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Colorado has already seen a stellar line-up in 2020 – from epic snow conditions to celebrity holiday makers who are taking to the state’s mountain towns – which in the past month have included Leonardo DiCaprio, Mariah Carey, Sofia Richie, Orlando Bloom, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson and Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow and family, and famed Aussie producer Flume playing an exclusive NYE gig in Aspen.

With a range of experiences and accommodation to suit all travellers, from the elite to the backpacker, Colorado takes pride in enabling adventure accessible to all, as well as offering a noteworthy calendar of festivals and events, read on for more of Colorado’s highlights coming up in 2020.

What’s new for 2020

  • Scheduled to open in early June 2020, Colorado Springs – also known as Olympic City USA – will become home to the first-ever U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Hall of Fame. The highly anticipated museum has already been listed by The New York Times as one of the 52 places to go in 2020, as well as Architectural Digest naming it as one of the most anticipated buildings this year.
  • The Weekend Amtrak Ski Train to Winter Park Ski Resort is back, running from Denver’s Union Station on weekends now until 10 March: the perfect solution for a twin city and ski break without the need for a car.
  • Currently the highest ongoing construction site in North America, this year (expected Fall 2020), the Pikes Peak Summit complex will open to the half a million people who climb the mountain annually. Standing 14,115 feet above sea level, the complex will feature a 38,000 square-foot immersive visitor experience focused on the beauty, richness and scenery of America’s Mountain.
  • Sunlight Mountain Resort will be opening new runs in 2020 with a US$4million expansion introducing a new lift and nearly 100 acres of additional skiable terrain.

Romance is Alive in Colorado

A romantic stay in Colorado may conjure images of keeping warm by the fire after a day on the slopes; however the mountainous state is open to an array of romantic getaways year-round – from locking your love at Loveland’s new love lock sculpture to staying in rustic wooden chalets in former mining ghost towns or taking a dip in one of the state’s many natural hot springs, Colorado’s majestic scenery can be the backdrop to an array of exotic honeymoons and idyllic couples’ retreats. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we’ve selected the top locations for love across the state:

America’s Sweetheart Town, Loveland, is celebrating its 74th Valentine’s Season with the USA’s largest Valentine’s festival, Valentine’s Day Group Wedding and a new Love Lock sculpture being revealed.

Wondering where to say ‘I do’? The land of love will be home to many couples tying the knot on 14 February at a group wedding in the city’s Foundry Plaza. Everyone is invited to this candlelit ceremony which has readings and music voted on by wedding couples, with all licenses that get issued from Loveland having a special ‘Sweetheart City’ designation. Also taking place this Valentine’s weekend, following the iconic status of Loveland’s original love lock sculpture, a second lock sculpture will be revealed in the city, where visitors – and the newly married couples – can hang their love lock as a symbol of love and commitment. The heart-shaped sculpture will sit in the Foundry Plaza of downtown Loveland for six weeks after its debut at The Loveland Sweetheart Festival (14 – 15 February), moving to the romantic shores of Lake Loveland thereafter.

For those who aren’t able to make it to the Land of Love, the city’s historic remailing program enables you to send cards and love letters with a special collector’s stamp and postmark from Loveland, with a group of 50 volunteers who play cupid in the first two weeks of February for romantics from all 50 states of the U.S. and 110 countries.

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If glamping in an 1800’s ghost town has you romanticising about times gone by, Dunton Hot Springs is the ultimate escape into the great outdoors of America’s Old West, where luxury can be found in its experiences and its accommodation, away from the crowds.

Set in an alpine valley in the San Juan Mountains, Dunton Hot Springs brings couples closer to nature, with activities ranging from horseback riding to mountaineering, mountain biking, rock climbing, photography and yoga. Hand-hewn log cabins provide a cosy retreat where couples can relax to the sound of nearby waterfalls after a day in the mountains. Any of the eight luxury tents at Dunton River Camp can provide the perfect waterside glamping experience; each is equipped with two mountain bikes ready for couples keen to explore the hundreds of miles of trails surrounding them. Those looking for a more intimate soaking experience can rent the Wellness Cabin, which features a private hot springs bath.

The Broadmoor is home to mountain vistas, relaxing spa breaks and romantic adventures – before even stepping out of the resort. A Forbes five-star, AAA five-diamond historic resort in the Pikes Peak National Forest, The Broadmoor is on the doorstep of some of Colorado’s most iconic and breathtaking scenery; Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak – the mountain from which Katharine Lee Bates penned the lyrics of ‘America The Beautiful’.

ouples and honeymooners can experience Penrose Room, Colorado’s only Forbes five-star, AAA diamond restaurant, or relax with a couples’ spa treatment. The Broadmoor’s Wilderness Experiences make for an extra special stay for those wanting to find seclusion high in a mountain lodge or in a peaceful lakeside cabin.

The Ranch at Emerald Valley is an all-inclusive retreat where guests can hike scenic trails, try fly fishing in one of The Broadmoor’s private lakes or take a romantic horseback ride, before kicking back in one of 13 luxury private cabins in the forest. Cloud Camp – a lodge located 3,000 feet above The Broadmoor – has spectacular 360-degree views of Colorado’s mountainous landscape, which can be explored by day and provide a starlit backdrop at night as couples can relax by the lodge’s open fire.

Glenwood Springs is a steamy geothermal Colorado mountain town, home to world-famous hot springs and year-round adventures. First discovered by the Ute Indians for their healing powers, couples can relax in the region’s hot springs after a day of experiencing the best tree skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort, rafting the Colorado River as it meanders through Glenwood Canyon, soaking in a mud bath in the Yampah Caves or navigating the rides at the USA’s only mountain theme park.

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort offers the Romance Package where couples are welcomed to pure relaxation with chocolate truffles and a bottle of champagne (or sparkling cider) in their rooms upon arrival. Couples receive a $100 spa credit that can be used at Spa of the Rockies for a couple’s massage or for individual treatments; with all guests being able to take advantage of unlimited soaking in the world’s largest geothermal hot spring pool.

Colorado Adventures Accessible for All

Over the years, Colorado has proven itself as an inclusive destination that celebrates its diverse origins and embraces travellers from all walks of life, offering enriching experiences for all. Below is a sampling of experiences that showcase the state’s adaptive adventures for visitors of all abilities:

Wheelchair-friendly National Parks and Monuments: Visitors can experience many of Colorado’s National Parks and Monuments via Wheelchair, with wheelchair-accessible touring information provided. There are special sand wheelchairs for exploring the famous dunes, camping and picnic areas in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and there are nearly a half dozen wheelchair-accessible trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado National Monument and Mesa Verde National Park both offer accessible campsites, picnic areas and trails, and audio and/or visual tours.

Wilderness On Wheels: The mission of Wilderness on Wheels (WOW), is to stimulate the development of access for disabled visitors and residents to natural outdoor environments. WOW accomplished this through the construction of a 1-mile, 8-foot wide boardwalk starting at 9,100 feet, which leads to the top of a 12,300-foot mountain, near Grant (60 miles west of Denver). It is free to hike the boardwalk at WOW, with fishing and camping at the site, as well as overnight cabins to encourage adventure holiday experiences for all.

National Sports Center for the Disabled: Located in Winter Park, The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) has provided adaptive sports lessons in Colorado for decades and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Skiing, rafting, horseback riding and rock climbing are just some of the adaptive lesson opportunities offered to individuals and groups, with programs also run out of the Broncos Stadium in Denver.

Featured Accommodation: The Strater, Durango

The romance of Colorado’s Old West comes to life when visiting Durango’s landmark Strater Hotel, which takes guests back to 1887, when the town prospered in the mining boom. A fine example of Victorian architecture, the property has been well-preserved from its stately brick exterior, to authentic antiques adorning the common areas and tiled Victorian bathrooms in each guest room. The spirit of the Old West has similarly been captured with the locally-sourced menu at the Strater’s Mahogany Grill, as well as the property’s Diamond Belle Saloon entertaining guests with rag time piano, live music and costumed saloon girls, as well as Old West gunfights staged weekly between June and October. Travellers have myriad cultural and adventure options to explore in the surrounding San Juan mountains by day, including a steam train ride on the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 4×4 jeep tours and Mesa Verde National Park.

Upcoming Events

Colorado has a vibrant year-round events calendar which reflects its distinct seasons, outdoor lifestyle and diverse culture. We’ve highlighted a few events below that are taking place over the next few months. To find out more about events throughout the year, go to www.colorado.com:

  • Steamboat Winter Carnival, 5 – 9 February: love all things ski and snow? This Winter celebration is in its 107th year, which includes ski races, ski jumping, ice sculptures, parades and street events.
  • Denver Restaurant Week, 21 February – 1 March: will feature multi-course menus with three price points at hundreds of Denver’s top restaurants. The three-tiered pricing structure has met with great success since 2017 and will continue again in 2020 – diners can find multi-course menus at US$25, $35 and $45 price tags.
  • The 2020 U.S. National Snowshoe Championships take place in Leadville, Colorado, 28 February – 1 March: where contenders will face the ultimate challenge of snowshoeing in the USA’s highest city.
  • Frozen Dead Guy Days, Nederland, 13-15 March: for anyone tempted by coffin races, a polar plunge and a dead poet slam.
  • Colorado Rockies Home Opener, Denver, 3 April: The first Colorado Rockies home game has become a citywide celebration in Denver, which this year will see the baseball team play the San Diego Padres.

Getting there

From Australia, Virgin Australia and Qantas offer direct flights to the U.S. and United, American and Delta airlines have connections into Denver International Airport (DIA), the gateway to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. From New Zealand, Air New Zealand offers direct flights to the US, with United as a partner airline for connecting flights to DIA.

Want to book?

What: A Colorado spring getaway or a romantic escape, to make the most of Colorado’s long ski season and explore the state out of peak season.

Where: Fly into DIA

When: March – May