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Colorado became a state 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and is therefore named The Centennial State. I’ve been to Colorado multiple times, but my favorite time to visit is during the winter. The Rockies are gorgeous and one of my favorite places to ski.
Denver
But I could go to Denver on a regular basis just to pick up my favorite beer. I’m not a big beer drinker, but this beer is different. The brewery is called Four Noses and the brewmaster is fantastically creative. They certainly have traditional beers, but I love the fruity beers, the sour ales and the smoothie style beers. Unfortunately they cannot distribute to New York (I am hoping that changes some day). Until then, I have to make special trips. It’s worth it! You can find them in Boulder, Broomfield and Park Hill.
If you stay in Denver, you will have many hotel options. There is a fun Westin at the airport, or you could stay nearby at the Gaylord Rockies Resort, which has a lot of family friendly activities. Most recently, I stayed at the Hotel Clio, which might have become my favorite. Service was fantastic and the location in Cherry Creek could not be beat.
Steamboat Springs
Many ski areas in Colorado are expensive. However, kids ski free at Steamboat if an adult buys a 5 day lift ticket. Adult tickets are expensive. Yet, buying them can often be a better deal than buying tickets for yourself and your kids at other places. My family is lucky to have a timeshare at the Sheraton. It is technically the only ski in/ski out property in town. Staying there makes the trip much more affordable and easy to reserve.
We also enjoy the hot springs in the area, which is magical when it is snowing outside. Just make sure you wear a cute, warm hat if you go in the winter like I did! You will also need warm snow gear. My family prefers Spyder and Descente. Both are stylish and seem to last forever! One other item that I cannot live without are heated socks. My theory is simple. They are not meant to keep your feet warm. Instead, they help avoid the feeling that your feet are blocks of ice.
If you head into the downtown area try eating at Table 79. The food is great and the service is fantastic. If you are looking for a massage, try out Steamboat Massage Center. They are great and very accommodating. Their prices are much better than at the resorts and hot springs too! The downtown area is small with a beautiful view of the mountain.
Colorado Springs
An easy day trip or just an overnight excursion, Colorado Springs is about an hour drive South of Denver. Colorado Springs is home to the US Air Force Academy. It is also where you can find the Garden of the Gods, designated a National Natural Landmark. It is easily visited by car, foot or bike. If you go specifically by car, the visit will take under two hours, even with the traffic. In 1859, a surveyor discovered the area. He remarked that it was fit for the gods to assemble. This is how it got its name.
There is a restaurant in Colorado Springs that I think deserves special recognition. The restaurant is called Ephemera and it is located inside of a food hall called Coati. The food is creative and different and the service is top notch. I arrived just when happy hour was ending, but the owner honored the happy hour prices for me. I also had the tasting menu and wine pairing which was delicious and creative. I would definitely go out of my way to get there from Denver on my next visit!
