When most people plan a vacation, they usually tend to be on the coasts: California, Florida, New York. Not many people think to go for a vacation in the middle states. But here’s a tip: go to Colorado.

Now you may be thinking, “Hey, there are no beaches or no monuments. Why should I got to Colorado?”

Are you kidding me? I love Colorado! My dream is the live in Europe, but if I don’t get that chance, Colorado is definitely on top of my list for places to live. Here’s why.

The nature is gorgeous.

Gorgeous is an understatement. And there is so much nature. In my city, they have torn down all the trees and built parking garages and shopping centers. In Colorado, even in Denver, you can speed along the highway at 80 MPH while staring at nothing buy scenery.

There are quite a few national parks. Plus, just thirty minutes outside Denver is the Red Rocks Amphitheater  where they play great concerts. Colorado is definitely one of the best places to blend nature and architecture in a tasteful way. And of course there are the Rocky Mountains!

It’s perfect for the outdoor adventurer.

Colorado is consistently ranked among the highest of the states for physical fitness and health. Being a mile above sea-level means even greater benefits for working out. It’s well known that profession athletes will go to Colorado to train at altitude and improve performance.

There’s also a lot for every day people to get physically active. There’s skiing/snowboarding in the winter (and even into the spring) since the Rockies go straight through the state. In the summer, you can go white water rafting in the Colorado River. Running and cycling are also popular activities. It really is a fitness loving wonderland.

Sports are also for the couch potato, too.

If you prefer to watch your sports instead of participating, Denver is home to several professional teams: Denver Broncos (football), Denver Nuggets (basketball), Colorado Rockies (baseball), Colorado Avalanche (hockey), Colorado Rapids (soccer), and Colorado Mammoth (lacrosse). That means you can attend high-quality sporting action all year round.

Denver has some of the best fans. They brave the cold and snow to come out to support their teams for four hours outside. They always have their teams’ backs, even through the rough patches. Just refer to our post-John Elway era of football or almost the entire history of the Rockies seasons. We’re also a super welcoming bunch, although if you choose to support a Denver team, you must leave your other allegiance behind.

You can find so many types of geography in one state.

Colorado is pretty big, although Denver gets most of the attention. There are mountains, plains, canyons, rivers, and more outside of the main city. There are amazing structures carved out by millions of years of rivers running over rocks. There are ski resorts for people who want to ski down the mountains. There are waterfalls, deserts, and dunes.

Plus, if you go down to southern Colorado, you can see where the Pueblos lived. You can see their adobe houses and dwellings. I’ve never been there myself, but it sure seems like an incredible sight to see.

It’s a beer-loving heaven.

Ok, so for me, I don’t like beer, but it’s super popular now to go out to a brewery and having a drink. Of course, Colorado is known for Coors (or Rocky Mountain Kool-Aid as my mom refers to it). If watered down flavored beer isn’t your thing, Colorado is home to more than 100 microbreweries.

Colorado is such a wonderful and underrated place to visit. No matter the season, there is always something to do whether you run 10 miles a day or prefer to take things at a slower pace. Everyone finds something special they like most about Colorado, so go out there and discover your reason.

What do you like most about Colorado?