Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 60) Culture, Heritage and Sophistication Photography: Bent’s Old Fort ©Matt Inden/Weaver; National Western Stock Show ©Matt Inden/Weaver When you encounter the local culture of a place, or a historic site that’s immaculately preserved, your understanding of that place expands. In Colorado, this quest for the authentic is rewarded with the 700year-old cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans, intimate festivals that celebrate a particular culture, and the magical steam-powered trains that travel narrow-gauge tracks deep into the mountains. ✽ Need ideas on how you can connect with Colorado’s vibrant culture and cherished heritage? Here are some of the more unique opportunities. 5 Must-See Historical Experiences • Take a nostalgic trip aboard a steam-powered train. Colorado has four restored and operating narrow-gauge railroads, plus a slew of trains that travel historic routes as well. See page 62 for more. 10 Cultural Events to Enjoy Whether it’s to preserve a way of life or to celebrate a cultural tradition, Coloradans love to come together and rejoice in their heritage. These countless events are held throughout the year. Here are 10 standouts. • Climb into a kiva — a subterranean room built by the Ancestral • Meeker Classic Sheep Dog Championship Trials, Meeker • Cinco de Mayo, Denver • Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Heritage Festival, Estes Park • Mesa Verde Country Indian Arts & Culture Festival, Mesa Verde • National Western Stock Show, Denver • Council Tree Pow-Wow, Delta • Chile & Frijoles Festival, Pueblo • Feast Day of Santa Ana, San Luis • Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, Denver • Sugar Beet Days, Sterling MORE ONLINE! For more Colorado events, go to page 211 or Puebloans — at Mesa Verde National Park, then tour the world-renowned cliff dwellings of Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House. visit to a preserved ghost town such as Ashcroft, near Aspen. • Walk in the footsteps of prospectors, tycoons and scoundrels with a • See what life was like for trappers, traders, Indians, settlers and army garrisons by exploring a frontier fort — such as Bent’s Old Fort, El Pueblo Museum or Fort Garland. • Descend into the underground caverns of a silver mine or gold mine to see the practices of miners during Colorado’s Silver Boom and Gold Rush days. MORE ONLINE! Visit www.colorado.com/heritage to find more places to see and people to meet on your Colorado journey. visit www.colorado.com/events. 60 1-800-Colorado | www.colorado.com http://www.colorado.com/heritage http://www.colorado.com/events http://www.colorado.com
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