The Front Range is a corridor of the Rockies and land around them that stretches around 320km from the Wyoming border in the north to the Arkansas River in the south and is a gateway to the vast wilderness and outdoor playground of the Rocky Mountain National Park. We’ve picked out some of its highlights.
With views of the Rockies and proximity to four National Parks nearby, the fascinating Colorado capital with its Old West history is not only a great city in its own right, with lots of culture to immerse yourself in, but also the perfect spot for lovers of outdoors adventures, including skiing in 29 resorts within driving distance and cycling on nearly 1400 urban bike trails. Sun-drenched for more than 300 days a year, it’s also home to what Rolling Stone magazine has called the USA’s best outdoor amphitheatre (one that is also the world’s only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect, one), Red Rocks, as well as concert stadiums, festivals with global headliners, and more intimate venues. Its Great American Beer Festival is also the largest in the country. Don’t miss the ultramodern Denver Art Museum with its fabulous collection of indigenous works.
A lively cultural hub with nearly 500 sculptures and public art installations, ‘the Sweetheart City’ 80km north of Denver and just under 50km from the Rocky Mountain National Park is packed with unique experiences, especially ‘locking your love’ on the United States’ largest love-lock sculpture overlooking Lake Loveland, and taking part in the world-renowned Valentine Remail Program. With lovely views of the Rocky Mountains, Loveland also has the Benson Sculpture Garden and Chapungu Sculpture Park to wander through and thriving, brewery, restaurant and boutiques scenes. Don’t miss a craft beer at Verboten Brewing, a steak at the long-running Black Steer or a trail-ride at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch.
Vibrant, eclectic and authentic, this northern Colorado gem is a fantastic all-rounder with something to tempt everyone. Home to Colorado State University and to an array of tech firms, entrepreneurs and startups, it has ever-evolving arts and music scenes and more craft beer, craft coffee and craft spirits than just about any city of its size elsewhere. Home to Colorado’s only waterway to carry the national ‘Wild and Scenic River’ designation, Fort Collins is also another fantastic place for lovers of the great outdoors, with scores of biking, hiking and walking paths, year-round birdwatching and a herd of genetically pure bison nearby.
Just over 110km from Denver and bordered by the protected natural areas of the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Roosevelt National Forest, this mountain village is another great base camp for outdoors adventures in Colorado. Come in summer and autumn for hiking, cycling, rock climbing, stand-up paddleboarding and whitewater rafting, either in Estes Park itself or nearby, and in winter for snowshoeing, sledding, ice climbing and backcountry skiing.
Year-round, fly fishing, horse-riding and fat-biking are among just some of the attractions, and there are also events, concerts and festivals throughout the different seasons – including, in autumn, the elk rut, when the bulls bugle and spar while competing for mating rights, and in March the unique Frozen Dead Guy Days saluting a cryogenically frozen man with coffin races and a costumed polar plunge. Estes is also just plain delightful, with a pretty riverwalk, lake boating, an aerial tram, a handful of historic sites and tastings at local breweries and distilleries.
To book your Colorado holiday with full financial protection, call your Travel Counsellor today.
Aruba beckons with its serene beauty, making it an irresistible choice for those seeking a luxurious tropical getaway. Aruba boasts award-winning, uncrowded, white-sand beaches that promise a slice of paradise where you can unwind to your heart's content. With guaranteed sunshine, crystal-clear waters, and stunning architecture, Aruba is a gem waiting to be discovered.
The personal experiences of our Travel Counsellors, together with their combined insider knowledge of hotels, resorts, and destinations, ensure that they can hand-pick the very best holidays for your needs.
Continuing the pioneering spirit of the innovative, award-winning Virgin Voyages cruises, Brilliant Lady is set to cross the United States in her highly anticipated 2025 debut season. Highlights among the once-in-a-lifetime five- to 16-night journeys will include a voyage through the Panama Canal and a trip through the glaciers and fjords of Alaska.
