Go Big in Dude Ranch Country

If paradise is proximity to hip urban culture and the great wild yonder, Grand County is paradise, indeed. The self-proclaimed Dude Ranch Capital of the United States has six ranches offering authentic old-west experiences, not least of which is the family-friendly Aspen Canyon Ranch near Parshall. If you prefer golf carts to horses, play four world-class golf courses. Did we mention mountains? Winter Park and Sol Vista are two superb downhill ski areas (both family-friendly), while the Y's Snow Mountain Ranch (with a year-round roster of family programs) and Devil's Thumb Ranch (with a new spa) offer miles of groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails. Guests at Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa soak in 20 mineral pools—the perfect way to unwind after driving Rocky Mountain National Park's 48-mile Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuously paved road in the nation. All of the ski areas have lodging, from camping at the Y to state-of-the-art cabins with heated floors at Devil's Thumb Ranch.