Central Colorado is beautiful! Nathrop is right in the middle of it all.

The Arkansas River runs right through this part of the state. It's a wonderful place for recreation and is an excellent location for visual encounters with our abundant wildlife.

Bighorn Springs State Wildlife Area is a 122-acre space that opened to the public in early September of this year.

This property is an excellent one for bighorn sheep viewing.

You can also expect to see some raptors.

Chances are, you'll see some elk, too.

This easement increases the number of public fishing access sites to three along this part of the Arkansas River.

You'll love visiting this new, public, natural space in Colorado. Plan a visit soon.

Montrose is simply beautiful in the fall. The colors in this part of Colorado really pop and it's a lovely place to visit as summer fades away.

No matter where you go around town or in the surrounding areas, you'll see beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds.

There's lots to do in Montrose in the fall, too. The Montrose Farmers' Market is in full swing and offers the bounty of the fall harvest.

The Montrose Botanic Gardens holds a Scarecrow Festival as a fundraiser each year.

Plus, you'll love simply walking around the gardens and taking in the fall colors.

The Museum of the Mountain West is great at any time of the year, but you can enjoy ghost tours and other haunted events in the fall.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is only about 15 minutes away from central Montrose. You'll be amazed at the fall colors that you see in the park, especially in contrast with the black canyon itself.

After you explore Montrose, stop by Pomona Brewing Company and try a seasonal autumn beer to cap off a perfect fall day.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

The San Luis Valley is the biggest valley in Colorado. It's quite beautiful. However, it's also a bit desolate. People live there, certainly, but it's rather rural overall. Alamosa is the valley's largest town with around 10,000 residents, but most of the towns in the valley are far smaller.

In 1967, the population in this area was even more sparse. However, there were quite a few ranchers who lived in the area and raised horses and cattle.

One horse from this area has become very famous since then. Although her name was actually Lady, people know her best as Snippy - due to what happened to her on September 7, 1967.

Right around that time, numerous local residents reported seeing strange lights in the sky.

Lady went missing one night and did not return to her stable at Harry King Ranch.

She was found dead. All the skin on her head was stripped clean from her skull. It appeared that it had been removed; the cuts appeared to be made with surgical precision.

There were also a number of circular imprints on the ground around the body, and the ground seemed to be burned. A bush nearby was flattened and the ground was wet, even though the weather had been very dry.

Many believed that she was simply struck by lightning. However, the whole thing was so mysterious that no one is really truly sure what really happened.

We'll never know for sure. However, the horses in the area pass the tale down from generation to generation, and they're all still a little on edge.

Colorado is absolutely spectacular during the autumn season. The colors are breathtaking and the weather is cool and comfortable for hiking.

However, when fall begins, winter is just around the corner. It comes quickly here in Colorado, especially at the high elevations.

The tallest mountains in our great state often get snow as early as early September, and this year is no exception. Numerous 14ers are already covered with snow throughout the state.

People who enjoy summer hiking will be in for a bit surprise if they try to summit some of our highest peaks this fall.

Longs Peak, Pikes Peak, and the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park have already seen snow this season. Many others have as well.

You can still hike at high elevations in the winter time if you are experienced and prepared, of course - but just be ready for cold and ice.

Winter hiking can be amazing, but it can also be dangerous. If you're not prepared, don't go!

And, don't worry - spring and summer will be back before you know it so you can get back out there safely once again - without wearing every piece of warm clothing that you own.

Austria is great! However, if you can't afford or take the time to fly all the way to Europe, you can enjoy Austria right here in Colorado at Pepi's Bar and Restaurant in Vail.

Pepi's Bar and Restaurant is located inside the hotel. It's an authentic Austrian restaurant. When you get to your table, you'll feel like you've been transported to Europe.

In nice weather, the outdoor seating area is also lovely. You'll can enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains while you eat.

The food at Pepi's is excellent and the menu is exactly what you would seek and expect from a restaurant like this one. Why not try some weinerschntizel?

Pepi's Beef Stroganoff is another excellent choice.

The Roasted Venison Loin is to die for!

Of course, if you aren't feeling super adventurous, you can also opt for something simple, like a burger on a pretzel bun from the lunch menu.

You'll also want to wash down whatever you order with a tasty Austrian beer. There are local beers that you can try, too.

You're going to love Creekside Chateau in Breckenridge. This vacation rental home is very special. It's decorated beautifully, it's spacious, and it's in a spectacular setting.

This home would be lovely anywhere, but the fact that it's right on the banks of a creek with its own private waterfall really elevates it even further.

It's only ten minutes from downtown Breckenridge, but you'll feel like you're a million miles from everything when you check into this place.

The wraparound deck is a wonderful place to relax. You can enjoy the breeze through the towering pines, abundant wildlife, the eight-person hot tub, and the mountain air.

Inside, you'll find a comfortable living room where you and your group can relax and connect.

It even has a fireplace.

The kitchen is quite large and is well-equipped and it offers plenty of space to cook meals for yourself and your companions.

This home has five bedrooms and can accommodate up to 14 guests at one time. This is one of the master suites.

This is the other master suite.

Two of the other bedrooms have queen beds. The bedrooms shown here has a king bed plus another queen bed in the loft; it's perfect for families who wish to stay together.

There are five beautiful bathrooms in the home. You can relax in the tub in this one while listening to the creek and waterfall flow by outside.

Everyone in your party will also love the game room. It even has a wet bar.

You'll likely want to spend much of your time at Creekside Chateau outdoors, though. This creekside, waterfall-side hot tub is calling your name.

This home is truly exceptional. Plan a visit today, and get ready to enjoy your own private waterfall for a few days!

1. Brutø - Denver

2. Beckon - Denver

3. Bosq - Aspen

4. Frasca Food & Wine - Boulder

5. The Wolf's Tailor - Denver

6. Plus, Nine Colorado Restaurants Awarded Bib Gourmand Awards

7. Plus, Four Colorado Restaurants Awarded Michelin Green Stars

Beano's Cabin is a very special restaurant that is part of Beaver Creek Ski Resort in Colorado.

This restaurant is located in a meadow at the base of the resort's Larkspur Bowl. It opened in 1986.

In the summer, people with reservations to dine at Beano's Cabin can get there three ways - via a one-hour horseback ride, via a 20-minute wagon ride pulled by a John Deere tractor, or via a 10-minute shuttle ride.

The rest of the year, guests can only reach Beano's Cabin by open-air sleigh. The ride takes about 20 minutes.

Once you arrive at the restaurant, you'll love its rustic decor.

There's a full bar at Beano's Cabin, so order whatever you'd like to drink.

However, keep in mind that the alcohol will likely hit you quite a bit harder at this elevation.

When the time comes to eat, you'll be able to enjoy a five-course meal here. The menu is prix-fixe, but you'll have some choices for each course.

The menu at Beano's Cabin changes with the seasons, but the first course is a soup course, and the second course is a salad course.

The third course is an appetizer - and you're sure to have a hard time choosing between the incredible, delectable offerings here.

The fourth course is a main dish. You can choose from mains such as fish, poultry, beef, elk, or a vegetarian entree. All of the dishes are beautiful - and tasty, too.

The fifth course, of course, is a dessert. These are fantastic, too.

Centennial Center Park Playground is amazing! This giant playground has everything and it's open to everybody.

This very special place encourages recreation and imagination.

There are numerous climbing structures to explore.

The rope jungle gym is vast and interesting - can you make it all the way to the top?

There's a rock climbing wall and a fast and steep slide.

And, there are also climbing structures that are perfect for the littlest folks in your group.

There are lots of things in this park and playground that help make it accessible to all. There are swings like this one.

There are also several sand pits for sensory play.

Some are enclosed and have low-to-the-ground play structures that everyone can reach and enjoy.

You'll also find interactive music toys to try. They can be reached by guests in wheelchairs.

There's lots of astroturf to roll around on.

And, there's a really fantastic splash pad. It's big and open and is easily accessible to all.

Even when the water is turned off for the season, the splash pad area is a fun place to play.

You're going to love Centennial Center Park Playground!