Thirst Colorado Magazine

Discover the Gold Hill General Store, an eclectic time machine

Building dates to 1873, offers glimpse into area’s rich history  

The front door of the Gold Hill General Store & Pub is a time machine. Past the creaking hinges, music softly plays, usually something with steel guitar. The air smells like wood, baked goods and fresh produce.

Learning to ski as an adult is worth the bumpy ride

Lessons learned and challenges overcome on the way to a new sport

Before moving to Colorado, I had never downhill skied despite being cautiously interested in it. Being a non-skier here felt like being an uncool fish out of very cool waters. The move was the final nudge I needed to take on this new hobby in my late twenties. 

THe thirst colorado guide to the san juans and beyond

How to explore Colorado’s rugged playground

The San Juan Mountain Range stretches from the Lake City area to the Chama River in New Mexico. This range formed through volcanic activity less than 30 million years ago—in geology standards, that’s pretty recent! Due to the range’s “youth,” rock type, and volcanic origins, these peaks appear more jagged than other mountain ranges in the state. 

Rexy gravel ride: the gravel awaits

Exploring the Utah-Colorado landscape by bike

Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, are hotspots for outdoor enthusiasts. With stunning red rocks, rugged terrain, and endless singletrack options, this expansive desert is a cyclist’s paradise. Rexy, Queen of the Desert, is a point-to-point gravel bike race that stretches between these two mountain bike meccas. 

a spin through time on a classic carousel ride

A tale of the tenacious Kit Carson County Carousel

There isn’t much you can get for 25 cents in today’s world. But in Burlington, you can experience a piece of history for just that. The small town on the eastern border of the state is home to the Kit Carson County Carousel, a National Historic Landmark. All you need is a quarter to take a nostalgic spin.

Sunset Amphitheater will be a regional draw

New Colorado Springs music venue expected to draw visitors and dollars 

This summer, Colorado Springs adds to the state’s collection of picturesque music venues with the Ford Amphitheater. The new venue “is the brainchild of (Notes Live) chairman and CEO JW Roth,” says Chloe Hoeft, Notes Live vice president of marketing & communications.

Finding freedom in colorado’s van life

Home is where the van is

From the Grande Diligence coach of the late 1800s to the iconic Volkswagen hippie vans of the 1960s to the decked-out Sprinter vans of today, the concept of van life has taken on various forms throughout the years. With social media, van options and the remote work boom, more and more Coloradans are inspired to dip their toes into this type of nomadic living. 

HOPS ALONG THE COLORADO TRAIL

Breweries to visit during a thru-hike of America’s highest trail

The Colorado Trail (CT) spans nearly 500 miles, winding its way through the Rocky Mountains between Denver and Durango. Along the trail, hikers will experience epic mountain passes, crisp alpine lakes, quaint mountain towns and if you do it my way, breweries.

Colorado’s hidden gems

Trails to peace and preservation

Over 80 million people visit Colorado every year. These tourists, on top of the nearly 6 million locals, can make being “one with nature” a little more difficult than most of us would like. There’s more than enough Mother Nature to go around, however, the large crowds tend to flock to a few choice spots. 

Hiking the trail less traveled

An adventure to the arches in Rattlesnake Canyon

Dusty orange limbs stretched across the sky while dirt crunched underneath our shoes. There were no voices or cars, just the sound of birds, bugs, wind and the occasional plane in the distance. After about three hours of hiking, we had made it to the first arch, with a tremendous collection of arches to follow.