The perspective of the town of Ouray from the periphery road, which is easy to reach from items. ( Sarah Lamagna, Special to the Denver Post ) By Jamie Siebrase | Guest CommentaryMarch 18, 2024 at 11: 41 a. m. Earlier this year, I dreamed up a few 2024 trips. I’d enjoy a hike through the Swiss Alps with chocolate, like medical soaks in Tokyo’s historic onsen and finish the year on Tasmania’s exotic beaches. Why not take modern art and risotto in Valencia, Spain, to?
Therefore, when I woke up, I discovered that Boeing 777 plane tickets were flying at an even higher rate. Forget about using jet fuel; the destinations listed above have major global vibes that can be reached with a single tank of either gasoline or charge.
New walking views
I hiked in the Swiss Alps a few years before, so I can vouch for the state’s natural beauty. The high-altitude scenery resembles what you’re anticipating from the Heidi VHS package: Snow-capped peaks pour into beautiful lakes surrounded by pastures inhabited by roaming animals and, yes, there are! Cattle also have bells protruding from their large necks.
The Western Hotel’s roof in Ouray. Ouray has earned the label of” the Switzerland of America” thanks to its spectacular views of the San Juan Mountains in south Colorado. Sitting 7, 800 feet above sea level, Ouray’s altitude account matches that of St. Moritz, Switzerland, and both locales offer an unlimited lineup of stunning hikes with incredible scenery.
Foremost- time Ouray visitors can get the lay of the property while tackling the Ouray Perimeter Trail, a 5.6- hour, hours- much trek requiring 1, 600 feet of elevation gain. It’s for it. In addition to wonderful views of the city, trekkers are rewarded with a few freebies: four rivers, six bridges and a hidden monster.
Most years, Ouray Ice Park is open through March ( weather dictates ), and the town also claims four hot springs. If there’s one item the Swiss love, it’s pleasure, The Western Hotel &, Spa is Ouray’s crack at large- end hospitality. You wo n’t find fondue at the hotel’s on- site saloon, but no need to fret: You can get a hearty, Swiss- approved meal at Brickhouse 737, and there’s also The Swiss Store, a quaint gift shop on Main Street run by a Swiss couple, where you can grab a bar of Toblerone to enjoy during and after your High- Country hike.
Health &, wellness
Serious wellness enthusiasts are flying to Tokyo to experience the country’s hot- springs bathhouses. Not quite spas, but not necessarily hot springs, either, onsen offer unique wellness experiences centered around mineral rich geothermal pools. According to the Nippon Onsen Research Association, Japan claims more than 3, 000 onsen, many of which are built into the natural environment, giving the term “forest bathing” a more accurate meaning.
West of Taos, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa is accessible. Replicate the onsen experience at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort &, Spa ( Provided by Ojo Caliente ). Ojo Caliente, one of the oldest health spas in the United States, is located just west of Taos, and guests can access nine sulfur-free communal pools that are fed by therapeutic geothermal mineral springs. Additionally, the bathhouse is bordered by sand hills and bluffs dotted with native cacti, sagebrush, and juniper bushes on all sides. ( How’s that for Colorado- style forest bathing? )
In between relaxing and taking a break from yoga, guests can hike the scenic desert trails in northern New Mexico. Accommodations range from vintage Spartan trailers to more traditional guestrooms at a newly remodeled inn. Ojo Caliente’s farm- to- table food program is another point of distinction. Children are welcome on the premises, but only adults and children under 13 can use the spa’s geothermal soaking areas.
White sandy beaches
Sand is so much better with a mountain view, and nothing quite compares to Tasmania’s wild beaches. Since I visited in my 20s, I’ve itched to go back to Australia. But that three-child flight?
It’s a shorter drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. If you have n’t visited in awhile, this is the year to let everyone in your family ogle North America’s tallest sand dunes.
On June 20, 2019, as they swim in the surge flows in Medano Creek at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, 16-year-old Isaac Nelson receives a push on his inner tube from his mother Elizabeth Nelson Hulse. In March, you can explore the park without getting too hot or crowded during the summer. Snow’s possible, but it melts quickly in the spring, when daytime weather is typically comfortable. If you can wait until April to visit, even better.
The beachy area you’ve seen in photos is Medano Creek, and it does n’t start flowing until April or May. Park visitors can play in the sand any time of the year thanks to 30 square miles of dunes. Start your adventure at the renovated visitor center, open daily from 9 a. m. to 4: 30 p. m. From here, climb the first ridge to gain views of the site’s sandy expanse.
Measuring in at 0.5- mile roundtrip, Montville Nature Trail is the park’s easiest and most popular hike, leading to views of Mount Herard ( 13, 345 feet ) and the dunes. Continue on Mosca Pass Trail, a 7-mile roundtrip path following a creek to the top of a low pass in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains if you’re enjoying the montane woodlands.
( Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostClara Abel, 8, surfs down a dune at the Great Sand Dunes on June 20, 2019, in Mosca. It was her first time sand surfing. She and her family came from Raleigh, N. C., to visit the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Adventurous visitors will want to sandboard or sled. The National Park Service does n’t rent the required equipment, so get your gear before arriving. The right boards and sleds are available at the Great Sand Dunes Oasis Store ( immediately outside the park ), and Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa is another option. BYO food for picnicking, and do n’t forget reusable water bottles, which can be refilled at the visitor center. You could stay overnight in the nearby town of Alamosa, but would n’t it be fun to plan ahead and camp at Piñon Flats Campground? This International Dark Sky Park offers a night without the stars in the shadow of the stars.
Contemporary art
Valencia’s contemporary art scene is having its moment. However, if all you really need is a quick weekend getaway, try to soak up some Spanish culture in Boulder’s historic St. Julien Hotel &, Spa, where guests can book an award-winning spa treatment and head a few blocks east to the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, which is housed in a period red brick building along Boulder Creek. Due to the museum’s pay- from your heart admissions policy, the rotating exhibitions are always accessible to art lovers.
Pop into the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse next door for an afternoon treat, then cruise two blocks east to 15th Street Gallery, a contemporary art gallery showcasing work by museum- track artists. Go a mile farther on Canyon Boulevard, and you’ll reach the Dairy Arts Center, with four free public galleries offering rotating exhibitions, some contemporary. Back near the St Julien, check out The New Local, dedicated to the economic empowerment of local female- identifying creators.
Corrida’s patio is open year- round in Boulder. ( Raul Garcia, provided by Corrida ) If all the art’s got your stomach rumbling, continue with the Spanish theme at Corrida, a Spanish- inspired chophouse focused on regenerative beef. Even a vegetarian like me can enjoy plant-based nibbles while enjoying the views from the rooftop patio of the restaurant. They’re some of the best in town. Another tapas-style restaurant serving contemporary Spanish cuisine that uses sustainably sourced ingredients is Gemini. This could be the ideal setting to end or kick off your night, depending on how many sangrias you have.
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Colorado Snow Report
Colorado Ski Country USA
Arapahoe Basin
New ( 24 hr ): N/A” | Base: 34″
Open: 9
Aspen Highlands
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Open: 5
Aspen Mountain
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Beaver Creek
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Breckenridge
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Buttermilk
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Cooper/Chicago Ridge
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Copper Mountain Resort
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Crested Butte Mountain Resort
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Echo Mountain
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Eldora Mountain Resort
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Granby Ranch
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Hesperus Ski Area
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Irwin Catskiing by Eleven
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Keystone Resort
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Telluride Ski Resort
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Vail Mountain Resort
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Winter Park Resort
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More in Travel
2024
March
18
