15 Colorado mountain towns ranked on list of America’s ‘most romantic’ spots

New York Travel Guides recently analyzed 600 small towns in America to create a list of the 140 most romantic towns in the country. Travel experts compared the towns across categories including romantic places to stay, romantic activities, historic architecture, scenery, and cozy coffee shops and restaurants. Towns in Colorado claimed 15 spots on the list.

Here are the Colorado towns that broke into the top 20 on the ranked list of 140:

Aspen

Aspen came in at fourth place overall. This mountain town is known for having plenty of romantic places to stay, with everything from 5-star resorts to cozy lodges. Some options include The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome and the Limelight Hotel.

As well as a long list of great places to stay, the town has lots of romantic things to do. To get the heart pumping, take the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail. If you’re looking for something less strenuous, take a drive over Independence Pass or take a trip to the top of the mountain on the Silver Queen Gondola.

Estes Park

The next-highest ranking Colorado spot was Estes Park, which ranked eighth nationwide. Estes Park, which has roots dating back to 1859, is known for its beautiful scenery. Some charming places to stay in Estes Park include the StoneBrook Resort, Aspen Winds on Fall River, or the Taharaa Mountain Lodge.

Romantic things to do in Estes Park include seeing a movie at the historic Park Theatre – the oldest operating cinema in the western United States, enjoying the Open Air Adventure Park, or having a picnic or taking hike in the Rocky Mountains.

Vail

Vail placed eleventh on the New York Travel Guides list. This central mountain town has some romantic and downright fairytale-worthy hotels to stay in, such as the Arrabelle, the Sonnenalp, and Ritz-Carlton.

For a romantic outing, treat yourselves to one of the many spa and wellness centers that Vail has to offer, or take a scenic gondola ride up the mountain. The Sonnenalp, Arrabelle and Grand Hyatt all have well reviewed spas.

Breckenridge

Breckenridge is the last Colorado town that made the cut to place in the top 20, ranking 18th. Head to The Lodge at Breckenridge or Gravity Haus for a romantic stay. For an outdoorsy and adventurous date, go for a scenic hike, ice skating, or embark on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Breckenridge also offers great skiing, or for those not skiing, consider a scenic chairlift or gondola ride.

For a more relaxed activity, go to one of the local spas or stroll down Breckenridge’s historic and iconic Main Street, which has enough shops and restaurants to keep you occupied for hours.

The list continues

In addition to the four towns that made it into the top 20, Colorado also snagged 11 other spots on the list. These towns include Salida (22nd), Telluride (26th), Steamboat Springs (27th), Crested Butte (28th), Frisco (32nd), Leadville (33rd), Glenwood Springs (37th), Snowmass Village (52nd), Ouray (59th), Manitou Springs (98th), and Pagosa Springs (102nd).

So, there you have it – according to New York Travel Guides, Colorado has a plethora of charming destinations that will make for an adventure-filled and picturesque romantic getaway. Find the full list here.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)

File photo. Photo Credit: Page Light Studios (iStock). (Page Light Studios)
File photo. Photo Credit: Page Light Studios (iStock). (Page Light Studios)

PREV

PREVIOUS

Denver violence: 87 people shot in 94 days

In a recent report published by the Denver Gazette, reporter Sage Kelley highlighted how violent Denver was during the summer of 2023. According to Kelley, 68 shootings took place between June 21 and September 23, involving 87 victims over the 94-day span. While that’s a lot of violence, these numbers actually came in below the 83 […]

NEXT

NEXT UP

CU Buffs men's team enters AP Top 25 poll

Fun times are ahead at the CU Events Center. Tad Boyle and the Buffs’ men are in the AP Top 25. CU (2-0) was ranked No. 25 when the poll was released Monday. The Buffs had been receiving votes. This is only the second time since 1970 CU appeared in the first regular-season AP poll. […]


Welcome Back.

Streak: 9 days i

Stories you've missed since your last login:

Stories you've saved for later:

Recommended stories based on your interests:

Edit my interests