Coloradoâs snow-capped Rocky Mountains may be world-famous, but the stateâs landscape is diverse and extends well beyond postcard-perfect peaks and evergreen forests. The Centennial State is also home to reddish-orange rock formations, flat-topped mesas, rolling meadows dotted with wildflowers, crystal-clear alpine lakes, golden-yellow aspen groves, rocky alpine tundras, narrow canyons, and grass-covered prairies.
Hiking is one of the best ways to experience Coloradoâs varied terrainâthanks to the more than 39,000 miles of trails of varying lengths, difficulty levels, and scenery spread across the state. With that in mind, weâve rounded up some of the best hikes in Colorado for exploring everything the state has to offer on two feet. Read on for our picks.
You know about the barbecue. You know about the sports teams. But what you might not know about Kansas City is just how cool it really is. Straddling the state line between Kansas and Missouri (youâll mostly stick to the Missouri side), this Midwestern hub is an eclectic mix of artsy neighborhoods, boutique hotels, jazz clubs, and delicious restaurants that serve way more than brisket and burnt endsâalthough youâll want to try those, too. There are breweries to sample, museums to tour, and used bookstores you can easily spend hours in. In other words, KCMO is much more than a drive-by city. Plan a trip hereâthe locals will welcome you with open armsâand learn the true meaning of âMidwest is best.â
As one of Denverâs oldest original settlements, Lower Downtown (or LoDo) has a storied, ever-evolving legacy. A collection of stunning red-brick warehouses hints at its industrial past; it was also once a district full of brothels. In 2014, Union Station, which has served the city since the 19th century, unveiled a comprehensive modernization, sparking another reinvention. A wave of new restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, condos, and offices followed, making the neighborhood (for the first time in its most recent history) a desirable place to hang out. Now, spring 2021 brings the latest layer to LoDoâs ongoing metamorphosis: the opening of McGregor Square, a 659,000-square-foot, multi-use development adjacent to Coors Field.
Spring is always a glorious time to visit Baltimore, but this year the return of baseball and patio seasons take on special meaning after months of hibernation amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many of the city s museums, restaurants, and attractions have reopened and are eager to welcome back visitors from near and far.
Whether itâs your first trip to Baltimore or your twentieth, the waterfront city is full of surprises, from an alley that honors graffiti artists to watering holes in handsome rowhouses. Perhaps a poem by Kondwani Fidel, used in the cityâs tourism campaign, said it best when it invited visitors to go âBeneath the Shell. The reference, to cracking open the cityâs famous Maryland blue crabs, is a metaphor for discovering Baltimoreâs below-the-surface gems. Once you open the crab, you get hit with a blast of flavor, the poem reads. âAll that goodness can happen only under one condition: you have to crack the crab.