This post was contributed by Carrie Patrick of AAA Colorado.
Some of the most scenic roads in Colorado are also the most nervewracking. The reason is obvious — flat land just isn’t as interesting to look at. But to enjoy all the vertical stuff this state does so well, you have to get up there somehow. Here are four drives that will have nervous passengers clutching the dashboard and inadvertently trying to creep across in their seat to the other side of the car.... Read More

It’s inevitable. I’ll meet someone for the first time and when they find out I’m a AAA inspector that assigns Diamond Ratings, they ask about the rating of their favorite restaurant. When I tell them it’s a Two or Three Diamond, a look of disappointment crosses their face as they quietly mutter, “But, I love that place.”

Similarly, after raving to everyone I know about my first experience at a quick-serve burger joint, I get the unavoidable question, “What did you rate it?” When I explain that it’s a One Diamond, the person I’m speaking with looks confused and says, “But, I thought you liked it.” It’s hard not to get frustrated with these misunderstandings, but I know it’s not their fault. ... Read More

I’m a neighborhood kind of gal. When I travel to a place I’ve never seen before, sure, I like to visit highly touted tourist attractions—but I also want to do what the natives do. Learning about a destination is like peeling away the layers of an onion—all the obvious stuff is on top, but there’s also some buried treasure just below the surface.

During my recent trip to Denver, I was able to experience some unique neighborhood haunts and I’m happy to share some inside scoop with TravelViews readers.... Read More

Dress in layers and hold on tightly!

That’s the best advice I can give if you plan to go whitewater rafting in late May or early June along the Arkansas River in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Fortunately, before leaving Elk Mountain Ranch for our 45-minute commute to Wilderness Aware the morning of our scheduled full-day river trip, I heeded warnings from local residents... Read More

Beer is to Denver what pastry is to Paris.

I conjured up this comparison based on a recent visit to the Mile High City. But first, hang with me while I provide some background information.

When performing travel research prior to my trip, I came across several beer-related stats. Factoids like “Denver produces more beer per capita than any other city in the United States” captured my attention. I learned about the Denver Microbrew Tour while surfing the web, and decided to give it a go. After all, what better way to experience a few of the city’s highly touted brewpubs?... Read More

Where can you go to find a small, remote city that offers quaint shops, a variety of year-round outdoor entertainment options and breathtaking scenery?

“I’ll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I’m talking about a little place called Aspen.”  ... Read More

It’s not just the breathtaking view from Colorado’s Stanley Hotel that sends shivers down your spine. The legendary ghosts rumored to wander the halls and haunt the rooms of the stately lodging also manage to give visitors a chill or two.... Read More

As a travel writer, I sometimes have to go the extra mile to find the good stuff, even if it is on a pair of snowshoes.  And that’s exactly what happened when I was on assignment at Rocky Mountain National Park, and it was snowing cats and dogs.

It was obvious that the knee-deep powder and hidden ice would make it a tad difficult to investigate the trails (I remember seeing some “tourists” trying to advance in tennis shoes and turning back after just a few yards).  Armed with... Read More

Before my recent trip to Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone, I decided to “road trip it” and see a few other things on my way.  One of the places I decided to stop was a little roadside attraction called Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s never been on my priority list of national parks, but it provided an unrivaled opportunity to see the Rockies in their natural, unspoiled state and a few hard lessons on altitude sickness.

First thing first- the altitude! My hometown has an elevation of an entire 705 feet. The Alpine Visitor’s Center in the park is at 11,796 feet. I’ve... Read More

   

These featured AAA Drive Trips - just two of over 100 available - offer the best of east and west. Click on the Drive Trip's name to access the complete printable itinerary.

The first - 435-mile road trip in Colorado - takes you from big city Denver to the big scenery of the Rocky Mountains. You'll see Denver, Estes Park, Boulder, Salida and Colorado Springs as well as Rocky Mountain National Park, with 78 named peaks. Travel on US 36, a AAA Scenic Byway, and see an array of AAA GEM attractions, including the South... Read More