Exquisite. This is one of the most scenic drives I've ever taken…read more I've lived in Denver for four years now. From the moment I moved, SW Colorado has been top of mind. Well, time gets away from you. And though I've explored more of this beautiful states than many locals have, I finally crossed off the famed Million Dollar Highway off the ole bucket list. Good golly miss molly, this drive is something else. Something magical, something spectacular, something majestic. Something that can actually leave you speechless. For me, that's the Million Dollar Highway. The winding roads through the San Juans, each passing turn as jaw-dropping as the previous. Whether commuting South from Ouray to Silverton, or North from Silverton to Ouray, this stretch of America is simply surreal. You're missing out if you don't stop at Red Mountain Pass, the highest point of the drive. The lookout point gazing over the Red Mountains was something I didn't expect to blow me away. I love driving. And there's a lot of this country I haven't seen. But this, the Million Dollar Highway, is iconic. It must, I repeat, MUST be experienced not once, but many times. Dare I say, a million times? We need to honor those who built this road. They risked their lives in harsh conditions. And we're left with unadulterated beauty. So much beauty. America, the beautiful. To me, that's the Million Dollar Highway.

The million dollar highway is one of the most beautiful drives in the country. I'm driving this…read moreyou'll e counter jaw dropping views of mountains, rivers, lakes, and meadows. This does not disappoint. We did the drive in early September 2023 so there was no snow or icy conditions, even when climbing up to 11,000+ feet. The road is windy in spots and you're right on the edge of the mountain with no guardrail at points but honestly it is not that bad. I am scared of heights and have recurring dreams of plunging off a mountainside in a car and I was totally fine with this drive, only clutching the "oh sh!t" bar in the car once or twice lol. The 12 mile stretch between Silverton and Ouray is the true million dollar highway but the entire thing all the way up to ridgeway is gorgeous. I'd recommend taking it from Durango to Ridgeway (about a 2 hour drive one way) to experience the full splendor.

The mouse is really cool! I found it really neat that you can read about the local history too. I…read morealso like that you are close to shopping and dinning which makes the quick stop to enjoy the mouse statue.

This is a fun bit of history located right where people can see it all the time. Love this mouse!read more

Simply amazing. I would stop by the visitor center and museum first before exploring the pueblos…read moreand other locations that make up this national monument. The visitor center and museum have a lot of artifacts and information about how scientists research the artifacts and structures of the Pueblo peoples. It helps put into context the other sites that are part of this national monument. It kind of made me feel like an archaeologist when I identified some potsherds later on my hikes and could identify which Pueblo Era they came from. Definitely worth a stop!

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Visitor Center are a worthwhile destination or a…read moreshort diversion, if you are in SW Colorado. Inside, there are educational movies about the history of the Puebloan Indians who inhabited the plains 1200 years ago, and then suddenly left about 1300. There are numerous exhibits about these people, their tools, their cooking implements, their arrow heads, basketry, housing, etc. It is well laid out and then there are descriptions of several deserted Pueblos within an hour or two of the visitor center. Your national park pass will get you entrance, or a small fee if you don't have one. With the Federal workforce cuts, staffing is minimal, so be patient and respect the work these Rangers do for us every day. Wish I had visited this site before I went to Mesa Verde National Park last year as it added an additional perspective to the way some of our SW native Indians lived.

Don't miss this one! When we first arrived in Fruita, Colorado. The Colorado National Monument was…read morenot on our list of things to visit. We would of totally missed it if it hadn't been for some people we met at a restaurant. Colorado National Monument is not a National Park; it is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service. It's name doesn't portray the beauty and magnitude of this gorgeous park. It is a 23 mile drive and is often called the mini-grand canyon. The towering red rock monoliths and the Canyon views were absolutely incredible.

What bliss this is…read more Colorado National Monument is basically the smaller in scale sandstone-stacked cousin of the Grand Canyon, but without all the horrific traffic and crowds upon crowds, especially at the start of summer. This place has miles of views with gorgeous towering cliffs, dramatic canyons and many trails for walking and hiking. You can also see the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-topped mountain) and the Book Cliffs from the monument. And it has that Grand Canyon feeling when you look at its depth -- as though you are looking directly into a painting. Along about a 20-mile highway (with an east and west entrance) you can enjoy the full views. There are plenty of places to pull over and park to take a look or to plan for a hike. And be very, very careful. The main drive is very deeply beloved by cyclists, so be sure to drive slow and keep eyes on the road. Do not miss Independence Monument. This is a glorious rock spire. also, the Kissing Couple is adorable. The Coke Ovens are these beautifully shaped domes -- some of my favorites in the area. Also, be aware of wildlife. I did not get lucky, but there are regular sights of bighorn sheep, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, eagles and many other animals. I did see a pretty spectacular aerial fight between a hawk and a raven during a recent visit, though. Also, be sure to check out the visitor center on the west side. It has some natural history exhibits and a gift shop. There is also the Saddlehorn Campground, which is very well maintained and has a good number of spots, but not all with sprawling city or canyon views. All told, there are three loops with nearly 80 sites. Some are small and best for a pair and others that are good for a couple of tents on one site. Overall, bring lots of water and snacks, because it is dry and sometimes feels desert like. And do not over rely on cell service, as there are a number of dead zones.

Our mission was to finally visit Four Corners Monument, and it did not disappoint. It was so cool…read moreto join with others who have a shared desire to visit 4 states at once: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. It wasn't extremely busy when we visited, but it was overcast and very windy. We stood in a short line to have our photos taken at the iconic point. Everyone was super friendly and was helping families take photos. They have vendors situated around the outskirts, and they sell some pretty amazing stuff! I was super excited to buy a painting, painted on a rock, some horse hair pottery and a pretty silver ring! Admission is $10/person, no cash accepted, which honestly feels a little steep, but everything is pricey these days. Happy to be able to check this one off our bucket list!

So this is one of those places whose fame is by pure coincidence -- where four states (Utah,…read moreColorado, New Mexico, Utah) meet. Because it's on Navajo Nation land, it's a bit of a tourist trap, but is probably worth a visit once. After lots of driving through reservation land, the roadway into the monument comes off US 160 in New Mexico, just before the Arizona border. It's easy to miss if you're looking for something understated and "national monument"-like, since the big painted sign feels a bit loud and commercial. Entrance to the monument costs $10/person (plastic only). The monument itself is a large sunken concrete plaza, showing the four state borders, and with a USGS medallion in their center. Cue visitors taking lots of pictures of their group "standing in four states at once!" If it sounds a little cheesy, well, it is, but it's still fun (at least until you've been waiting several minutes while a family insists on taking every combination of every kid and parent in different poses while dozens of other folk are waiting for the chance to do the same thing). Surrounding the plaza are some markers about how the borders were surveyed and drawn (trivia item: more accurate survey techniques confirm that the existing borders are really not correct in their latitude and longitude), but have become so traditionally set that court challenges to them have been defeated. Around the edges of the plaza are a lot of permanent booths where local folk sell arts and crafts and souvenirs and other bric-a-brac. Would I go again? Probably not. Do I regret going once? Nah. It was fun.

The site itself is not really exciting, but when you come at right time, the background of the site…read moreis very beautiful, the additional history and culture make it very interesting. I even saw people taking wedding pictures here. The nearby Castle Creek is also nice.

We had such a great time going up here. It was late June and we were in Aspen for an assessor's…read moreconference my husband went to. We took the afternoon off grabbed a picnic lunch from Clark's market in Snowmass and drove towards Aspen. Ashcroft is about 10 miles south but it takes a little longer because it's a windy road. The concierge at our hotel said there wasn't much up there, but we were so impressed with the buildings that have remained and been restored. It was so tranquil and quiet. There's a big parking lot and nicely marked trails and signs it makes a perfect afternoon outing for a family. Here's a link to the video we made. It was our first attempt using Premier Pro so it's a little disjointed and the music is a little creepy but it goes with the ghost town motif. https://youtu.be/92XyfU0uhcw

A landmark and solid stop along any journey through SoCo. Worthy of a detour if you're in the area.read more

I get so tired of reviews on our country's national treasures and history like this I have to give…read morea resounding 5 stars. NOTE drive to top is not hard. If you have ever been to mountains or skied it's easy. It's a gravel mountain road. To clarify as I was confused there is a parking lot w small visitor center aka cabin. This is where you pay your fee. They are building a new super nice visitor center to open next year. The ranger here at base was so nice. I mean amazingly and went out of her way to explain all. From the first parking area you drive to the upper parking lot which is the base from which you hike to top. I was fine at 62 and not in perfect shape to get to top. It's a gorgeous view and the ranger/helper? at top was wordy but very knowledgeable. Now that we live in Albuquerque will definitely go back as it's a short drive under 30 minutes from Pagosa springs. Final thought those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it

When you visit Mesa Verde, one of the big highlights and an absolute must-dos are the guided tours…read moreof the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people, built around 800 years ago and are still so wonderfully preserved. Cliff Palace is one of the four locations you can book a guided tour for, and it was such an incredible experience. Our guide, Sachil, clearly had so much passion for the culture and all the dwellings - such great knowledge. In comparison to Balcony House, this tour is physically much easier to do, and the tour group is larger in comparison. Even though you can't walk through the dwellings like you do with Balcony House, you do get to walk up close to Cliff Palace, and it's much easier to take in the craftsmanship here. While we liked Balcony House a bit more, Cliff Palace was still such a treasure that we would come back and visit again. We hiked on a June afternoon - so while it was hot outside, we were walking in shade nearly the entire time. But still make sure to bring plenty of water because it was still hot. Tours can be booked up to 14 days in advance for $8/ticket. Definitely book at 14 days out if you can to ensure you get the best tour time. I booked 13 days out and a lot of the tour times were already sold out. Would definitely recommend taking this tour on your visit. It provides so much cultural appreciation, that it really brings up the trip to Mesa Verde.

Our tour guide was very young and seemed nervous. Her knowledge about the cliff palace wasn't great…read moreand she didn't have answers to most questions. However, the tour was required to see the Pueblo up close, so it was worth it.

Cisco, Utah, is one of the most fascinating ghost towns you'll ever come across on a Utah road…read moretrip. Located right off Interstate 70 near the junction with State Route 128, this abandoned town has an incredible history that makes it worth a stop. Founded in the 1880s as a water and supply station for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, Cisco quickly grew into a busy frontier town with saloons, hotels, and shops serving travelers and workers. By the early 1900s, Cisco became known for sheep shearing--processing as many as 100,000 sheep in a single year. The discovery of oil and natural gas later fueled another boom, making Cisco one of Utah's busiest energy towns. But when diesel locomotives replaced steam engines and I-70 bypassed the area, Cisco fell into decline. Today, Cisco is largely abandoned, with crumbling buildings and desert winds telling the story of its rise and fall. It has appeared in movies like Thelma & Louise and inspired Johnny Cash's song "Cisco Clifton's Fillin' Station." It's eerie, rugged, and authentic--exactly what you'd expect from a ghost town. If you're traveling through eastern Utah, don't just speed past. Cisco is a hidden gem for history lovers, photographers, and explorers. https://linktr.ee/reessroots

This is an interesting ghost town. He had come through on a bike ride and wanted to show it to me…read more There didn't seem to be anyone about. But there are many buildings to look at. Most of them are run down and their roofs have collapsed but the General Store building looked pretty good. And there's a bus attached to a structure which looks like an outhouse. And a snake sculpture winding in and out of a bus. A Winnebago and truck which I read in an article was converted to living facilities for artists who want to work on their craft. I read an article which said that in 2015 the town was purchased by Eileen Muza who works to repair the town and make it a livable space. She also lives there in an airstream I believe. You can apply on her website for the artist residency. And subscribe to the town newsletter. I thought I read somewhere that the General Store could be rented as an Airbnb. But it seems like the General Store is actually open ! It's called Buzzards Belly General Store. Looks cool on their Instagram. And the old post office is the one which can be rented on Airbnb. Makes for an interesting place to stay. Only drawback is no running water so bring your own. I've started following Eileen on Instagram because I think it's amazing that she's working to restore this town. If you visit on your road trip please pick up after yourselves and don't invade her privacy by entering buildings which are occupied. Also read that she relies on fundraisers and the Airbnb rentals to keep the town up. So help out if you can. I didn't get to walk around as we were on a time crunch but I'd go back and hopefully get to shop at the General Store and maybe even meet Eileen.