Because of Telluride’s fascinating history as a mining town (founded in the 1870s), there are wonderful opportunities to step back in time while you’re visiting. The Sheridan Opera House was built in 1913 as a vaudeville theater and remains preserved as a historic landmark. Its 240-seat performance venue now hosts local and touring performing groups, runs youth programs, and is available to rent for private events. Plan your vacation to Telluride to coincide with President’s Day weekend and also get tickets to the popular comedy festival, annually featuring  world-class comedians. Just a couple of blocks away is the Telluride Historical Museum. Housed within a converted hospital that was originally built in 1896, this engaging museum has ten themed rooms of exhibits showcasing the area’s history in an interactive manner. To get a taste of Victorian-era life, meander through wide open mountain vistas on horseback or take a Jeep tour out to explore the old mines and ghost towns.

At the end of Colorado Avenue (Telluride’s “main drag”), is Town Park – the site for all of the major summertime festivals, including Blues & Brews, the Bluegrass Festival, MountainFilm Festival, and the Telluride Film Festival. This master-planned park houses a campground, as well as multiple sports facilities, a fishing pond for children, playgrounds, swimming pool, and sledding and skating in wintertime. During warmer months, you can wander the Farmers Market on South Oak Street near the Telluride Free Gondola Station, sampling local produce and shopping the booths of regional artisans. Colorado Avenue is also where much of the vibrant nightlife and fine dining of Telluride can be found. Check out the Sheridan Rooftop Bar for awesome cocktails and views or the Liberty Bar for drinks and dancing. Make sure to reserve a dinner table at Cosmopolitan, the #1 rated restaurant in Telluride. Only open during the high seasons, this fine dining jewel cannot be missed.

The famous Telluride Ski Resort is located up the hill in Mountain Village, but the free Gondola makes it easy and fun to travel between the two communities. Each of the four Gondola stations feature their own quick bite or fine dining option along with simply breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. With hundreds of acres of scenic backcountry to explore on skis, snowboard, snowshoe, snowmobile, or even dogsled, you will quickly see why the winter season is the main reason most people head to Telluride. Catch the ultimate adrenaline rush with heli-ski outings, where an Airbus Helicopter takes you to the highest elevations for the purest runs. Unique to the winter terrain are Fat Biking and ice climbing. Thanks to the specially-built Fat Bikes with 5” wide tires, you will easily ride through snow or mud, across streams and stellar single track. Telluride is the perfect spot for ice climbing, such as Bear Creek Falls, a fantastic natural place for a climb. Whether you’re an accomplished climber or trying it out for the first time, the area is full of dedicated outfitters and guides and you are sure to have an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Winter is truly special in Telluride, but when summertime comes, the outdoor experiences only broaden. Bring along your golf clubs on your chartered flight so you can play incredible courses in the mountains or rent some bikes upon arrival and hit the trails. A favorite short hike that is accessible right from town is the Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail. At just 3 miles, this trail is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riding, and will take you through gorgeous Aspen groves and wide meadows. With panoramic views, this is a trail you’ll want to hike in every season. Just three miles from downtown Telluride, you will find the famous Bridal Veil Falls. The tallest free-falling falls in the state of Colorado and arguably the most beautiful, this waterfall entices adventurers from all over the world. Whether you choose to hike, bike, or take a 4WD vehicle to explore the area, don’t forget your camera. Other summer season activities in Telluride include fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, and paragliding. Or challenge yourself with some class-three white water rafting on the San Miguel River. Plenty of folks charter a flight to Telluride just to participate in their annual endurance sports events. There’s an ultramarathon (The Hardrock 100), a 12-hour downhill bike race (The Fall Tilt), and the 60k Telluride Mountain Run that traverses altitudes over 13,000 feet and can even be hazardous in places. Extreme sports are at their best in Telluride.