Colorado
Trip Ideas|Unique Trips

You Can Drive Through The Heartland Of Colorado On This Unforgettable Highway

The Heartland Expressway in Colorado offers a scenic and economically beneficial drive through the Midwest.

Published Jul 13, 2019

Written by 

Annie

Have you ever driven through the "Heartland of America"? The heartland is considered to be Midwest states like Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, and the Dakotas, which seemingly leaves Colorado entirely out of it. Come to find out, this is not that case, as Colorado is home to part of this must-drive road that is not only the heartland of the state but country:

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Spanning from eastern Colorado to southern South Dakota is the little-known Heartland Expressway, which is dedicated to connecting the plains through a series of multi-lane highways.

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Google Maps

Currently under construction, the expressway begins in Limon and ends in Rapid City, South Dakota, and is not only beautiful to drive but is also predicted to bring long-term economic development to the communities it passes, as well as reduce travel time.

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Flickr/Eric

Despite not being completed, motorists can still hop on and travel the road, which is clearly marked by Heartland Expressway road signs.

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Heartland Expressway Facebook

Do you not have time to travel the entire 491 miles at once? No problem, as you can easily take in the Colorado portion in one weekend, which includes several small towns to stop in and visit, incredible photo ops, and a side of the state you do not get to see every day.

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Flickr/Birdie Holsclaw

Get your camera ready, as you will see more hauntingly beautiful sights like this along the Expressway!

As if you needed another reason to love the Heartland Expressway, you can even see some of the most pristine skies in Colorado along the road, including vibrant sunsets and jaw-dropping storm clouds.

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Flickr/Paul L Dineen

The south point of the Heartland Expressway can be accessed via State Road 71 in Limon.

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Heartland Expressway

For more information on the Expressway and all of its corridors and plans, please visit the Heartland's website.

Have you had a chance to travel the Heartland Expressway? Or do you have another favorite Colorado drive? Let us know in the comments! For even more incredible rides around the Centennial State, check out The 19-Mile Scenic Drive In Colorado You Will Want To Take As Soon As You Can.

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Trip Ideas|Unique Trips

Summit County Is The Perfect Colorado Winter Travel Destination

Published Dec 25, 2023

Written by 

Christy Articola

There's no better winter destination in Colorado, nor in the United States, than Summit County! This central Colorado county is a true winter playground. It's beautiful and there are so many things to do. Read on to learn more and start planning a visit to Summit County today. There's nothing like Summit County, Colorado in the winter.

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Summit County is pretty much right in the middle of Colorado. It has a population of about 31,000 people.

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Lightvision, LLC/Moment Collection via Getty Images

On your way up to Summit County on I-70, you'll get to see incredible views like this one. Many of those snow-covered peaks are in Summit County!

Breckenridge is the county seat of this county and is the most populous town - even though it only has about 5,000 residents. It's historical and charming and you'll love exploring it on a winter's afternoon.

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Other towns you might visit in Summit County include Dillon and Frisco, both of which are on the shores of large Dillon Reservoir.

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Keystone is another cool town in Summit County that you'll enjoy visiting in the wintertime.

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David Shvartsman/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Of course, many people come to Summit County in the winter to ski or snowboard at one or more of the ski resorts here. Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Copper Mountain are all in Summit County.

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Breckenridge Ski Resort/Facebook

You can also go tubing several places in this area, if you prefer. Frisco Adventure Park is a great spot to participate in this activity.

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Frisco Adventure Park/Facebook

Summit County is also a lovely spot for winter hiking and snowshoeing.

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There are lots of providers in Summit County that offer snowmobile rentals and adventures as well.

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You can even go ice skating in Summit County! Copper West Lake, Keystone's Dercum Square, and Keystone Lake all offer ice skating opportunities.

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Tom Werner/Digital Vision Collection via Getty Images

You'll love visiting Summit County in the winter! There's no other place like it. It's truly winter Colorado at its best.

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David Shvartsman/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Summit County is a winter wonderland and you're going to love visiting it during the cold months of the year. You'll never run out of things to do and you'll love the absolute beauty of this part of the state.

Looking for somewhere to stay in Summit County this winter? Check out VRBO.com for great deals on vacation rentals!

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Trip Ideas|Unique Trips

The Train Ride Through The Colorado Countryside That Shows Off Fall Foliage

Published Sep 29, 2023

Written by 

Christy Articola

If you want to see some fantastic fall foliage this year, then you need to head on out to Durango to take a ride on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad this fall! Rides on this incredible train are wonderful at any time of the year but you'll find the experience extra special when the leaves on the trees are displaying their peak colors. Plan a visit today and you'll certainly be glad that you did. In my opinion, there's nothing quite like viewing the autumn colors from a historic train.

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There's no better way to see the Colorado mountains than by train.

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And, there's no better time of year to ride a train through those mountains than the fall.

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The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the very best train rides in Colorado.

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The full, round-trip train ride from Durango to Silverton follows 45 miles of track and takes all day. You'll stop for a few hours in historic Silverton to shop and eat before heading back to Durango.

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John Elk/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Along the way, you'll see incredible views at any time of the year.

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But in the autumn season, those views are especially spectacular.

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You'll weave through the mountains and follow the beautiful Animas River.

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There's no WiFi or cell phone service for most of the journey, so you'll be able to focus on the beauty all around you without any distractions.

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This is one of the best ways to enjoy the breathtaking fall foliage in Colorado.

As you can see, a ride on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the fall is an experience that you will love and is one that you will never forget. Because rides on this train are so popular, it's important that you buy tickets in advance - you never know when they will sell out, and you don't want to arrive and end up disappointed! There are lots of great things to do in Durango, so maybe include this on a longer adventure to the area. Have a great trip, and have a great fall! Enjoy the foliage in southwestern Colorado this year and every year!

Visiting Durango and looking for a place to stay? Check out VRBO.com or Hotels.com to find the perfect place to lay your head while you're in town.

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