These three Colorado power weekends combine outdoor sport and a tad of culture.
Colorado’s summers come brimming with outdoor adventures, good drink, culinary discoveries and abundant chances to experience the state’s laid-back mountain culture. Decisions can be difficult with the saturated event calendar, but there’s no reason why you should have to choose. Have it all with these three weekend itineraries:
Pedal and Sip in Steamboat
Foodies and cyclists will enjoy a Steamboat summer weekend at the Steamboat Wine Festival from August 10-14. On Friday, August 12, the Pedal and Pour event combines a gourmet lunch and wine tasting experience with a guided road biking excursion through the Yampa Valley’s rolling hills. The rest of the weekend is worth sticking around for as well. The schedule includes wine seminars, grand tastings, hiking and yoga events, with individual event and all-weekend tickets available. In addition, Steamboat’s Emerald Mountain and ski resort trails offer some of the best mountain biking and trail running in the state. steamboatwinefestival.com
Float and Jam in Buena Vista
There’s a new music festival in Colorado, and it coincides with prime floating season on the Arkansas River. The Vertex Festival takes place August 5-7 in Buena Vista, surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks. Headliners for the camp-and-jam event include DJ duo ODESZA, Grammy winners Alabama Shakes, the Trey Anastasio Band and nearly 30 other acts. Need some sport time? Buena Vista is also a river hotspot, offering rafting and kayaking on well-known rapids such as Browns Canyon, Numbers and Royal Gorge. The festival will organize some excursions, or you can connect with one of many guide companies nearby.
“Think of the festival as a cultural exploration of the best that Colorado has to offer—in the arts, its outdoor landscapes and activities, and its amazing community,” says festival producer Jeremy Steiner. vertexfestival.com
Race and Relax in Breckenridge
Join mountain locals and compete in Breckenridge’s annual Fall Classic mountain bike race on September 6. The race features some of the area’s legendary trails, including Heinous Hill and Nightmare on Baldy. After this high-altitude effort, recover by strolling through the Great Divide Art Festival on Breck’s Main Street.
The mountain sun can leave you parched, so take a tasting tour of the town, making sure to stop at Broken Compass Brewing and Breckenridge Distillery. Want more? Book a Food, Wine and Cannabis Tour with Cultivating Spirits for a high-end (ahem) evening that includes a cooking demo, dinner and a dispensary tour. mavsports.com, mountainartfestivals.com
—Melanie Wong
