Even though the Rocky Mountain winters give us a pristine playland of snow, by the time Spring arrives cabin fever strikes hard and I’m ready for a dose of warmth and sunshine. That’s when I head to the desert.

For a few weeks after the Spring rains, when the nights are still cool and the days are welcomingly warm, but not yet hot, you can see the high desert come alive with color. Although my timing isn’t always right, when it is, the display is spectacular. Not in the enormous fields of sunflowers way you see in the midwest, but in a cactus blooming out of a rock or bright blooms growing on what looks like sticks in the sand way.

If you’re a nature lover, but have never been to the desert in the Spring, start planning a trip now. You’ll be amazed at what is hidden there.

Welcome back!

One of the most popular short day hikes for Aspen area locals is a trip to the Grottos. Head up Independence Pass east of town on Highway 82 and look for a Forest Service sign on the right side of the road. Leave your car or bike in the small parking area and start exploring.

I’m not going to give away any of our secrets about this place, but if you spend a little time there, you’ll easily discover for yourself the quiet rocks to sun yourself on, the ice caves deep in the crevices and the shallow parts of the Roaring Fork River where you can cool off from the summer heat.

The one thing no one misses are the cascading falls of the river, which invite you to scramble around on the rounded rocks. Be careful, though. The rocks are definitely slippery when wet, the ice cold pools have treacherous currents and it seems like some unsuspecting person dies here every year or so.

Recognize the mountains in this photo? They may look familiar even if you’ve never been anywhere near Aspen, Colorado. You’ve likely seen them on a calendar or two, in a coffee table picture book or on a poster somewhere. These are the Maroon Bells, one of the most photographed scenes in the Rocky Mountains.

The Bells, as the locals call them, of course, are most spectacular in autumn when the aspens turn gold and a skiff of snow highlights their cliffs and ridges. During the Fall color weekend in Colorado, photographers come from all across the globe to get THE definitive picture. Lucky for the rest of us that nearly any photo we take of these famous mountains is spectacular.

Take a short drive from town to Aspen Highlands on Maroon Creek Road. Then, catch a public bus for $10 which will take you up to Maroon Lake, where you can hike, fish, take pictures or simply stand in awe of the natural elements that surround you. Even the most out of shape city people can enjoy this jaunt, so put this one on your bucket list!

The great thing about Vail, Colorado is the accessibility.  Located right off of I-70 in the center of the Rocky Mountains is Vail, just a couple of hours west of Denver.  With I-70 being the “bloodline” connecting Denver to Grand Junction and beyond into Utah, motorists from the front range have to go by Vail.  Lucky for them since Vail is a ski destination.

The skiable terrain of Vail Mountain is HUGE and one should spend at least a week on the slopes to explore its’ expanse.  I, personally, have skied Vail several times and find that I could keep going and going and going without skiing the same run twice.  With the addition of Blue Sky Basin a few years back, Vail Mountain definitely becomes a playground for the die-hard skier and snowboarder.

Before I moved out to Colorado, I visited Vail one time and that’s all it took to make an incredible impression on me.  Just two years later I found myself driving to Colorado with dreams of powder skiing in the winter and hiking, biking and fishing in the summer.Tourists coming to Vail to play have many options for lodging.  Over the years, the town of Vail has been built up with hotels, lodges and private home and luxury condo rentals. One can find lodging right at the base of the ski area all the way to the ridge across the valley.  Vail sits in a steep valley so renting a vacation home high up on the ridge will afford a nice view of the Gore Mountain range or one can be down in the town close to all of the action and night life.

A visit to Durango will give you a big juicy taste of everything I love about Colorado. Like all of my favorite places in the Rockies, it’s a relatively small town full of people who really enjoy living there. In fact, most of them know they could make more money and live more cheaply elsewhere, but they just can’t bear the thought of leaving. Why? Here are just a few of the reasons:

Durango is rimmed by glorious mountains and boasts its own world-class ski hill, Durango Mountain Resort, also know as Purgatory. It offers everything from never-ever lessons to off piste snowcat skiing and snowboarding in a family friendly atmosphere.

Durango is also blessed with a large high country lake. Nearby Vallecito Lake is popular year ’round for fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding and hunting. At 8,000 feet, it’s a cool retreat during the dog days of summer. Camping and cabins are available for those who’d like to spend some time there.

The Animas River runs right through town and offers waters mild enough for inner tubing and canoeing or wild enough to challenge the best kayakers. Numerous local rafting outfitters offer half day and full day trips and the Whitewater Park hosts events throughout the season who those who prefer watching.

Mountain biking rules in Durango. Just close your eyes and imagine rolling through meadows lush with wildflowers and surrounded by the snowcapped peaks of the San Juan range. There are nearly 2,000 miles of single track in the area and it truly doesn’t get any better than this.