If you’ve been following along, you know that I’m from Colorado and have lived here my whole life. And if you’re new – welcome! It’s high time that I put together a Colorado bucket list, so here’s 15 Colorado things I think everyone should experience at least once. It doesn’t matter if you live here, are from here, or are just visiting – you won’t regret doing any of these!
Have a Bite at the Mishawaka
The Mishawaka Amphitheater is one of my absolute favorite places on this planet. The restaurant is located along the Poudre River in the Poudre Canyon, Northwest of Fort Collins, CO. There is both an interior and exterior part of the restaurant where you can dine above the waters of the river. Located behind the restaurant is the amphitheater itself. Here they host concerts pretty much every every Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer.
I haven’t found any other place that feels the same way the Mish does. My go-to meal is their beef nachos with guacamole. All their food is pretty tasty and the burgers are a great meal after you’ve been out on the water all day. The best time of year to go here is the summer, when you can sit out on the patio and maybe even hear some live music while you’re having a bite.
13714 Poudre Canyon Rd, Bellvue, CO 80512
Recreate in a River
Colorado is known for its adventure and outdoor recreation, so any Colorado bucket list would be remiss to not include some type of water recreation. My personal bucket list recommendation is river recreation. I absolutely love tubing in the mountain rivers, but there’s also white water rafting, paddle boarding, and canoeing. Even just swimming in the rivers is a fun summer time activity. Fort Collins, Buena Vista, Canon City, Salida, Glenwood Springs, Durango, Telluride, Pagosa Springs…the list goes on and on for places you can find white water rafting. I’m partial to the Poudre River because I’m most familiar with it. A popular entry spot for tubing, kayaking, and paddle boarding is at Gateway Natural area in Poudre Canyon. There are also more leisurely spots to get in where the river crosses Shields Street.
Gateway Natural Area, 5216 Poudre Canyon Rd, Bellvue, CO 80512
Shields Street River Access, 1219 N Shields St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Soak in the Strawberry Park Hot Springs
A few hours up Poudre Canyon Highway/Highway 14 from the Mishawaka is Steamboat Springs, where you’ll find Strawberry Park Hot Springs. I’ve soaked in several Colorado hot springs but none of them compare to how absolutely beautiful Strawberry Park Hot Springs is. The hot springs are constructed out of rock to enhance the rustic feel of natural springs. There is a warming tee-pee to change and after dark, its clothing-optional. I recommend staying on site. Not only are their rustic cabins oh-so-cozy, but it also give you late night access to the pools.
Keep in mind, the road to the hot springs does have rules depending on time of year, so make sure to check out their website for more information on how to get there.
44200 Co Rd 36, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Take an Old Time Photo
I didn’t realize how truly Colorado old time photography is until I tried to find a place to take old time photos anywhere else. Estes Park has not one, but two old time photography studios. I’ve had my picture taken at both (multiple times I might add) and its always a great time. There’s also plenty to do in Estes Park while you’re waiting for your photos to print. Manitou Springs and Pagosa Springs both have old time photo studios as well.
Memories Old Time Portraits, 132 W Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
Real West Old Time Photography, 103 W Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
Hunt for Trolls in Breckenridge
If you’re a fan of nature hikes, whimsy, trolls, or Danish artist Thomas Dambo this one is for you. This is also the only item on my Colorado Bucket List that I haven’t personally done – that’s how cool I think it is! On the Trollstigen Trail outside of Breckenridge, CO you’ll come across a 15 foot tall troll by the name of Isak Heartstone. The troll was originally created for the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts. He faced some controversy initially because of his popularity and was almost dismantled. Thankfully, he was instead moved to his current location. Make sure to respect him and the area he lives in, and he’ll be gracing us with his presence for years to come.
189 Boreas Pass Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Drink a Bloody Mary at Denver Biscuit Company
The Denver Biscuit Company is known for its, well…biscuits but you absolutely cannot sleep on their spicy bloody Mary. It has the perfect combination of liquor to tomato juice to spices (do you see that rim!?). It’s better than pretty much any other bloody Mary I’ve had! Of course, while you’re there, make sure to have a biscuit or a slice of pizza (Fat Sully’s and Atomic Cowboy). What was once a Denver metro brunch staple has also expanded south to Colorado Springs. If you’re going for Sunday brunch, make sure to plan for a wait – there’s usually a line out the door.
3237 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
141 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
8271 S Quebec St, Centennial, CO 80112
528 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Catch a Concert at Red Rocks
Ask anyone in Colorado about their favorite music venues and chances are, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre will be at the top of their list. There’s something about listening to music under the stars that really adds to the experience. Of course, there’s also the park itself which is gorgeous and a great place to recreate when you’re not attending one of their many concerts. You can catch comedy shows, movies, and even do yoga at Red Rocks. Its a pretty magical place!
18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465
Denver Botanic Gardens
There’s always plenty to do in Denver, but of all the time I’ve spent there, Denver Botanic Gardens is at the top of the list. It’s a great place to take a stroll and take in the beauty of your surroundings. There’s a million photo ops with all the gorgeous scenery, too. Of course, if you’re a nerd like me it also gives you a chance to brush up on your plants. I think if I lived nearby, I would just visit to sit by the Koi pond or the water lily pond all day. You can also get a bite to eat if you don’t mind waiting in line. Seemingly not as popular as the main botanic gardens is Chatfield Farms. It’s smaller, but its also quieter and has a more relaxed feel. Its just as pretty, too!
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206
Chatfield Farms, 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Littleton, CO 80128
Hike to a Waterfall
I love Colorado’s waterfall scene. There are so many waterfalls, so if you marvel at this natural beauty of cascading falls, Colorado is the place for you. If you think hiking to a waterfall sounds strenuous, you might be surprised at the accessibility of some of Colorado’s waterfalls. Colorado Spring’s Seven Falls and Rifle Falls (one of my favorites) both come to mind. If I was to recommend only one hike, I would recommend the falls at Hanging Lake, near Glenwood Springs, CO. It goes down as one of my absolute favorite hikes in any state and my absolute favorite waterfall. If you make the short additional hike from the lake to the falls, you can even walk under sprouting rock, which is where the falls come out of. Its gorgeous (and strenuous) but if you can make the hike, its worth it!
I-70 East of Glenwood Springs, GPS: 39.58977919256264, -107.19004711696945
Play at the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs is an adorable little mountain town that’s not far off the beaten path. There’s plenty to do making it easy to spend an afternoon or the day there. Regardless of the amount of time you’re spending though, you checking out the Penny Arcade is a must. The Manitou Springs Penny Arcade is an open-air arcade that features new arcade games as well as classic, vintage, and circus games. You can play Skee-ball, throw some hoops, play pinball, or even shoot down some circus clowns. Once you’re done, trade in your tickets for a prize. Because it’s located right in the heart of down town Manitou, you can even get some arcade foods like a pretzel or a hot dog mere feet from the arcade.
930 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Visit a Ghost Town
The Wild West is filled with ghost towns, remnants of our historical pasts. Colorado is no different! If you’re looking for a well-preserved ghost town, St. Elmo is the place to visit. You can walk along the main street and learn about the historical little town and its previous inhabitants. It’s overgrown but not ruins. There’s also a place to feed the chipmunks and there’s an operational general store to get a snack and a souvenir. When you’re here, though, don’t forget to go beyond the town. Even a short walk past the town center you’ll find some absolutely gorgeous scenery. The road to St. Elmo is dirt, but its not particularly treacherous so a 4-wheel drive is not required in good weather.
St. Elmo’s General Store, 25865 Co Rd 162, Nathrop, CO 81236
Leaf Peep on Phantom Canyon Road
This one is a little far off the beaten path, but it definitely deserves a spot on your Colorado bucket list. Folks in Colorado, we love our Aspens. Leaf peeping is a favorite Colorado past time. The news has dedicated leaf peeping timelines dedicated to telling us when the leaves will change where. Everyone has their own favorite place to see the leaves, too. I’m no stranger to some pretty Colorado fall foliage. I’ve been many places around the state, but I think the biggest bang for your buck is Phantom Canyon Road. This is a two-for-one bucket list adventure. You get a fun drive (phantom canyon road is notoriously single-laned in spots, so make sure you honk around blind curves) and you get gorgeous fall foliage. It stretches from Highway 50 between Penrose and Canyon City to Victor, CO.
GPS Coordinates: 38.57770734531288, -105.10331277522157
Go Antiquing in Florence
Florence, CO is a darling little town and that’s why it makes my Colorado bucket list. I love antiquing! I have seen some of the coolest antiques in the shops here. They line the downtown, shop after shop. A quick search on Google Maps pulls up 18 in just a few short blocks. You can stop at any number of eateries along the way, too. It’s all within walking distance so while you can spend an entire afternoon just browsing around; nothing is too far away. If antiquing isn’t your thing, the area surrounding Florence is gorgeous for a little drive or even some outdoor recreation.
GPS Coordinates, Main St: 38.57770734531288, -105.10331277522157
Visit the Royal Gorge
West of Florence, CO is the Royal Gorge, known as Colorado’s Grand Canyon. Its truly a magnificent site. You can walk across one of the world’s highest suspension bridges to really take it all in. If that’s not enough for you, there are plenty of other things you can do at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. There’s rock climbing, zip lines, and the sky coaster along with food and a park for littles. You can also take a ride on the Royal Gorge Railway, which is a great way to take in the scenery. Visiting the Royal Gorge is best planned around the weather – if its too windy, many of the things to do will not be in operation.
4218 Co Rd 3A, Cañon City, CO 81212
Take a Train Ride
The mountains of Colorado are unique in that they have narrow gauge railways. These railways are often located near mining operations of days past, and feature a narrower width between the tracks than modern trains. They are a great way to see fall colors but are enjoyable any time of year! They are often open-air (or at least those are the best cars to experience the scenery from) so make sure to plan your outfit accordingly. Colorado has 4 narrow gauge railways. There’s the Georgetown Loop Railroad, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (which snakes across the Colorado/New Mexico border) to choose from.
Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, 520 E Carr Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813
Georgetown Loop Railroad, 646 Loop Dr, Georgetown, CO 80444
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 479 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, 500 Terrace Ave, Chama, NM 87520
And that’s my Colorado bucket list! Be sure to Pin it for later. Is there anything I’ve missed that absolutely should be on your Colorado bucket list? Have you done any or all of these things? Let me know down below!
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