It's no secret that Colorado is home to plenty of world-class vacation destinations, but according to Men's Journal, one spot is a cut above the rest.
In the publication's recently published '2024 Men's Journal Travel Awards,' the southwestern Colorado mountain town of Ouray was dubbed the top US vacation destination of the year.
Nicknamed the 'Switzerland of America' for good reason, visitors to this destination will find plenty of waterfalls and jagged peaks in the surrounding area, along with plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities to match the terrain. Whether someone is looking for hiking, rock climbing, or off-road travel, they're sure to find it here – year-round.
Not only is Ouray home to multiple via ferrata routes (the publication gave a special shoutout to the Gold Mountain Via Ferrata route with its 1,300-foot climb) and a newly-public hike where people can get an up-close experience with footprints left behind by a dinosaur, there's also an internationally known ice climbing park to visit in the winter, as well as a long list of events to experience at the historic Wright Opera House. Plus, other destinations like Silverton and Telluride can be visited with a short day-trip.
Undoubtedly a great option as a top travel spot, the best times to visit Ouray are during the summer and the fall, but a trip during any time of the year is sure to be memorable.
The only other Colorado spot included on the Men's Journal list of 50 top vacation destinations was Denver, ranking 18th.
Find their full list here.
(1) comment
It's worth the trip down Hwy 550 (The Million Dollar Highway) just to drive through the town and surrounding areas north and south!
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