What are the nicest and most beautiful towns in Colorado?

[Anonymous]

I spent a summer in Aspen and it's beautiful and the town is super nice. I've only been to Telluride in winter but I'm sure it's great in summer too. For something bigger, Boulder is a good choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spent a summer in Aspen and it's beautiful and the town is super nice. I've only been to Telluride in winter but I'm sure it's great in summer too. For something bigger, Boulder is a good choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spent a summer in Aspen and it's beautiful and the town is super nice. I've only been to Telluride in winter but I'm sure it's great in summer too. For something bigger, Boulder is a good choice.

We spent an evening in Aspen in August 2019, camping outside of town, prior to hiking at Maroon Bells.

I recall my wife commenting, "There's lots of rich white people here."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent a summer in Aspen and it's beautiful and the town is super nice. I've only been to Telluride in winter but I'm sure it's great in summer too. For something bigger, Boulder is a good choice.

We spent an evening in Aspen in August 2019, camping outside of town, prior to hiking at Maroon Bells.

I recall my wife commenting, "There's lots of rich white people here."

The same generally applies to any ski town, which is most of what people have been suggesting. I know richer people with houses in Telluride than in Aspen (but it's all relative - they are all rich)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent a summer in Aspen and it's beautiful and the town is super nice. I've only been to Telluride in winter but I'm sure it's great in summer too. For something bigger, Boulder is a good choice.

We spent an evening in Aspen in August 2019, camping outside of town, prior to hiking at Maroon Bells.

I recall my wife commenting, "There's lots of rich white people here."

Where do the poor people (of any color) go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent a summer in Aspen and it's beautiful and the town is super nice. I've only been to Telluride in winter but I'm sure it's great in summer too. For something bigger, Boulder is a good choice.

We spent an evening in Aspen in August 2019, camping outside of town, prior to hiking at Maroon Bells.

I recall my wife commenting, "There's lots of rich white people here."

Where do the poor people (of any color) go?

Aspen is incredibly beautiful and one of the best in Co. However, it is $$$$.
We stayed in Frisco, which is close by, and had a great time. It's more financially accessible and seemed to have a broader group of visitors. Breckenridge seemed to lean very conservative (by the MAGA shirts and hats while we were there), though it was a nice town.
As others have said, Telluride and Ouray are also beautiful. But anywhere in Colorado is beautiful so find what you meets your budget.

[Anonymous]

Salida is good.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Telluride, Aspen, Boulder, Salida - all for different reasons. Crested Butte is great too. And Steamboat.

[Anonymous]

I love Steamboat and it's reasonably close to Denver so you could fly in there. Which is convenient. In that area, Estes Park is wonderful and Boulder (which is like Berkeley but in the mountains) is good if you want somewhere to stay a couple nights somewhere with a bit of a nightlife and more restaurants. Depends on what you are looking for. Steamboat has bars and cafes but it's teeny tiny, so if you love going out to eat, you might want to only stay there a few days and maximize your outdoor time.

You could also fly into Durango and do Durango/Silverton/Ouray/Telluride. Silverton is not cute, but the train from Durango to Silverton (if it's running during Covid) is really stunning. Ouray and Telluride are both wonderful and you can find great house rentals that are in these wonderfully picturesque little meadows that have beautiful views and tons of flora and fauna in the summer. Ouray also has a hot springs which is wonderful. And there's a gondola that connects Telluride to Mountain Village, which (like the train) is a fun way to experience some unique views.

Durango is less picturesque (it's just bigger and is a real town with actual non-tourist commerce) but, like Boulder, could serve as a nice place to spend a few nights and go to some great restaurants (there are actually a number of really delicious spots there for such a remote place).

I would skip all of the popular ski towns if going in the summer (Breck, Aspen, Vail). They just don't have as much personality and yes, skew old and white. You will find better hiking, nature, and views if you head a bit more off the beaten path than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Steamboat and it's reasonably close to Denver so you could fly in there. Which is convenient. In that area, Estes Park is wonderful and Boulder (which is like Berkeley but in the mountains) is good if you want somewhere to stay a couple nights somewhere with a bit of a nightlife and more restaurants. Depends on what you are looking for. Steamboat has bars and cafes but it's teeny tiny, so if you love going out to eat, you might want to only stay there a few days and maximize your outdoor time.

You could also fly into Durango and do Durango/Silverton/Ouray/Telluride. Silverton is not cute, but the train from Durango to Silverton (if it's running during Covid) is really stunning. Ouray and Telluride are both wonderful and you can find great house rentals that are in these wonderfully picturesque little meadows that have beautiful views and tons of flora and fauna in the summer. Ouray also has a hot springs which is wonderful. And there's a gondola that connects Telluride to Mountain Village, which (like the train) is a fun way to experience some unique views.

Durango is less picturesque (it's just bigger and is a real town with actual non-tourist commerce) but, like Boulder, could serve as a nice place to spend a few nights and go to some great restaurants (there are actually a number of really delicious spots there for such a remote place).

I would skip all of the popular ski towns if going in the summer (Breck, Aspen, Vail). They just don't have as much personality and yes, skew old and white. You will find better hiking, nature, and views if you head a bit more off the beaten path than that.

Ouray's hotsprings are clothing optional, FYI. Not a problem or some people, but if you are taking kids, you might want to know.

There is another hotsprings place about an hour outside Durango -- Pagosa Springs, with a hotsprings-powered small brewery and plenty of places to soak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll put another vote in for Telluride. It's quite expensive, but the scenery is gorgeous. People tend to go to Colorado for the nature and not the architecture and charm of their towns. If you want a charming town in beautiful mountains, try Switzerland.

Uh, no. The Swiss are not very nice. Try Austria.

--German

+1000 on Austria over Switzerland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ouray

+1 I spent years of my childhood in Delta, CO and we would often go to Ouray for outings. My mother loved it there.

[Anonymous]

Look at where the fires were last summer (2020)--Estes Park has a lot of burnt area around it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just in Breckinridge, it’s a super cute town and I suspect lovely and fun in the summer. Durango is nice and Telluride is great.

I visited Breck once in the summer. It's not not nice but I think there are better options. I have heard Steamboat Springs is great. I'm sure Telluride is great too. Winter Park has lots of activities for kids but it's not really a cute town.

They won’t let Americans in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Steamboat and it's reasonably close to Denver so you could fly in there. Which is convenient. In that area, Estes Park is wonderful and Boulder (which is like Berkeley but in the mountains) is good if you want somewhere to stay a couple nights somewhere with a bit of a nightlife and more restaurants. Depends on what you are looking for. Steamboat has bars and cafes but it's teeny tiny, so if you love going out to eat, you might want to only stay there a few days and maximize your outdoor time.

You could also fly into Durango and do Durango/Silverton/Ouray/Telluride. Silverton is not cute, but the train from Durango to Silverton (if it's running during Covid) is really stunning. Ouray and Telluride are both wonderful and you can find great house rentals that are in these wonderfully picturesque little meadows that have beautiful views and tons of flora and fauna in the summer. Ouray also has a hot springs which is wonderful. And there's a gondola that connects Telluride to Mountain Village, which (like the train) is a fun way to experience some unique views.

Durango is less picturesque (it's just bigger and is a real town with actual non-tourist commerce) but, like Boulder, could serve as a nice place to spend a few nights and go to some great restaurants (there are actually a number of really delicious spots there for such a remote place).

I would skip all of the popular ski towns if going in the summer (Breck, Aspen, Vail). They just don't have as much personality and yes, skew old and white. You will find better hiking, nature, and views if you head a bit more off the beaten path than that.

Ouray's hotsprings are clothing optional, FYI. Not a problem or some people, but if you are taking kids, you might want to know.

There is another hotsprings place about an hour outside Durango -- Pagosa Springs, with a hotsprings-powered small brewery and plenty of places to soak.

I went to Pagosa Springs and Durango years ago and loved it ( I grew up in Denver)