Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 15) Clark Walden Steamboat Springs Hot Sulphur Springs Grand Lake Granby Craig Dinosaur National Monument Dinosaur Rangely 40 Northwest Regional Overview Meeker Yampa Kremmling State Bridge Fraser Winter Park Rifle 70 Fruita Silverthorne Avon Dillon Vail Edwards Frisco Beaver Creek Glenwood Springs Breckenridge Carbondale Basalt New Castle Redstone Eagle Grand Junction Palisade Aspen Colorado National Monument Gateway Maroon Bells ©Matt Inden/Weaver orthwest N ©Denise Chambers/Weaver ©Denise Chambers/Weaver ©Matt Inden/Weaver the ©Matt Inden/Weaver TheLand From its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, to its epic gorges near Grand Junction, the Colorado River threads through this region and defines its landscape. In the extreme northwest corner of the region lies Dinosaur National Monument, a testament to how prolific prehistoric life once was in the area. But what the region is perhaps best known for is its legendary ski resorts. During winter, soft-as-down snow falls on Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Vail and Winter Park — just to name a handful. Mountain biking near Fruita Ashcroft Ghost Town near Aspen Mountain Winefest in Grand Junction Snow sculpting in Breckenridge ©Larry Pierce Steamboat Springs TheCulture The roots of the Northwest draw from decades of hard-working cowboys. Vestiges of this culture can be found throughout the region, particularly on the Flat Tops Scenic and Historic Byway, running from Meeker to Yampa. An agrarian tradition can also be found in pockets throughout the region — look to the area near Grand Junction for a saturation of locally owned vineyards and orchards. Citizens of this area are also eager to share their love of arts, culture and heritage through special events year-round. Rodeo in Steamboat Springs, ballet in Vail and snow sculptures in Breckenridge — the cultural makeup of the Northwest is as diverse as the region is large. TheDraw The resort towns of Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Snowmass, Vail and Winter Park are a major draw for this large region. Here, skiing, mountain biking, spa stays and celebrity-gazing are perpetually popular. If you are in the market for a more modest vacation, you have plenty of options as well. The towns of Grand Lake and Granby are heaven for boaters who take to the lakes of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Visitors can camp under a canopy of stars atop the Grand Mesa, take to the world-renowned mountain biking trails near Fruita or taste local wines in Grand Junction. There’s also incredible hot springs to be enjoyed in Glenwood Springs and Hot Sulphur Springs. 1-800-Colorado | www.colorado.com 15 http://www.colorado.com
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