Experience The Front Range

Denver

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.

Loveland

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.

Fort Collins

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.

Estes Park

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.

Experience the magic of the Mediterranean with Fred. Olsen

22 July 2024

Step aboard a journey that promises to captivate your soul and awaken your adventurous spirit. Fred. Olsen’s fly-cruises in the Mediterranean invite you to embark on smaller, more intimate ships designed to navigate the hidden gems of this enchanting region. Picture yourself exploring the sun-kissed islands of Dalmatia, where history and natural beauty intertwine, or marvelling at the vibrant, colour-drenched clifftop towns that adorn the Amalfi Coast.

Try something new this year with these destination dupes

15 July 2024

Tired of the usual tourist traps? Looking for a unique adventure that not everyone will have been to? You're in the right place. Welcome to our second guide on destination dupes—unexpected places that offer the same allure as popular spots but without the huge crowds. Perfect for adventure travellers and luxury seekers alike, these destinations promise unforgettable experiences in beautiful, less-talked-about locales.

Discover the cultural highlights of Europe with Riviera Travel

15 July 2024

Imagine stepping back in time to an era of grand voyages, where the joy of travel was found in the act of exploring, learning, and immersing yourself in the wonders of the world. Riviera Travel's European Grand Tours offer you the chance to relive that golden age of travel on luxurious 9 to 13-day adventures. If you're a lover of art, culture, and history, these tours are a once-in-a-lifetime experience you'll cherish forever.