Hot Springs is open daily from 9:00 AM-10:00 PM. Reservations are required.
Location: Ouray
Quality Inn – Ouray
Our Quality Inn® hotel in Ouray, CO has the value you’re looking for when you travel. Enjoy a variety of amenities and friendly service when you stay at our affordable, pet friendly hotel located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado.
Ouray Ice Festival
For three days and four nights Ouray is an absolute ice climbing mecca; ice climbers, both novice and pro travel from around the world to celebrate the growing sport of ice climbing. During daily vendor exhibitions Festival attendees have the opportunity to demo the latest ice tools, apparel, and gear from the Outdoor industries leading retailers. Hundreds of spectators line the top of the Gorge on Saturday and Sunday to watch the world’s best ice and mixed climbing talent battle for the prize! And, with over 100 interactive and educational climbing clinics to accommodate every skill level, Festival participants are sure to have an experience to remember.
Ouray Victorian Inn
Located on the beautiful Uncompahgre River in view of the spectacular San Juan Mountains, Ouray Victorian Inn is Southwest Colorado’s fabulous family-friendly hotel. Whether you’re staying in the area for several days, passing through for the night or looking for a weekend get-away, our comfortable and convenient location will be the perfect home away from home no matter what the season. Let our friendly and knowledgeable staff provide you with the personal service that you deserve and the accommodations you desire. From our hearty hot breakfasts to the sound of the river lulling you to sleep, you’ll find a lot to love about us.
Mesa Verde Country
Breathtaking scenic beauty, spectacular National Parks and Monuments, and cultural and historic treasures await you in Mesa Verde Country.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Are you planning to tour the state? Will you need lodging or will you be camping along the way?
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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”.
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Identify what “other” activities are important.
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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.
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Activities such as Colorado events, historical tours, dining, art, farmers markets, rafting, or jeep tours.
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Winter Vacation Planning
Will your winter vacation be at a ski resort?
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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.
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Are all members of your group skiers, or are there snowboarders too?
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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.
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Does your group want to travel to different resort destinations or stay at a specific resort?
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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.
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Is vacationing on a budget a concern?
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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.
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Are off-slope activities appealing, such as shopping, dining, spas, events, or alternative activities?
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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.
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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
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Ouray
Explore Ouray, Colorado
A Victorian winter wonderland or summertime exploration of hiking trails, historical off-road mining routes, and some of Colorado’s best natural hot springs. Ouray is a unique mountain destination for world travelers for over 100 years, with quality lodging, restaurants, shops, and activities available year-round. Ouray is home to hundreds of miles of historic Jeep roads, natural sulfur-free hot springs with stunning views, the world-renowned Ouray Ice Park, and spectacular back-county and cross-country skiing.
Take a step back in time and experience our legends and unique landscape. Enjoy Victorian architecture, friendly mountain people, and a peaceful atmosphere that runs on its own time—more about Ouray and the neighboring town Ridgeway.
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Colorado Winter
