Summer Guide

First-Timer’s Guide: Lake City

Planning some last-minute summer travel? Don't overlook this small mountain community, which boasts every kind of outdoor adventure you could desire (plus so much more).

By Victoria Carodine

Hike We Like: Arapaho Pass Trail

This moderately-strenuous hike in the Indian Peaks Wilderness boasts some of Colorado’s best wildflower displays.

By Logan Abbott, Terri Cook

The Best Patios for Dining and Drinking in Denver

From killer views and plush seating to refreshing drinks and snacks, here are the best places to imbibe alfresco in the Mile High City this summer.

By Chloe Barrett

7 Trail Races to Add to Your Running Bucket List

Sure, some of Colorado's most popular races have been canceled due to trail conditions, but there are still plenty of ways to competitively trail run this summer and fall.

By Shauna Farnell

10 Free Things to Do in Colorado This July

Need help filling up this month’s schedule on the cheap? Look no further. We’ve gathered 10 free events you won’t want to miss—from arts festivals and Independence Day celebrations to outdoor concerts and sporting events.

By Meredith Sell

Head to the Mountains for These Under-the-Radar Art Events

Where to find live music (even in the treetops), opera, free Shakespeare, and a larger-than-life troll sculpture in resort towns this summer.

By Shauna Farnell

6 Road-Trip Worthy Food Festivals

From Hatch green chiles to mac-and-cheese, here are six foodie celebrations that are worthy of a weekend road-trip. Plus: two delicious events happening right here in Denver.

By Amanda M. Faison

4 New Meals for Your Next Backpacking Adventure

5280 editors taste-tested some of the newest dehydrated camping foods on the market. Here's what they thought.

By Mary Murphy

5 Places to Tube in Colorado This Summer

These spots each offer a different vibe, but all end in the same place: bliss.

By Chloe Barrett

Add These Books from Colorado Authors to Your Summer Reading List

It’s summer, which means it’s time to catch up on the best Colorado books (so far) of 2019—as well as some page-turners you might have missed from years past.

By Laura Kokernot

How to Make the Most of Your Summer in (and Around) Denver

Time does more than fly when temperatures ratchet up—it hops aboard a jet and breaks the sound barrier. The solution? Weaving the season into every moment you can steal, whether that’s a fleeting minute, a lunch hour, or a whole weekend.

By Angela Ufheil

Oh, the Places You’ll Go: 5 of DIA’s Newest Nonstop Flights

Make the most of your summer with one of these direct flights out of Denver International Airport.

By Kim Habicht

Save the Date: Friends and Fellows Ride in Aspen on June 13

Pair food, wine, and cycling along one of the most spectacular routes in Aspen at this epic event.

By Amanda M. Faison

First-Timer’s Guide: Dillon

You've likely considered Dillon a pass-through on the way to mountain towns with more name recognition. But it's time to give this small Summit County enclave its due.

By Daliah Singer

The Frasca Food and Wine Team Is Opening a Wine Bar in LoDo

Sunday Vinyl will be a sophisticated wine-and-music mecca located on the platform behind Union Station, next door to Tavernetta.

By Denise Mickelsen

5 Local Spots for Renting Outdoor Gear Essentials

Whatever adventure you’re planning—be it a weekend ski trip or remote backpacking excursion—get the equipment you need from one of these local gear-rental programs.

By Tyra Sutak

Dinosaur National Monument’s Night Sky is a Must-See

The national park site was recently designated one of the best places in the world to stargaze by the International Dark-Sky Association.

By Morgan Tilton

4 New Colorado Hotels Perfect for Summer Vacationing

These four new lodges give us a reason to explore the Centennial State—or plan an epic staycation—this summer.

By Daliah Singer

Safta Brings New Orleans’ Coolest Bar to the Source This Summer

Mark your calendars: Alon and Emily Shaya are planning an epic jazz-, wine-, and wood-fire-fueled outdoor party with Bacchanal Wine.

By Denise Mickelsen

Which Farmers’ Market is Right for You?

This spring, the only thing standing between you and fresh, Colorado-grown produce is choosing where to get it.

By Kim Habicht

How to Try the Ancient Art of Spearfishing in Colorado

There's a whole other world of fishing waiting below the surface of Colorado bodies of water.

By Kate Ruder

Teatulia’s Tea Sodas Are the Warm-Weather Drink You Didn’t Know You Needed

These refreshing beverages even come in outdoor-recreation-friendly cans.

By Chloe Barrett

A Beginner’s Guide to Rock Climbing in Colorado

From climbing terms to the newbie-friendly crags, we've got you covered with this introductory guide to Centennial State stone.

By Kasey Cordell

Camping Spots That Are Actually (Probably) Open

These free spots might be hard to access, but they almost always have room to host your weekend base camp.

By G. Jeff Golden

You Can Sip From Morning to Night at the Source’s New Bar

Fresh-pressed juices give way to edgy cocktails at Isabel, the Source’s replacement for the RiNo Yacht Club.

By Chloe Barrett

McGregor Square Is Expected to Transform the Ballpark Neighborhood

Named after the team's late president, the Rockies' mixed-use development will feature more than 100 private residences, nearly 200 hotel rooms, office space, restaurants, shopping, and more.

By Jay Bouchard