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Colorado in the winter. It’s the winter fun capital of the world offering numerous ways to play in the snow -- on skis, boards or snowshoes, and yet there’s much more. It’s a great place to unplug, unwind and do nothing. Colorado happens to be one of the hottest destinations on the planet for hiking, backpacking, fishing, and golf.

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Colorado is one of the few places where you can play a round of golf in the morning and hit the ski slopes in the afternoon. It’s the eighth largest state in the U.S. with a diverse landscape encompassing wide, flat eastern plains, sparkling cities of the Front Range, snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, red rock plateaus of the Western Slope and much more.  Among Colorado’s many fall and winter attributes are:

Moderate temperatures: Fall temperatures average between 30 and 70 degrees, and surprisingly, winter temperatures average from the single digits upwards to 60+ degrees, making Colorado the ideal destination for a vacation packed with fun activities, whether you prefer relaxing indoors by a roaring fire or frolicking outside on cross country skis under a sun drenched sky. Colorado enjoys an average of 300 sunny days each year.

Endless outdoor adventures: With more fall activities than you can climb on, hike up, dive into, or throw a rope around, there's hardly time to watch the aspen leaves turn yellow. Whether your appetite leans toward fresh draughts of Oktoberfest beer, listening to the bugle of a bull elk, the high adventure of a narrow-gauge railroad ride, or the leisurely pace of a picnic lunch in an alpine meadow -- you'll hunger for the natural flavor of a genuine Colorado autumn.

Unlike many places, Colorado only gets better with the coming winter. In addition to the almost unlimited outdoor activities at world-class ski resorts, Colorado’s more secluded experiences include a horseback ride through snow country, tracking a herd of elk from the vantage point of a hot air balloon, or meditating on the wonders of nature after a glorious Colorado snowfall.

Sports: Colorado is home to several professional teams. Catch the two-time Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos (www.denverbroncos.com) playing football at Invesco Field at Mile High (www.invescofieldatmilehigh.com). See the NBA Denver Nuggets (www.nba.com/nuggets) shooting hoops at Denver’s Pepsi Center  (www.pepsicenter.com). The NHL Colorado Avalanche (www.coloradoavalanche.com) also play at the Pepsi Center. For minor league hockey, see the Colorado Gold Kings (www.allsports.com/wchl/goldkings) play at the World Arena (www.worldarena.com) in Colorado Springs (www.experiencecoloradosprings.com).

Resort packages: Resort-style vacations provide a host of options from quaint bed and breakfasts to luxurious lodges and rustic cabins, to modern hotels, condominiums and private vacation homes. Colorado’s resort areas offer a wide range of amenities including everything a vacationer could desire; diverse dining, childcare, day spas, swimming pools, hot tubs and hot springs, golf, tennis and access to ski slopes, hiking and biking trails and horseback riding. Attractive amenities and inclusive packages make resorts the ideal getaway for couples and families who like to stay in one place and participate in a wide range of activities.

Shopping opportunities: Colorado abounds with world-class shopping opportunities to test the stamina of the most particular shopper. Colorado’s towns and cities boast pedestrian-friendly, picturesque shopping areas. From the best urban malls to factory outlet stores to quaint boutiques, Neiman Marcus to Native American trading posts, farmers markets to upscale galleries, antique shops to bookstores…you'll find an endless variety of shopping awaits in Colorado.ning: Whether it’s ethnic eateries, classic cuisine, or eclectic fusion you’re craving, Colorado has the restaurant to suit your taste. From fresh game like venison and buffalo to authentic Mexican food to gourmet fare prepared by world-renowned chefs -- Colorado offers it all.

History: Colorado is steeped in a rich history where the buffalo were plenty and Native Americans once flourished. The state’s history is evident in the mining towns where the adventurous flocked in hopes of staking their claim to gold; in the remains of the stone cities from the ancient Puebloan Indian culture preserved in the southwest corner of the state at Mesa Verde National Park (see our national parks section above) ; and in the fossilized remains of the long-gone dinosaurs. Visiting the historic places in Colorado is like traveling back in time. Colorado’s museums house memorabilia from the state’s past. The Western Museum of Mining and Industry (www.wmmi.org) in Colorado Springs gives visitors a chance to pan for gold and see an actual operation of multi-ton steam engines, drills, hoists, locomotives and other carefully restored mining machines. Throughout the winter, the Denver Art Museum (www.denverartmuseum.org) will showcase an impressive collection of 19th century Western-themed paintings.