When visitors think of Colorado, they typically imagine snowy ski slopes and breezy alpine lakes. But locals know that summers can actually get pretty toasty in the Centennial State, especially at lower elevations.
Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to beat the heat and enjoy a quintessential Colorado day. For inspiration, here are some unique ways to chill out when the temperature skyrockets this summer.
Go Sailing on Lake Dillon
Colorado may technically be landlocked, but the state has plenty of lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs for a refreshing day on the water. Sailing on Lake Dillon—the picturesque Summit County reservoir surrounded by Frisco, Silverthorne and Dillon—can be an exhilarating way to learn a new skill and cool off at the same time. You can sign up for group or individual lessons—with stunning views of the mountains to boot—through the Town of Dillon’s “Sailing School.” Or, if you’d rather kick back and let someone else do all the hard work, book a daytime or sunset sailing excursion.
Sip Crisp Wines in Palisade
Plan a road trip to Palisade and cool down by sipping chilled white and sparkling selections at local Colorado wineries. Visit Sauvage Spectrum’s funky, industrial tasting room to try refreshing choices like gruner veltliner, pinot gris and albariño. At Carboy Winery at Mt. Garfield Estate, sit on the shady, covered deck overlooking the Book Cliffs and sip favorites like the Grand Blanc de Blanc (featuring chardonnay grapes) or the Blanco White Blend (featuring a balanced mix of cayuga white, roussanne and traminette grapes). Or, head over to Restoration Vineyards to bask in the beauty of the 10-acre property, which includes lush peach and cherry orchards. While there, sample their wide selection of refreshing wines like riesling, fumé blanc, gewurztraminer and rosé of grenache.
Keep Your Cool on a Flight Simulator in Colorado Springs
Can you keep cool under pressure, like Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (aka Tom Cruise) in “Top Gun?” See how you stack up while “flying” an F-16 or a 737 MAX at Hotel Polaris, a brand new hotel that opened in November at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. This is no ordinary property: It’s the first hotel in America to have its own flight simulators. Choose between three planes, two F-16s and one 737 MAX, which include a full cockpit with working controls and switches— so you’ll feel like you’re really soaring through the skies. Afterward, retreat back to your sleek, contemporary guest room or grab a drink at The Aviator, the hotel’s on-site cocktail bar.
Go Dog Sledding in Breckenridge
Dog sled teams don’t stop “sleighing” just because the fluffy white stuff has melted. Pretend you’re dashing through the snow by booking a summer dog sledding experience with Good Times Adventures Kennel just outside of Breckenridge, which is home to more than 100 enthusiastic Siberian huskies. The warm-weather experience, offered from June through September, includes a 2-mile trail ride through the scenic Swan River Valley, plus a tour of the dog yard to meet the pups. You’ll learn about how these four-legged athletes stay fit and healthy year-round—and get some great photo opportunities.
Get High at Arapahoe Basin
During the winter, Arapahoe Basin is home to some of North America’s highest-elevation skiing and snowboarding terrain—which means you can get some laps in well into the late spring and early summer. But once the snow has officially melted and skiing is no longer an option, you can still take advantage of the cooler temps at A-Basin’s 13,000-plus-foot elevation with hiking, biking, disc golf, a via ferrata course and other alpine activities. Keep an eye out for colorful wildflowers, too.
Picture Yourself on the Beach with a Tropical Cocktail
Pretend you’re sitting on a breezy beach somewhere—rather than sweating through your t-shirt at home, without air conditioning—by sipping a frozen concoction at one of Colorado’s many tiki bars.
Head to Longmont and pop into Swaylo’s Tiki Restaurant and Bar, which serves up authentic Hawaiian food, Asian fusion cuisine and an assortment of colorful and refreshing tiki drinks. And you don’t have to choose just one cocktail: They offer a “Frozen Flight,” which features a smaller-sized smattering of their best icy creations, including the piña colada, the lava flow, the ube-colada, and the Notorious P.O.G. (made with passion fruit, orange, guava and rum).
In Denver, plan a trip to Adrift Tiki Bar, a Polynesian/Caribbean-inspired cocktail bar that will make you feel like you’re in the tropics. Sip on drinks like the Frozen Chi-Chi, a bold and balanced drink that features Family Jones vodka, maraschino, coconut and acidulated pineapple.
Take a Cold Plunge at Iron Mountain Hot Springs
Iron Mountain Hot Springs might be best known for its 16 pools filled with warm, toasty, geothermal mineral water. But this Glenwood Springs destination also has a cold plunge pool, where you can submerge yourself in the frigid-but-refreshing 55-degree waters.
Cold-plunging is super trendy right now, thanks to purported benefits like reducing inflammation and improved circulation. Want to try this wellness hack a little closer to home? Book a session at the Recovery Lab at PR Labs in Boulder, which not only has a cold plunge pool, but also an infrared sauna and compression devices for your legs and hips.
Travel Back in Time at a Historic Mine
One of the best ways to beat the heat? Head underground. You can do just that when you visit one of the many historic mines across the state, which also offer a glimpse into Colorado’s past.
Country Boy Mine in Breckenridge, for example, dates back to 1887 and produced large amounts of gold, silver, lead and zinc. On a guided tour of the mine, you’ll venture 1,000 feet into the mountain to experience what life was like for Colorado’s miners more than a century ago. (It’s so brisk inside the mine that organizers encourage visitors to dress warmly!) Afterward, you’ll re-emerge into the sunlight and go gold-panning in the adjacent Eureka Creek.
Or, head over to Idaho Springs and check out The Phoenix Gold Mine, which also offers guided underground tours and gold panning. Established in 1871, this mine produced more than 100,000 troy ounces of gold.
Catch a Breeze—and Enjoy the Views—at a Rooftop Bar
What’s better than sitting outside, feeling the breeze, and admiring the views from a rooftop bar on a balmy summer day?
There are many elevated spots across the Centennial State to sit and sip a refreshing drink while beating the heat. At one of Denver’s buzziest new hotels, Populus, take the elevator up to Stellar Jay to grab a bite and a beverage while gazing out over the city’s skyline and the Denver Capitol.
If you’re up for a road trip, head to Grand Junction, where Hotel Maverick’s Devil’s Kitchen showcases striking views of the high desert landscape. It’s a fabulous place to catch a colorful sunset or dine underneath the starry sky.
And over in the Vail Valley, the new Lookout Bar—located on the fifth floor of the One Riverfront development—pairs innovative mixology paired with panoramic Rocky Mountain views. When the weather is warm, the massive windows can be folded back to create an open-air ambiance.
Jam Out at Planet Bluegrass
Planet Bluegrass, the iconic music festival producer based in Lyons, has been a Colorado staple for more than three decades. If it’s been a while since you attended one of their signature events, make this the summer you snag tickets to RockyGrass (July 25-27) or Folks Festival (August 8-10). Splash around in the refreshing waters of St. Vrain Creek while swaying to the music and basking in the vibes of the peaceful community atmosphere at Planet Bluegrass Ranch.
