Many travelers view Colorado during winter months as a vacation spot for skiers and snowboarders. If that’s what you think, and if skiing is not your thing, you may be missing out on a relaxing and thrilling vacation. Colorado features lush outdoors, breathtaking scenery, exceptional shops cafes, and entertaining nightlife.
With nearly 300 sunny days a year, low humidity, and moderate temperatures, Colorado is sure to offer you an indoor or outdoor activity that suits you. Throughout the year, mountain towns offer guests various types of food, art, beer and wine, and livestock festivals aimed to please audiences who love food and culture.
In 2011, my husband and I embarked on a romantic mountain vacation in Telluride, Colorado. Because I’m not a skier, I’ve never spent too much time in the mountains for fear of not having enough to do.
Telluride is a former silver mining town, about 330 miles southwest of Denver. Its ski resort, mountain views, and shops have made it a favorite destination for artists, celebrities, and second home owners.
As you enter the town, your breath is sure to be taken away by the view of the town wedged between a scenic glacial canyon at the base of the beautiful San Juan Mountains.
My husband and I booked a mini-vacation during the town’s annual film festival. This is a five-day event that features a look at new fall films, and the chance to view restored or forgotten classic films. During the day, we walked around the main street to visit local shops and dined in several of the restaurants.
Most buildings display an old whimsical Western charm that makes for great sight-seeing. A walk through Colorado mining towns provide glimpses of what these Western cities were about many years ago. I can almost see the miners and cowboys wrapping up the day at the local bar for a cold beer, and good old male camaraderie and conversation before heading home.
We scheduled a four-wheel Jeep tour to learn more about the city’s history and culture. Driving through the mountains, the cool air caressing my cheeks gave me an exhilarating feeling of freedom and adventure. Most of the towns looked as if they had frozen in time, some retaining their old charm while others remain in ruins. Still, those decrepit dwellings displayed a worn-out sense of life that occurred there so many years ago.
The next day we went for a hike; we’d heard through the locals there was a hike nearby that featured a spectacular waterfall after reaching the top. The hike was very mild, and although the temperature was little on the cool side we were totally comfortable when walking up the trails. We reached the waterfall after a couple of miles’ walk, and it was indeed amazing. The air mist felt refreshing on my face. The coolness of the water hitting the rocks below blew my hair as if I were in front of a fierce fan. I couldn’t help but feel a deep connection with the place. I felt free, energized, and carefree. Although my body started winding down after a short rest, my heart was still racing with excitement. On our way down, we walked in silence, still absorbing the thrill of being liberated from all the tension and challenges of our lives.
Once we reached the bottom, we decided to have a beer at a local Irish pub. There were music and a friendly atmosphere conducive to great conversation with the locals. In order to get to our condo, we had to ride the local gondola almost every time unless we wanted to hike to the bottom on foot. The views from the gondola were spectacular. You could see wildlife running through the terrain below, feasting, or just relaxing. During our picturesque view of the town from above we enjoyed panoramic views, wildflowers, and aspens trees changing to its seasonal color. With each ride, we seem to have experienced something different.
Each night after dinner, we would enjoy a soak in the hot tube with a glass of wine, and later retreat indoors for a movie, or just relax. Overall, this was a fun, relaxing, and thrilling experience for us. The quality time my husband and I spent together, and the exhilarating experiences we shared in Telluride, made for an exceptional romantic winter vacation. We plan on visiting other mountain towns in the future. We decided Breckenridge is next, so stay tuned…
Romantic winter vacation in Colorado for non-skiers
