Stay and Play in Southern Colorado
Your Vacation Resource Guide

A Romantic Retreat in Southern Colorado

Life is busy. But with Southern Colorado just an easy drive from much of the Front Range of Colorado, planning a romantic recharge doesn’t have to be complicated. From connecting over a glass of wine to soaking in one of the state’s most famous hot springs to appreciating the views in Westcliffe—the state’s only dark-sky designated community—a getaway to Southern Colorado with your sweetie is sure to help you create memories that you’ll be talking about until your next visit.

Of course, when many of us think of Colorado, we envision adrenaline-pumping activities, from the ski slopes to whitewater rapids to hikes up sky-scraping mountains. But with your sweetie by your side, little is better than sitting back and enjoying what the region has to offer.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to do just that:

Do some stargazing from Smokey Jack Observatory: The neighboring towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff have the unique distinction of being the first and only in Colorado to be certified as International Dark Sky Communities. To fully appreciate this incredible star show, a viewing session at the Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe is available for free (but be a doll and make a donation to help support this incredible organization) with prior reservation.

Make a day out of the Mount Princeton Hot Springs: Between Salida and Buena Vista is the famous (for good reason) Mount Princeton Hot Springs. More than just a venue for soaking in the hot springs, Mount Princeton offers fine dining, activities and, yes, plenty of naturally heated pools to relax in with your sweetie. To make a full day of it, swing by the ghost town of St. Elmo, which was once a bustling town of nearly 2,000 gold and silver hounds in the late 1890s before it dried up in the early 1900s. To this day, many old buildings are well preserved and very cool to walk around.

Dine on the Royal Gorge train: For a unique view of the Royal Gorge and a fabulous meal to boot, the Dinner Train offered by the Royal Gorge Route is a special experience for couples. The 3-course meal is served while riding through one of Colorado’s most impressive canyons. The only caveat is the train seats four to a table—so you may want to make it a double date or feel comfortable with making friends. To make a day of it, before your departure, you could consider stopping by the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, which serves award-winning wines with scenic views.

Lightning flashes as the milky way moves across the Sangre de Cristo mountain range near Westcliffe, Colorado