Page 31 - DreamScapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2026

PHOTOS: VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS | JOSHUA HARDIN | DAN AND ZORA AVILA | BRECKENRIDGE TOURISM OFFICE
sky expands. The state’s 26 Scenic & His-
toric Byways pull you through terrain first
travelled by Indigenous peoples, then
miners, settlers, and modern-day adven-
turers. Each bend reveals something
unexpected: a forgotten ghost town, a
trailhead leading into wilderness, or a
mountain town reinventing itself for a
new century.
From Denver, the road heads south to
Colorado Springs. The winding drive leads
4,302 metres high to the summit at Pikes
Peak, known as “America’s Mountain.”
Spanning plains and peaks in every direc-
tion, the sweeping view famously
inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the
patriotic anthem America the Beautiful.
Summer brings climbers determined to
summit the state’s legendary Fourteeners,
those heavenly peaks above 14,000 feet
(4,267 metres).
Into the Rockies
Turning west, the landscape rises dramat-
ically as the Rocky Mountains take centre
stage. In Breckenridge, a former mining
town turned alpine playground, colourful
Victorian buildings now house lively
cafés, breweries and outdoor outfitters.
Hiking trails climb into high alpine ter-
rain where wildflowers bloom during the
short mountain summer.
Further along the route, Glenwood
Springs offers a different mountain expe-
rience. Slip into naturally heated mineral
pools as steam rises against canyon walls
along the Colorado River. For history
lovers there’s a short climb to Linwood
Cemetery, perched high above town. It is
the final resting place of frontier legend
Doc Holliday—a fittingly dramatic set-
ting for one of the Wild West’s most
storied figures.
Those wanting to experience the state’s
frontier spirit can head to one of Colorado’s
dude and guest ranches, where horseback
rides across open valleys and evenings
gathered around campfires offer a glimpse
into Old West traditions that helped shape
the region.
Mountain Heritage in the San Juans
Further south, the Durango & Silverton
Narrow Gauge Railroad steams into the
San Juan Mountains, tracing tracks laid in
the 1880s. Forested slopes, narrow
canyons, and the Animas River unfurl
outside the window like in the olden days.
At Mesa Verde National Park, you can
wander in wonder, passing ancient cliff
dwellings, reminders that Colorado’s story
began long before statehood. Explore pre-
served cliff dwellings built by the
Ancestral Pueblo people more than 700
years ago.
At night, settle into one of Colorado’s
historic hotels. Perhaps The Broadmoor,
where elegance meets mountain grandeur,
the Strater Hotel for its Gilded Age opulence,
or The Stanley Hotel, the iconic inspira-
tion for Stephen King’s The Shining.
By the time your journey ends, you’ll
realize that Colorado’s 150th anniversary
isn’t only about remembrance, it’s about
standing here, now, breathing mountain
air, watching sunlight move across the
peaks, and seeing the future waiting just
beyond the horizon.
The view from here has never been
better.
TRAVEL PLANNER
For more travel information about Colorado,
see Colorado.com
MICHELIN
Stars Rise in
the Rockies
Colorado’s culinary scene has
stepped onto the global stage with
the MICHELIN Guide’s statewide
expansion. Already 9 restaurants
have snagged a MICHELIN-star
rating with a whopping 35 more that
have earned MICHELIN distinction in
Denver, Boulder, Aspen and Vail.
Chefs celebrate the state’s bounty
with vibrant farm-to-table cuisine,
craft breweries, distilleries, and
wineries. From Denver’s inventive
kitchens to Aspen’s alpine-inspired
menus, every plate and pour
highlights local ingredients,
seasonal flavours, and the creative
spirit of Colorado’s culinary and
liquid arts scene.
SPRING/SUMMER 2026 DREAMSCAPES 31