Denver to Glenwood Springs

The journey down curvy I-70 allows you to experience Colorado’s mining legacy as you pass tiny towns with old shafts dug into rocky crags. Pan for gold at Idaho Springs’ Phoenix Mine, take a stroll through Georgetown’s historic district and admire restored Victorians, or explore Frisco, another boom town that sprouted gold and silver mines in the late 1800s.

Internationally revered for its extensive winter sports facilities, Bavarian-style Vail also offers year-round recreation in the surrounding White River National Forest. Your arrival at Leadville, America’s highest city, marks your approach into thin air—the town’s whopping 10,150-foot altitude rewards visitors with dramatic views from its lofty perch atop the Rockies.

Playground of the rich and famous, Aspen is celebrated for its legendary après ski parties, elegant shops, world-class people watching and exquisite restaurants. For more laid-back pursuits, relish the restorative powers of Glenwood Springs’ hot mineral springs and vapor caves—water sports of a more vigorous nature occur on the nearby Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers.