How is This the Best Tourist Attraction in Colorado?

Colorado is known as one of the most beautiful destinations to visit in the entire country. We’ve got great hiking with incredible views, fun cities, and of course, we’ve got great skiing.

This culminates in Colorado ranking 16th amongst the most visited states in the country, which is a solid top half spot.

With everything there is to do in the state, there are a couple of places that seem to get all the shine. In particular, all of the ski towns and resorts we have always take precedence over nearly any other sort of attraction. Sure, we’ve got a lot of amazing mountain towns, but is that really all we have to offer?

One recent offender came from alot.com, which recently ranked the best tourist attraction for each state. Many places got amazing National and State Parks, zoos, museums, and amusement parks. However, Colorado’s selection left us scratching our heads.

Aspen Has Been Named the Best Tourist Attraction in Colorado

Not the ski resort, just the town of Aspen. The article cites it as being a great place to go skiing, but it also cites that it is a great place to go shopping and dining. It also mentions the price point to be affordable for every budget.

Personally, I’m not so sure about that. Aspen is notorious for being the most expensive ski town and resort not only in Colorado, but the entire country.

It's a vacation spot for the rich and famous, not for the average person. It’s not uncommon to see celebrities noshing on some of the most expensive meals money can buy in Aspen.

If you’re trying to actually live there and buy property, forget about it or do some serious saving. Currently, the average home price is at $2.5 million, but it’s not uncommon to see it spike up to nearly $4 million.

With all of this being said, unless you have the budget, how do you expect the average tourist to actually be able to afford this place?

Listen, I know the writer of the article probably picked something that made sense to them, but here are a couple of options for tourists that are way more affordable and, quite honestly, just as good as going to Aspen.

Tourists Going to Colorado Could See Most Beautiful National and State Parks in the Country

Many other states had one of the National or State Parks on the list, so why doesn’t Colorado?

We have some of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire country. Rocky Mountain National Park is a gem of a place that is perfect to connect with nature with. Even though the park got 4.3 million visitors in 2022, it's so massive you’ll be able to find a spot where you can enjoy the scenic landscapes on your own.

Over on the Western Slope, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has a case for being even more beautiful. The stunning canyon walls along with the lush greenery combine for one of the greatest National Park experiences you can have anywhere.

If you want to go the State Park route, you can check out the classic Garden of the Gods. The rock formations are truly the stuff of legends. If you want to go a little more untraditional route, you can check out the Castlewood Dam, which is a hike with a ton of history.

Colorado Also Has a Ton of Great Attractions Like Zoos, Aquariums, Amusement Parks, and Railroads

We have more than just beautiful scenery, though. The Denver Zoo is a fantastic place to take the entire family, all at a fair price. They also have a lot of free days, with those being January 21st, February 11, April 7, November 1, November 9, and November 17.

You can also head over to the Downtown Aquarium, another great spot that is located right in the heart of Denver. It’s got an awesome mixture of both great animal exhibits and dining options all in one.

In terms of amusement parks, we’ve Elitch Gardens in Denver, but there’s also Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs. It mixes thrills with unbelievable mountain scenery.

Finally, the Western Slope is home to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It houses both a museum and a functioning steam locomotive that gives highly acclaimed breathtaking views.

Have you noticed anything about these tourist attractions? Most of them are best in the summer. Colorado is definitely great in the winter for skiing, but it feels like that is all we get credit for nationally. We have too many amazing sites and experiences in the summer to be left out. Plus, it's arguably the prettiest time to visit the state.

Did we leave anything out of the list? What tourist attractions would you recommend to somebody who has never been to Colorado? Make sure to let us know.