It’s no mystery that Colorado has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the entire world. Year after year, it’s primarily what draws over 80 million tourists to the state annually. Many even end up moving here. However, those who have lived here for many years know that the summers in places such as Steamboat, Aspen, and the Vail Valley provide just as much excitement, if not more!
During the summer, many of Colorado’s ski towns take on a different form. People trade in their skis for a mountain bike, fishing pole, or golf club and get outside to soak up the sun. Almost every resort in Colorado offers mountain biking, much of it lift serviced. Notable resorts include Vail, with a nice variety of easily accessible trails from the village; Steamboat, with an expansive 50-mile, lift-accessed trail network; and Aspen-Snowmass, known for its 3000 vertical feet of trails within the famed Snowmass Bike Park that is currently expanding. For golfing, look no further than the Vail Valley, with an abundance of internationally acclaimed golf courses, such as Beaver Creek Golf Club, Red Sky Golf Club, and the Vail Golf Club. There are 17 championship courses packed within a 38-mile radius, so there is certainly no lack of variety. Rivers such as the Eagle, Gunnison, Blue, and Gore Creek provide great fishing, kayaking, and rafting as well.
Food/Drink:
Vail Craft Beer Classic: June 14 – 17
- Renowned Vail Valley beer festival, showcasing some of Colorado’s finest brews
Aspen Food and Wine Classic: June 15 – 17
- Premier culinary event hosting variety of world class chefs, wine experts and connoisseurs
Gourmet on Gore: Aug. 31 – Sept. 3
- Vail culinary festival with open air food and wine tasting from some of Vail’s top chefs
Breckenridge Wine Classic: Sept. 13 – 16
- Master winemakers and culinary greats unite for the “can’t miss” wine event of the season
In addition to the famed outdoor activities, Colorado’s mountain towns host many events and festivals throughout the summer. Here is a list of some of our favorite events this summer:
Music:
Bravo Vail: June 21 – Aug. 2
- 7 week orchestra music festival at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Free July 3 – July 26
Telluride Bluegrass Festival: June 21 – 24
- Entering its 45th year of hosting both local and famous bluegrass inspired artists
Aspen Jazz Festival: June 21 – 30, Aug. 31 – Sept. 2
- Famous Aspen tradition with variety of Jazz artists at venues throughout the town
Mountain Town Music Festival: Aug. 17 – 18
- Free music festival in Keystone with variety of artists from all genres
Sport/Art:
GoPro Mountain Games: June 6 – 9
- Country’s largest celebration of adventure sports, art, and music in Vail
Crested Butte Bike Week: June 20 – 24
- The oldest mountain bike festival in the world with a variety of clinics and demos
Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts: Aug. 10 – 19
- An array of music, dance, film, and visual arts exhibitions and events in Breckenridge and the surrounding area