Traveling Colorado: Fabulous fall destinations

As Labor Day weekend quickly passes us by, it seems as though winter is approaching all to quickly.  But don't fret, dear reader, as there are still a couple of months left to experience my favorite, and in my opinion, the most beautiful time of year in Colorado... autumn.

There are plenty of fabulous places to enjoy on a beautiful Colorado autumn day.  What follows are some of my favorite little destinations to hit up before the harsh high country winter moves in.  I have chosen these locations for several reasons, including but not limited to the scenery, events that take place in the area at the time, and the ability to get special deals on food and lodging.

So, in random order, a few of the places you should try to visit before the first big snow.

Leadville:  Like most little mountain towns, Leadville is a former mining town that exists now thanks to tourism.  Leadville has much to offer in its little shops, as well as ample opportunity to get a taste of the past through one of the mine tours or a train ride to timberline.  For more information on this historic town, go to http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-21667-Denver-OffBeat-Travel-Examiner~y2009m9d11-Rocky-Mountain-destinations--Historic-Leadville-Colorado

Buena Vista:  The small town of Buena Vista didn't get it's name for nothing, it is surrounded by some of the grandest scenery and views in south central Colorado.  Many fourteener's punctuate the skyline giving a dramatic effect, and many accessible back roads in the area allow for miles of driving through beautiful fall foliage.

Frisco:  A "suburb" of Dillon, Frisco has thrived in its own right, with more and more people discovering its quaint beauty in recent years.  Frisco is a "happenin'" town, with several events and festivals taking place throughout the year, many of those happening in the fall months.

Lake City:  Another old mining town, Lake City is located between Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Slumguillion Earth flow on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway.  It is fabulous in the fall!  Not only does the historic city have many things to offer , it is surrounded by national forests that are incredible to view as the colors change.  http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-21667-Denver-OffBeat-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Lake-City-Colorado

Granby:  Located on the west end of Trail Ridge road, Granby is a great place to stay for a weekend while exploring the wonders of Rocky Mountain National Park in autumn.

Walsenberg/Trinidad:  Always a beautiful road trip, the Scenic Highway of Legends and Cordova pass are even more dazzling when the landscape is accentuated with the bright colors of fall.  Although these drives are closer to Trinidad, Walsenburg generally offers better deals on food and lodging.

Ouray:  Located in what I consider to be one of the MOST beautiful areas of Colorado, Ouray is a kind of secret bargain.  Located along highway 550, aka the Million Dollar Highway, its more popular counterparts are Silverton and Durango.  I personally enjoy the atmosphere of the town of Ouray more than the other two.  I also believe it has some of the most incredible natural beauty in the state, and, one can generally find good deals on food and lodging here, which is a bonus.

Glenwood Springs:  Always one of my favorite destinations!  The trip to Glenwood is almost as fun as all the things you can do once you get there.  Even though you basically just travel west on I-70 all the way, you get to go through Glenwood Canyon, which is simply awesome in the fall.  Once you arrive, plan to stay the weekend with so much to do including a mountainside amusement park, hot springs, and cave tours.

There is much to do in Colorado in the autumn, so start planning your trips now.  Once you've gotten a taste of what this wonderful state is like in the fall, one day, you may find yourself looking forward to summers end.  

For more ideas on how to enjoy fall in the great state of Colorado, more information is available at these sites:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2066405/fall_colors_in_colorado_drives_to_see.html?cat=16                         http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1970020/must_see_colorado_highways.html?cat=16   http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1939240/top_5_colorado_back_roads.html?cat=16