USA TOURIST ATTRACTIONS : COLORADO

Colorado Tourist Attractions

Colorado is the highest-altitude state in America so its no wonder that to ski the world-famous Rocky Mountains is one of Colorado's main Tourist Attractions.

Colorado also offers a wide diversity of wildlife and natural wonders together with the cultural heritage found in frontier forts, mining museums and dinosaur fossils.

Chautauqua Park in Boulder was founded in 1898, with 26 acres located below the Flatiron Mountains. Musical concerts and silent films are amongst the attractions.The Boulder Museum of History on University Hill with exhibits dating back to the 1800's.

Flagstaff Scenic Highway offers fabuluous scenic views as it winds to the summit of Flagstaff Mountain. There are views of the Continental Divide, city, valley and plains.

The Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs has restored steam engines and mining equipment used in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Southwest of Colorado Springs are the wild North Cheyenne Canyon and the Seven Falls which drop 181 feet, Eagle's Nest offers the best viewpoint & access is via an elevator or for the fit guys try the 185-step stairway!

Colorado Springs hosts two top Cowboy attractions - The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy is located in near the foothills of Pikes Peak, America's Mountain. This is the only professional rodeo heritage center in the world. Wonderful for the children !

At the Hall of Fame entrance, Casey Tibbs is honoured by a larger-than-life statue named "The Champ" .Casey was a nine-time world champion and one of America's most celebrated cowboys.

The U.S. Mint in Denver is another Colorado Tourist Attraction. There is also a museum there on the History of Coining. During your visit you will be close to some of the US gold reserves by the proximity of untold wealth !

Larimer Square is one of Denver's attractions. The famous frontiersman Buffalo Bill lived here. There are buildings of the Civil War period, art galleries and a great gas lamp ambience.

National Historic Trails in Colorado :

Gold prospectors, attracted by the gold strikes in California headed west on The California National Historic Trail. Californian has now the largest population of any US state, the result of an influx of 250,000 gold seekers in the 1840s!

Old Spanish National Historic Trail journeys through Colorado linking Santa Fe to Los Angeles. A Mexican trader Antonio Armijo in 1829 pioneered the route to access Los Angeles's markets. Santa Fe developed into the trade centre for commerce between Mexico and United States. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail flourished until 1848.

Pony Express National Historic Trail goes through Utah. Not widely known is that the 1,800 miles from St. Joseph Missouri to Sacramento California was accomplished in just ten days! It operated for only 18 months between April 1860 and October 1861 but the telegraph's made it obsolete. There are 120 historic sites along the trail.

Santa Fe National Historic Trail joins Sante Fe with western Missouri . It used to carry settlers to the West. It is of major importance in historical terms relevant to the West's development.