The Colorado mountain town of Salida sits in the middle of the state, literally in the “Heart of the Rockies,” about 2 hours from Colorado Springs and 3 hours from Denver.It is close to beautiful Buena Vista, where I worked at a camp when I was younger. The town and the people are very welcoming, and we found it to be a perfect romantic couples getaway. There is so much to do, and much of it was free!
Located in central Colorado in the Upper Arkansas River Valley, Salida has more than a dozen 14,000-foot tall mountain peaks, more than any other Colorado region. The visitors site describes Salida as an outdoors paradise with year-round activities—at non-resort prices—that includes an almost complete A-to-Z adventure list: archery, biking, camping, climbing, fishing, four-wheeling, golfing, hiking, hunting, kayaking, picnicking, rock hounding, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and a world-class zipline tour.
Not in the mood for zip lining? No problem. We enjoyed taking a leisurely stroll along tree-lined streets and into the downtown area where the century-old redbrick buildings had everything from casual food to fine dining and several art galleries displayed local arts and crafts. This small town of only about 5500 residents was included in the guidebook America’s 100 Best Small Art Towns.
There is an extensive bike and trail system along the Arkansas River. A short drive out of town takes you to ghost towns, mining camps, and reminders of Salida’s railroad transport past. Mt. Princeton Resort and Spa offers day passes for bathers, spa services, and lodging accommodations. We did not do this, but we did drive up there to look around, and it looks awesome!
The region has surprisingly mild periods of weather since the mountain ranges along the Continental Divide sort of calm the fierce storms that come from the west. This phenomenon is the origin of the term the “Banana Belt.” Coming from Memphis, Tenneessee where our summers are ridiculously hot and humid at times, we were loving the low humidity and nice breezes by the river. We are so happy we stumbled upon this neat little mountain gem. In fact, U.S. News and World Report Magazine called it “one of the top ten affordable retirement communities in the US.” It’s no wonder Salida has been called the “Gem of the Rockies.”
What is your favorite Fourth of July memory? Do you have a favorite place to visit on this holiday? Write and let me know!
