You don’t need to travel far for an adventure, especially if you live in Colorado. The great state is chock full of things to enjoy year-round. Although, some of our favorite activities take place up north, from white water rafting and natural hot springs to farmer’s markets and craft breweries. And, of course, skiing. Here, we’re listing some of the best things to do in Northern Colorado.

Of course, if you don’t live in Northern Colorado, we really can’t recommend making the move enough. Our company, The Box Portable Storage, helps people move every day. It’s simple: If you need to store your stuff short- or long-term, we bring a portable storage unit to you, you fill it up, we store it safely and when you’re ready, we bring the unit back to you at your destination of choice.

Right now, we serve the Greeley and Broomfield areas, so request a free quote by filling out this online form or calling us at (970) 800-3807. Someone from our customer service team will respond within 24 hours and in the meantime, you can check out all the awesome things there are to do in our surrounding areas. Did we mention Colorado is home to over 400 well-established breweries, with Boulder and Fort Collins leading the way for most breweries per capita? Research proves it.

However, one of the best things about Colorado is that the state’s natural landscape lends itself to a variety of amazing outdoor experiences. That especially comes in handy when indoor entertainment is subject to close during, say, a global pandemic.

It’s easy to get bored sitting inside, so get out there and enjoy the natural wonders of Colorado, or even more so, Northern Colorado. We don’t have anything against Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or the rest of the southern part of the state, but this s what we think makes the Northern cities so great. Whether you live here or are only visiting, add one or more of these experiences to your Colorado bucket list.

1. Have a Picnic at The Flatirons (Boulder)

Stop by the Boulder County Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning or Wednesday evening and pack a picnic to enjoy at the base of Boulder’s iconic Flatirons. Of course, this is Colorado so you can go hiking or rock climbing too, but for a more relaxed day, take in the beautiful scenery on the lawn at Chautauqua Park while you enjoy your local fare.

2. Visit Strawberry Park Hot Springs (Steamboat Springs)

Unwind in the natural hot springs at Strawberry Park and for full relaxation mode, book a watsu massage. Hot springs were originally known as sacred, healing waters to Native Americans. They’re naturally heated by the earth’s molten core and filled with minerals that are said to help you relax and ease aching muscles. You can reserve a free 2-hour session or stay the night in a quirky train caboose or a larger rustic cabin.

3. Bike Around The Boulder Beer Trail (Boulder)

As mentioned, Boulder is a hotspot for breweries. According to the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau, the area between Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder is often referred to as the “Napa Valley of Beer.” The bureau created a sample biking tour of the breweries that will surely get you buzzed, so choose a few to hit on a Saturday afternoon. (Remember to bike safely!)

4. Take a Spooky Night Tour of The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park)

The Stanley Hotel, while strikingly beautiful, nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, has a reputation for its paranormal activity. In fact, the hotel was the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s “The Shining” and the filming location for the 1997 TV miniseries. Today, the hotel is fully functioning as a place to retreat with a restaurant, spa, and bed-and-breakfast, but it gives historical day and (spooky) night tours.

5. Spend a Long Weekend at Carter Lake (Loveland)

Breathe in the fresh air at Carter Lake, nestled in the foothills just southwest of Loveland. There’s hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, and more. From April to October, you can reserve a campsite. But from November through March, it’s usually first-come, first-serve.

6. Have Tea at The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House (Boulder)

There’s a lot of history packed into this tea house, which includes Boulder and Dushanbe (the capital of Tajikistan) becoming sister cities in 1987. In turn, the Mayor of Dushanbe, Maksud Ikramov,  gifted the city with a tea house that took over three years and 40 artisans to build. Today, you can visit for all meals of the day or book a tea time with Tajik-style food and tea.

7. Go Whitewater Rafting on The Cache La Poudre River (Fort Collins)

Take a wild ride down this scenic river that starts at the snow-capped peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, then twists and turns through cliffs and rapids. If that doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, get excited to see eagles, moose, black bears, mink, deer, and bighorn sheep as you make your journey down the river.

8. Bundle Up and Go Ice Skating Outdoors at WinterSkate (Louisville)

Visit historic downtown Louisville for WinterSkate, the outdoor ice skating rink with over 6,500 square feet of ice featuring holiday music, free horse-drawn carriage rides, a warming hut, concessions, and more. If you want a change of scenery for warming up, head to one of the town’s award-winning restaurants or take a two-minute walk to Bittersweet Confections for a hot chocolate.

9. Sip on Unique and Quality Beer at WeldWorks Brewery (Greeley)

WeldWorks Brewery may only be five years old, but it’s already made a name for itself in creating over 100 unique beers, like Saturn’s Temple, a sour wheat ale brewed with passion fruit, almond, lemon, milk sugar, and marshmallow. However, its flagship brew called Juicy Bits is a New England-style IPA with a citrus and tropical fruit character from Mosaic, Citra, and El Dorado hops. (The name is inspired by the pulp in a glass of orange juice.)

10. Enjoy an Evening at Old Town Square (Fort Collins)

If you’re looking for a fun night out, check out the quaint Old Town Square in Fort Collins. It’s packed with restaurants, breweries, shopping, art galleries, museums, and live music. You can even take the Fort Collins Foodie Walk on the third Friday of each month to taste food from local joints that use unique, locally sourced ingredients and organic produce.

11. Visit Morning Fresh Dairy Farm Where Noosa Yoghurt is Made (Bellvue)

Take a farm tour to learn more about local farming and see where Noosa Yoghurt is made (not to mention, take in the gorgeous views of the Poudre Canyon). The tour ends at the Howling Cow Café where you can sample Morning Fresh milk and get a free yoghurt. Tip: The Morning Fresh Dairy Farm usually has special holiday events for the whole family to enjoy.

12. Take a Factory Tour at Hammond’s Candies (Broomfield)

Learn how lollipops, candy canes, truffles and more have been made by Hammond’s Candies since 1920 on a free tour of the factory. After the tour, you can check out the factory store where there’s an “Oops! Room” filled with discounted treats.

13. Hit the Slopes at Eldora (Boulder)

What would Colorado be without its extreme winter sports like skiing and snowboarding?  In Northern, Colorado, we recommend visiting Eldora, which is about 21 miles from Boulder and has 680 acres of skiable terrain.

14. Take a Zipline For The Most Amazing Views (Steamboat Springs)

Take in the awe-inspiring views of the Yampa Valley and Flat Top Mountain Range from a zipline tour at 130 feet in the air. The tour consists of size ziplines that range from 600 feet to 1,300 feet long and reach speeds of up to 40 mph. The tour also includes some easy-paced hiking, where guides will share their knowledge of the area’s history and terrain.

15. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride For The Most Breathtaking Views (Broomfield)

Aero Cruise Balloon Adventures offers year-round hot air balloon rides along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. You can take a romantic private balloon ride for two or go up as a group to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Boulder Flatirons, Longs Peak, and several other notable destinations. It’s sure to be an experience you’ll never forget.

You’ll never find yourself feeling bored in Northern Colorado, with all the sites to see and things to do. If you don’t live here, you may just find yourself considering the move.

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