Hiking and biking in Telluride, CO, Colorado

    

Telluride is one of those towns that knew how to build up from scratch, of course with the help of some of its brilliant residents. In the past it was not much of a place and it was mostly known for its negative side. Things changed when in 1968 the idea of turning the settlement into a winter resort was put into practice. It began to gradually develop into a well known resort where people from all over came to spend their vacation be it winter or summer.

Located at 8,745 feet elevation, the resort is mostly known for its skiing opportunities, but in summer the ski slopes turn into hiking and mountain biking trails.

The area around the town is full of outdoor opportunities and beautiful sights. One of them is the 365 ft. waterfall, one of the highest in Colorado. It is called Bridal Veil Falls and it is marvelous in summer while in winter when it freezes it is just as breathtaking. The waterfall does not only offer a nice view but it was also seen as a perfect way to produce power. The old hydroelectric power plant you can see today was built in the late 1800s and it is a National Historic Landmark.

There are many other historic buildings to be seen in town in the Telluride National Historic District, a place where you can see glimpses of the old west. There are different ways to visit the place and you can find all the information you need at the Telluride Visitor Information Center. If you feel like visiting the place in your own pace take a map and Telluride Visitor's Guide and start walking the streets. For those used to guided tours there are five tours available. No matter what you choose you should definitely include in your visit St. Patrick's Catholic Church dating 1895, the New Sheridan Hotel built in 1895, an exquisite Opera House dating 1914, the San Miguel County Courthouse, and the L. L. Nunn House.

Besides the historic district that gives the town a certain feel of peace and quiet there is something that brings the town to life: the many festivals that are held here. They are for different domains music, film, mushrooms and the most odd is the one that celebrates nothing!

Jazz fans come to Telluride in early August to take part at the Telluride Jazz Celebration Festival and a few weeks later still in August there is the Telluride Mushroom Festival where mushrooms are in the centre of events. You can learn about them, see them and of course taste some delicious dishes.

Everybody has heard of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival a mix of folk, and country, an event that brings together lots of fun seeking people. But the most appreciated of them are the film festivals taking place during Labor Day weekend and the Mountain Film every Memorial Day weekend. They are special festivals and somehow different as the audience has the chance to mingle with the actors and filmmakers and there are also film seminars.

The locals are so used to festivals and they are so fond of them that they had to have a festival even when there is nothing going on so they called the festival Nothing Fest. They don’t celebrate everything; I suppose they celebrate the idea of a festival.

What an enchanting town! The locals seem to celebrate something every day, they celebrate the fact that they live here, in this corner of heaven, as this is how they se it. If you come to Telluride you might see it that way too.

Skiing Destinations in the U.S.A. - overview

1. Dec 10, 2007 Go to ski in Steamboat Springs (Steamboat Springs)  ( 5)
2. Dec 10, 2007 Hiking and biking in Telluride, CO (Telluride)  ( 3)
3. Dec 10, 2007 The oldest ski resort of the US (Steamboat Springs)
4. Dec 11, 2007 Great skiing in Beaver Mountain (Beaver)
5. Dec 11, 2007 Skiers dream about Brighton Resort, UT (Cottonwood)
6. Dec 11, 2007 Snowboard and ski in Vail, CO (Vail)  ( 3)
7. Dec 11, 2007 Winter sports at Aspen Snowmass, CO (Aspen)  ( 2)
8. Dec 13, 2007 A hundred things to do in Breckenridge, CO (Breckenridge)  ( 2)
9. Dec 13, 2007 Huge ski resort in Copper Mountain, CO (Copper Mountain)  ( 2)
10. Dec 13, 2007 Relaxation and nature in Crested Butte, CO (Crested Butte)
11. Dec 15, 2007 White snow and stunning views in Ski Cooper, CO (Vail)
12. Dec 16, 2007 Ski and have fun in Jackson Hole, WY (Jackson Hole)  ( 1)
13. Dec 16, 2007 Vacations all year in Keystone, CO (Keystone)
14. Dec 16, 2007 Steamboat, town in the Colorado Rockies (Steamboat Springs)
15. Dec 17, 2007 Snow and ski in Winter Park Resort, CO (Winter Park)  ( 3)

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