Destination is “inclusive and welcoming” and has lots on offer for Canadians
The director of international tourism for the Colorado Tourism Office says going downhill in Colorado can be uplifting.
Andrea Blankenship said during a recent Toronto visit that her state has over 30 ski resorts, among them ones that have built an international following but others of which are “local ski areas” that she says provide excellent schussing and tend to be less expensive than their better-known counterparts.
And she said residents of a country home to such well-known resorts as Whistler, Tremblant and Lake Louise should definitely hit the slopes in Colorado as well.
“A true skier is going to want to try every resort. For many people who ski, Colorado is a bucket-list destination… There’s a ski adventure for everybody.”
Among ski resorts is Snowmass, the third-largest ski resort in the state, with the gathering being told Snowmass is “absolutely stunning.”
Tourism authorities note that a particularly lofty stretch of the Rocky Mountains covers much of Colorado, with Blankenship noting that her jurisdiction has 58 “fourteeners” – mountains that top 14,000 feet – more than any other state.
The Toronto visit came at a time of tension between Ottawa and the U.S. administration over trade issues but Blankenship assured her Toronto audience that Canadian visitors will be in an “inclusive and welcoming” state that is a “very friendly place to visit.”
Colorado is associated with skiing in the minds of many but Blankenship said 75% of tourists who visit her state – which sees around 94 million tourist visits a year – do so in spring, summer and fall, with terrain that features both parts of the Great Plains and the Rockies at times enabling people to “literally ski and golf on the same day.”
The state also has four national parks, one of which – Great Sand Dunes National Park – is home to the “largest and tallest sand dunes in North America.”
A generally sunny climate allows Colorado to be a four-season destination, Blankenship continued.
She said the state serves as the “gateway to the great American West,” with road trips that provide “beautiful scenery” awaiting visitors.
Blankenship also praised the “cultural mecca” of Denver, with varied entertainment options in the city including games featuring different professional sports teams.
The city’s hotel inventory is growing, with the boutique Urban Cowboy property being the latest addition. It is found in a historic mansion.
The number of Canadian cities from which non-stop air service to Denver is available will reach seven later this year when Regina is added to the list.
Among other Colorado cities is Durango, with Rachel Welsh of that city’s tourist board telling those on hand that the city has been used as a setting for Old West movies and those staying there can easily visit Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park. The area features both Western Heritage and Indigenous culture, she added.
Colorado is also home to some 400 craft breweries, 140 wineries and 100 distilleries, and the state has Michelin-recognized restaurants. Meanwhile, Blankenship said non-alpine skiers can still enjoy her state during wintertime, citing a range of other outdoor activities, among them cross-country skiing and dog-sledding.
