One of the advantages of living and studying English in Denver is proximity to the world-famous Rocky Mountains. The mountains offer an array of outdoor activities, fun shopping and delicious dining. So when the bell rings and your English classes in Denver finish, head to the hills for some of the most interesting experiences available in the USA!
1) Take a hike (or bike or horseback ride) on Colorado’s thousands of trails in over 45 state and national parks.
Colorado has preserved nearly half of its area as public land in five national parks, 40 state parks, 11 national forests, four national monuments and three national recreation areas. Take advantage of all this nature with easily accessible and well-managed trails just a short ride away from your English classes in Denver.
2) Swim in hot springs.
Even on a snowy winter day, you can swim outside in Colorado in one of the dozens of naturally heated mineral pools. About twenty of these pools have been developed into resorts where daily admission prices range from $10-$20. Many offer hotel stays if you want to make it a weekend getaway from Denver.
3) Ski some of the world’s best terrain (or stick to the “bunny hill” and enjoy the view).
Shred some gnarly pow-pow, bro! (Translation: Ski/ride on fresh powder snow!) And pick up some new American slang to supplement your English classes in Denver. Colorado is famous for world-class ski and snowboard resorts (more than two dozen of them), many just an hour or two from LCI Denver English school.
4) Shop!
Yes, that’s right, shop in the mountains. They may not be cosmopolitan cities, but Rocky Mountain towns offer a variety of purchasing experiences, from the daily discounts at the outlet shops of Silverthorne, to the high-end, pricey boutiques in ski-resort towns like Vail, Aspen and Breckenridge.
5) Run with the buffalo.
Okay, you can’t actually run with them (and they’re not actually buffalo, they’re bison—the North American version of the animal found in Africa and Asia), but just a half hour from your English classes in Denver, there’s a Buffalo Herd Overlook where you can see up-close (safely behind a very tall fence) this iconic creature that once roamed the American “Old West” by the millions.
6) Wine and dine.
The mountains offer lots of eating and drinking options, from fine dining to local dive-bars. You can even eat at the top of the world: Alpino Vino in Telluride is the highest restaurant in North America, situated at 11,966 feet (3,647 meters).
7) Camp under the stars.
If you’re from a city, you may have never seen a night sky like one in the Rocky Mountains, far from any light pollution and high in the thin air (and if you’re from a more rural place with lots of stars, sleeping under them will make you feel at home again). A night spent out in the fresh mountain air is an experience that shouldn’t be missed, and Colorado offers all kinds of camping, from backpacking several miles to a remote tent site, to RV (recreational vehicle) lots with electric hookups and running water.
8) Visit the “Wild West.”
Or as close as you can get in the twenty-first century, with a trip to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. The museum opened in 1927 as a tribute to the life and times of the well-known frontiersman and American icon, William T. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Today it explores the history and current conceptions of the American West.
9) Catch a fish.
Do something really different after your English classes in Denver and try fly-fishing (or “regular” spin fishing)! With thousands of lakes and rivers, the Rocky Mountains are an excellent place to catch trout, salmon and more. Rental companies can set you up with poles, lessons and permits, or even take you out on guided excursions.
10) Climb a mountain.
What’s next when you finish your English classes in Denver? Do you want to conquer another challenge? Colorado is home to over 53 fourteeners, mountains over 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) tall. Climb to the peak, or drive there, as some of them have roads going nearly to the top. The Rockies are also a famous place for rock-climbing; you can rent gear or go with professional guides.