WHATS GREAT ABOUT
C OLORADO?
MARY MEINKING
Copyright 2015
by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
Content Consultant: Barbara Headle, Senior
Instructor, History, University of Colorado
Colorado Springs
All rights reserved. International copyright
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Main body text set in ITC Franklin Gothic Std
Book Condensed 12/15.
Typeface provided by Adobe Systems.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Data
Meinking, Mary.
Whats great about Colorado? / by Mary
Meinking.
pages cm. (Our great states)
Includes index.
ISBN 9781467733502 (library
binding : alkaline paper)
ISBN 9781467747073 (eBook)
1. ColoradoHistoryJuvenile
literature. I. Title.
F776.3.M45 2015
978.8dc23 2014008813
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 PC 7/15/14
CONTENTS
COLORADO Welcomes You!
The geography of Colorado makes it the best outdoor
playground in the world! Check out the sand dunes and white
water rivers. Enjoy the beautiful scenery by train or by car. Hike
ancestral Pueblo trails at Mesa Verde National Park. Strap on
skis or a snowboard, and race down one of the states many
mountains. Soak in hot springs, or mine for gold. Theres an
activity for everyone to enjoy!
Explore Colorados
mountains and all the places
in between! Just turn the
page to find out about the
CENTENNIAL STATE.
SNOW SPORTS
Many people think of skiing when they think
of Colorado. It is the top location for skiing in
North America. You can visit one of more than
twenty ski resorts. Try an easy hill if youre
new to the sport. If youre a master skier, you
can take on one of the harder ski runs.
Keystone in southwest Denver is a great
resort for families. Join the Ski & Ride School
for skiing lessons. You may meet Keystones
mascot, Ripperoo the dog. After a full day
of skiing, explore the Kidtopia Snowfort.
Ride the forts slides, and climb through its
tunnels. Grab a cookie at the ice rink, and
head to Ripperoos Village Parade. You can
try nighttime snow tubing at Adventure Point.
Youll zip down six tubing lanes under bright
lights. You may even see the fireworks show!
There are plenty of other winter sports
besides skiing or snowboarding. Try cross
country skiing or snowshoeing on Colorados
many trails. Take a sleigh ride through town.
Or lace up your skates and hit the ice rink.
Colorado is a winter sports wonderland!
Strap on snowshoes and explore
Colorados powdery trails.
Enjoy a horse- drawn sleigh
ride through Keystone.
GREAT SAND DUNES
Would you guess Colorado has a giant sand
beach? See for yourself at Great Sand Dunes
National Park and Preserve near Alamosa.
Here youll see the tallest dunes in North
America. A large lake dried up thousands of
years ago. It left behind a large amount of
sand. The wind blew the sand to create dunes.
The dunes are feet (229 meters) high and
stretch miles (16 kilometers) long.
Try sandboarding or sand sledding. Rent
special sandboards or sand sleds at nearby
Kristi Mountain Sports. Youll hike to the top of
a dune before sliding down the sand.
After sledding, cool off in Medano Creek from
mid-May through June. This seasonal creek
sits at the base of the dunes. The snow in the
mountains melts and flows down and around
the Great Sand Dunes. You can swim, float
on a tube, or skimboard in the creek. Build
sand castles with the wet sand. But be sure to
visit early in the summer. By August, the creek
disappears into the sand.
After playing on the dunes,
cool off in Medano Creek.
Try sandboarding down High Dune.
Boarding is best after a rainfall.
WHITE- WATER RAFTING
One of the most thrilling activities in
Colorado is white- water rafting. From
May through August, the rivers are
deeper from the winters snowmelt.
Sign up for a rafting trip on the
Arkansas or Colorado Rivers.
Buena Vista claims to be the white-
water capital of Colorado. Book a
trip through one of more than sixty
rafting companies licensed to run on
the Arkansas River. Browns Canyon
Rafting Company offers family float
trips down the Arkansas River and
Clear Creek. Choose a calm ride, and
let your guide do all the work. Or if
youre looking for more adventure,
pick a trip that takes you through
white- water rapids. Strap on a
helmet and a life jacket, and expect
to get wet. Grab an oar, and help
move the inflatable boat through the
fast currents.
COLORADOS REGIONS
Colorado is one of the most
geographically diverse
states. Its divided into four
regions. The eastern part of
the state is the flat Great
Plains. The area meets the
Rocky Mountains in the
center of the state. This
mountain range has fifty-
four peaks reaching more
than 14,000 feet (4,267 m)
high. West of the Rockies
is the Colorado Plateau.
It has hills, plateaus, and
flat- topped mountains called
mesas. The smallest region
is the Intermontane Basin.
This northwest corner of the
state is known for its rolling,
forested hills and flatland.