Colorado is widely known as a skier’s paradise, where the best powder and zippiest lifts are found on some of the sport’s most popular mountains in the world. This is all true, of course, but suggests the Centennial State is visited by throngs of meeting groups and tourists mainly when ski season is in full swing. While the place is indeed a veritable winter wonderland during the calendar’s colder months, and perhaps the most popular time to visit, those in the know can attest to Colorado as a four-season destination that’s a delight to visit any time of year.
SPRING
Spring is beautiful in Colorado, a time when groups should get out to stretch their legs after the meeting.
A great group experience in Aspen, according to Sarah Reynolds, director of sales at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, is a tour of the Aspen Art Museum followed by an art gallery walk downtown.
In Boulder, there is Local Table Tours, which according to Mary Ann Mahoney, executive director of the Boulder CVB, offers various themed foodie outings, including coffee and chocolate tours and cocktail tours.
Durango, says Anne Klein, spokeswoman for the Durango Area Tourism Office, is surrounded by miles of scenic trails for strolling, running, biking and horseback riding. Trails 2000, she adds, offers maps and hiking tips.
“Hiking in the spring is a great way to explore Fort Collins nature while things are warming up,” says Erik Barstow, director of sales at the Fort Collins CVB, citing Horsetooth Mountain Open Space and Lory State Park, both within close proximity to town. “And Magic Bus Tours offers an excellent way to experience the history and scenery of Fort Collins.”
In Grand Junction, sweet blossom scents and beautiful shades of pink, white and red emerge in area orchards, including apricot, cherry, peach, apple and pear, according to Mistalynn Meyeraan, spokeswoman for the Grand Junction VCB. Groups might like to tee off at one of five public golf courses, including the picturesque Golf Club at Redlands Mesa.
Hitting the links just minutes from Snowmass at River Valley Ranch Golf Club, which is located at the foot of Mt. Sopris in the scenic Crystal River Valley, is a popular option for groups, according to Patsy Popejoy, spokeswoman for Snowmass Tourism.
“Hot-air ballooning is a unique activity for groups of up to 16 people, at once providing panoramic views of the Elk Mountains and glimpses of local wildlife,” she says. “The flight finishes with a champagne brunch.”PageBreak
Springtime also welcomes baseball season, including the MLB’s Colorado Rockies, who play at Denver’s Coors Field.
“The stadium offers the old-school feel of a classic ballpark alongside state-of-the-art technology, making it one of the best places to see a game in the country,” says Rachel Benedick, vice president of sales and services at Visit Denver.
She adds that in April, a new two-story open-air rooftop bar that accommodates up to 4,500 fans will debut at the ballpark.
SUMMER
If the group is lucky enough to meet in Colorado during the summer months, it’s a great idea to get them outside for active pursuits, visits to national parks and alfresco dining.
At Keystone Resort, Mark Barnes, director of resort group sales, says wagon rides from the stables to a great dinner in a cabin, and then roasting marshmallows by the campfire and hearing stories from cowboys, is a unique summer experience.
Three of Boulder’s best assets—food, scenery and weather—come together for Farm Dinners, a well-suited summertime event, according to the Boulder CVB’s Mahoney.
“Meeting attendees will never forget sitting outside, walking through the garden, hearing a passionate chef talk about the carrots he picked earlier in the day, and eating at dusk by candlelight,” she says.PageBreak
A guided tour of Garden of the Gods Park is a must in Colorado Springs during the summer, according to Kathy Reak, director of convention sales at the Colorado Springs CVB, who adds that white-water rafting on the Arkansas River is another great idea for groups.
“The river can accommodate all skill levels, from Class II to V rapids,” she says. “Also, many local outfitters partner rafting with other attractions in the area, whether it’s riding a horse, ziplining or riding the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.”
Golf is a top activity at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, as well as adventures such as guided fishing excursions. The property is also planning to open a fishing school in June, which will offer individual and group instruction and serve as an event space hosting up to 35 people.
Soaring Tree Top Adventures, a zipline tour over the San Juan Mountains, across the Animas River and through old-growth ponderosa pines and aspen groves on 27 different ziplines, is an exhilarating option for groups, according to the Durango Area Tourism Office’s Klein.
She adds that groups will also appreciate a visit to Mesa Verde National Park, the largest archaeological preserve in North America, which was named “One of 50 Places to Visit in a Lifetime” by National Geographic.
September 2014 kicks off a year-long Centennial Celebration in Rocky Mountain National Park, so this summer and heading into next year is a great time to bring groups and join in the celebration, according to Brooke Burnham, spokeswoman for Visit Estes Park.PageBreak
“If your group is looking for a hands-on experience that will be both fun and educational, Rocky Mountain Nature Association is happy to plan a custom class or excursion perfect for team building and learning,” she says, citing wildlife watching safaris and photography classes.
And in Telluride, where there is a festival almost every weekend during the summer, groups might like dining at Rustico Ristorante, which serves traditional Italian fare.
“It has amazing alfresco dining,” says Lisa Eidsmo, spokeswoman for the Telluride Tourism Board. “Next to Main Street, diners can observe those strolling by while they enjoy their favorite Italian dish, perfectly paired with wine specially imported from Italy.”
AUTUMN
A perfect day in Denver during the fall, including leaf-peeping and tasting local microbrews, is a terrific representation of similarly lovely outings throughout the rest of the state.
“Fall in Colorado isn’t complete without taking in the brilliant transformation of the state’s signature tree, the aspen,” says Visit Denver’s Benedick, who cites the Peak-to-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway as one of the best foliage routes on the Rocky Mountain Front Range. “Virtually every way you look, you’ll see majestic aspen colors.”
Afterward, Benedick says groups should “immerse themselves in Denver’s craft beer culture” via a tour with a local outfitter such as Banjo Billy’s “shack on wheels” or Denver Brews Cruise.
Autumn colors are also enjoyed along the Gold Belt Scenic Byway nearby Colorado Springs, aboard a train ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and at the gorgeous Maroon Bells, the most photographed peaks in North America, located a hop, skip and jump from Snowmass.
Snowmass Tourism’s Popejoy says group tours run daily.PageBreak
“Or groups can see the other side of the Bells and take the Elk Camp Gondola up to over 12,000 feet for a perfect view and picnic spot,” she says.
In addition to attending Elk Fest the first weekend in October, groups might also get a kick out of the Estes Park Tailgate, according to Visit Estes Park’s Burnham.
“You pack snacks or lunch, your favorite local wine or beer, and hang out on the side of the road to watch the bull elk bugle and fight, attempting to win the hearts of the ladies,” she says, adding that there is a spooky celebration the entire month of October at the notoriously haunted Stanley Hotel.
Here, groups can hear ghost stories and take haunted tours of the grand hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining.
“With ample meeting space, planners should consider hosting an event, retreat or conference with an eerie theme,” Burnham says.
And don’t worry if you don’t see any “spirits,” she adds, as the hotel’s whiskey bar has the largest selection in Colorado with over 580 labels.
And in Grand Junction, according to the Grand Junction VCB’s Meyeraan, a popular option during autumn is a visit to Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range, one of only three ranges in the U.S. specifically designated to protect and manage wild horses. Approximately 80 to 120 of them roam freely here in their natural habitat.
WINTER
Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and Copper Mountain Resort are among the many destinations throughout Colorado that provide visiting groups with world-class skiing opportunities as well as other snowy pursuits.
A great example is the Nordic Center at Keystone Resort, which is well-suited for team building, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing, says the resort’s Barnes.
With 5,289 acres of skiable terrain, Vail is one of the largest resorts in the world and a skier’s and snowboarder’s winter paradise, according to Liz Biebl, spokeswoman for Vail Mountain.
“Groups can also enjoy the snow at Adventure Ridge, where they’ll find snow tubing, ziplining and guided ski biking tours at night by headlamp,” she says.
When not out on the slopes of Aspen/Snowmass, including Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s Reynolds suggests group dining at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro on Aspen Highlands for a distinctly Rocky Mountain feel.
“Diners will take a Snowcat ride to the cozy European-style cabin for a dinner of fondue, Raclette and traditional Alpine fare,” she says.
Wintertime in Boulder is a good time for a delicious meal at the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
“In a private hands-on cooking event, cuisine themes such as Colorado Farm to Table or Primo Pizza are ready for your group and include wine,” says the Boulder CVB’s Mahoney.
Snowshoeing is a favorite pastime in Fort Collins, where groups can strap up and explore Lory State Park and Cameron Pass, and in Telluride, snowmobiling is a fun adventure for meeting attendees.
“You can snowmobile through snow-covered pastures and end your day at the Alta Lakes Observatory,” says the Telluride Tourism Board’s Eidsmo. “This high-alpine cabin is beneath the 13,000-foot Silver Mountain and Palmyra Peaks, and catering is available.”
