About Colorado's Indian Summers Colorado Vacation Directory

What does it mean to say "It's Officially Fall in Colorado"?

Well, it depends on whom you are talking to, but we've done some research here at the Colorado Vacation Directory and this is what we have found . . .

Colorado is known for its Indian Summers!

What is an Indian Summer?

The first usage of the term "Indian Summer" is attributed to an 18th century French-American writer named John Hector St. John de Crevecoeur who wrote "Then a severe frost succeeds which prepares it to receive the voluminous coat of snow which is soon to follow; though it is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer."

So, I have no idea what that means. Guess Mom is right, head to the Dictionary.

World English Dictionary: An Indian Summer is a period of unusually settled warm weather after the end of summer proper (first definition listed). This seems to be a little too broad of an answer as here in Colorado, or at least the parts of Colorado that are not dreaming about ski slopes, that definition means Colorado's fall is about 75% Indian Summer. I Love Colorado warm days for strolls and mountain biking; with nights that allow me to wear my boots and jackets to watch the stars as they wake up at dusk.

Wikipedia: An Indian Summer is a heat wave that occurs in the autumn. It refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost. Depending on latitude and elevation, it can occur in the Northern Hemisphere between late September and mid-November. Well, Wikipedia needs to vacation in Colorado because we have even more to brag about -- I've experienced 'shorts weather' in December! I love Colorado!

Or maybe the English had it right, any heat wave in fall is called a St. Martins Summer!

We know that it must be fall if we are talking about the joys of an Indian Summer.

In Colorado, Fall is a truly special time of year! The mountains begin to shed their evergreen expanse in exchange for gold, orange and white. The promise of winter and skiing and snowmobiling and hot chocolate and potbelly stoves warming the room. . . Yes, I remember we are talking about fall. Down at the base of our amazing Rocky Mountains are the rest of us; raking leaves, bringing in the last of the tomatoes, carving pumpkins, and celebrating beer.

We are slipping away on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to explore our many scenic drives that take us to ghost towns like St Elmo or Animas Forks. Or a jaunt to Leadville where the famous Baby Doe Tabor and the Unsinkable Molly Brown called home. Some of us attend a Beer fest around the state as Colorado is a Micro-Brewery mecca. Here is a smattering of suggestions: Steamworks Brewing (Durango), Revolution Brewing (Paonia), Rock Bottom Brewery (Denver), Bristol Brewing (Colorado Springs), Avery Brewing (Boulder), and New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins).

Whether you are a hunter, wildlife watcher, fisherman or birder, Autumn is a time to celebrate! Deer, Elk and Bighorn Sheep populations around the state are moving. October is a great month to visit the San Luis Valley as Sandhill Cranes make their annual pilgrimage from Yellowstone to the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, stopping off near Alamosa for a rest. Colorado's Eastern plains is the spot to see snow geese in fall. Most Colorado Angler's agree, Fish in the Fall! Why? The temperatures are still in the 70s, the water is lower and clearer, the trout have fattened up and they are ready for the frying pan! The waterways around Antonito, Bailey, Buena Vista, Creede, Estes Park, Grand Lake, Gunnison, Park County, Salida and South Fork are all full of fat fish that are ready for the hook!

I was chatting with my sister, who lives in Annapolis Maryland, yesterday and she mentioned that her golf days are numbered. My response -- Vacation in Colorado and bring your golf clubs, we have courses worth playing year round. Rifle Creek Golf Course (Rifle), Cattail Golf Course (Alamosa), and Shining Mountain Golf Club (Woodland Park) all give you the gift of cool mornings and mild afternoons, which are perfect for a morning round in the cool air or a relaxing afternoon with family and friends.

The Long and the Short -- Well Colorado is the place to be as the trees drop their leaves and snow starts to fall. Explore www.ColoradoDirectory.com for Cabins, RV Sites, Lodge and B&B Room or a Condo, Hotel or Vacation Home, then pack up your bags and celebrate the amazing season of Fall in Colorado.

Once you have had fall vacation in Colorado, you'll start dreaming of adding a winter snow-scape vacation to the mix as well, because I did mention skiing and snowmobiling right!