When people picture Colorado, they usually think of jagged mountain peaks, rugged hiking trails, and extreme cycling. They don't typically picture open water and swimsuits. 

But locals know a secret: summer in the Rockies is just as enjoyable on a paddleboard as it is in the evergreens. From hidden glacial reservoirs at 9,000 feet to expansive, wake-free oases just minutes from the city, the Centennial State has become a paddleboarding paradise. 

Colorado wolf reintroduction started with the narrow 2020 ballot initiative that required the state to restore gray wolves by the end of 2023. It passed by a margin tight enough to reveal a state split not on science, but on identity. Urban counties voted yes. Rural counties voted no. The mandate stuck.

There’s something inherently grounding about looking up. The physical act of tilting your head skyward and seeing something other than another screen puts everything in perspective. In Colorado, the night sky feels like a public space: open, accessible, and soul-feeding. You don’t need credentials or equipment. Just a dark spot and a little patience.

Why Colorado? Altitude and dry air do most of the heavy lifting. Add a quick drive west of I-25, and you’ve got front-row seats to a sky that has never met light pollution. It’s possible to leave Denver after dinner and be under a shockingly starry sky before your leftovers cool down.

It’s 2025. Katy Perry’s playing outer space, Coachella costs more than your car, and your group chat still can’t agree on a playlist. But Colorado? Colorado gets it right. This summer, the state is leaning into what it does best: killer mountain views, chill crowds, and live music that won’t bankrupt your Venmo.

Whether you're in Denver, Boulder, or somewhere with more elk than Wi-Fi, there's a concert series that’s free or almost free and well worth showing up for. No wristbands. No phone face-scan fumbles. Just music (and maybe a beer garden).

Once the domain of retirees and church rec centers, pickleball has elbowed its way into the Mile High mainstream like a paddle-swinging disruptor in court shoes. Pickleball is having a renaissance, and Denver isn’t sticking to the sidelines. 

That’s right. Europe's High Renaissance brought enlightenment. America’s brought carbon fiber paddles and orthopedic insoles. And, you thought the Vitruvian Man was about proportions? Nah, it was about the ready position

In a city that’s constantly building up, the Denver Botanic Gardens remind us what it means to grow deep. For 23 years, Corcoran Perry & Co. has been a proud sponsor — not just because it’s beautiful (though it is… and we have the Denver Botanic Gardens photos to prove it), but because it reflects the kind of long-term thinking and community investment we believe in, too.

More than a quiet place to recharge, the Gardens are a nationally recognized research institution, a hub for conservation, and a surprising source of edge-of-your-seat programming (seriously, don’t sleep on Glow at the Gardens). 

The holidays in Denver are more than just a postcard-perfect scene of snow-dusted mountains and twinkling city lights. They’re also a time when the Mile High City goes full Clark Griswold — lighting up neighborhoods, hosting community events, and serving up enough holiday cheer to rival a Hallmark movie marathon.

It’s that time again: the snow is about to fall, resorts are prepping their lifts, and every Colorado adventure seeker and their winter-loving cousin is racing up I-70 to claim first tracks. But opening weekend doesn’t have to mean battling endless lines and skyrocketing costs. Here’s a smart guide to hacking Colorado’s ski and snowboard opening weekend – your budget and sanity will thank you.