I've been tagged! Not with graffiti, but to join other travel bloggers in an online e-book of "best kept travel secrets." The places I'm going to include in my blog today are also in my Moon Denver guidebook so not exactly secrets to my readers. However, these are places that when I was researching and writing my book (and even since when promoting my book) have found more people who said, "Where? Never heard of it." than those who had been there.
1. The Shambhala Mountain Center, www.shambhalamountain.org, in northern Colorado. This place is maybe not a secret to Buddhists or some yoginis, but it is a fabulous retreat for people of any ilk who want to spend an hour or a day or a week in a pristine and peaceful Rocky Mountain setting.
(photo courtesy of Shambhala Mountain Center)
3 reasons to go to Shambhala Mountain Center:
a) So peaceful as many people are here to meditate and it's all out of cell phone range.
b) Mountains as far as the eye can see.
c) The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya is an incredible example of religious architecture not seen often in the U.S.
2. Manitou Springs is often lumped in as part of greater Colorado Springs in travel books whereas I see it as a separate destination with such a distinctive history and personality.
3 reasons to go to Manitou Springs:
a) You can drink the water. Typically I like to soak in a hot springs, but here they have uniquely-designed water fountains scattered around the town and each features different elements of the underground springs. Free!
b) Explore Pikes Peak, the America the Beautiful inspiration. You can walk, run, drive and take a cog railway up this fourteener.
c) Check out Miramont Castle Museum for its bizarre history and impressive stone structure.
3. Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort, is just outside the ski resort town of Winter Park. I know, a secret resort? Yes, sort of. It's Colorado's only cross-country ski resort and it's been recently upgraded in the most ecologically friendly ways.
a) So mellow to just hear the sh-sh of people's skis gliding across the snow or the quiet crunch of snowshoes.
b) The spa is amazing for a yoga class with a spectacular view or a much-needed massage.
c) Wood-burning fireplaces in the cabins for that rustic cozy night.
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