Relax in the "century-old state"

The name Colorado, in Spanish, means "color-red," possibly referring to the red sandstone formations in the region or the reddish-brown color of the Colorado River. This land became part of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and Mexico's cession in 1848. Many people flocked to the capital, Denver, during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859. Also, because the state joined the United States a century after its independence, it is also known as the "Centennial State."

Leaving Kansas on Highway 24, Colorado greeted me with a rather smooth, sudden slam on the brakes! The "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign was on the side of the road, but it was hidden behind an overpass, so at speeds up to 130 km/h, stopping instantly was no easy feat for me.

On the way back to Burlington for a rest, I truly enjoyed gazing at the endless green meadows with herds of cows grazing peacefully, and a few windmills gently blowing, dispelling the summer heat along the long road.

The feeling of enjoying a peaceful place, combined with the experience of driving for the first time through winding mountain passes and pine forests, made me feel both scared and... thrilled!

Take a 30-minute ride on a trolley along the South Platte River, and a glimpse into Denver's vibrant nightlife will unfold before your eyes as the driver narrates: "Along this route, you'll discover attractions such as the Denver Amusement Park, the Children's Museum, the Denver Broncos football stadium, the Downtown Aquarium, and the bridge with hundreds of swallows' nests..."

Confluence Park would also be an ideal place to relax on the grass, admire the cool river, and watch locals jogging along the walking paths or swimming... in the open air in the river.

Colorado State Capitol Building

A must-see destination on this road trip is the Colorado State Capitol building, constructed in the 1890s and opened in May 1894, located at 200 E. Colfax. It welcomes approximately 300,000 visitors annually.

Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, the building is a "replica" reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., with its white granite structure and distinctive gold dome at the top. The dome itself is covered with gold-plated copper sheets sourced from a Colorado mine – perhaps also to commemorate the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859.

The interior of the building is decorated with rare marble from quarries near Beulah. “Yule Marble,” from quarries near Marble, is also used throughout the building on the floors. This marble is formed from metamorphic limestone found in the Yule Creek valley in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado, about 4.5 km southeast of the town of Marble.

Many of the windows of the State Capitol are painted in a truly vibrant, multicolored style, depicting people and events related to Colorado's history. The third-floor domes are adorned with portraits of U.S. presidents and various other works of art.

Denver is also nicknamed "The One-Mile City" because it sits at exactly one mile above sea level. In 2003, a more precise measurement was taken using modern equipment to determine that the 13th step at the Capitol Building marks this one-mile elevation point.

During your tour, your guide will explain in detail about the Colorado state flag, designed by Andrew Carlisle Johnson. The blue stripes and the red "C" share the same blue and red colors found on the U.S. flag. The flag's colors symbolize Colorado's geographical features: yellow represents the state's abundant sunshine; white represents the snow-capped mountains; blue represents the clear sky; and red represents the state of the land. The flag also highlights the history of August 1st each year, designated as "Colorado Day" to commemorate the founding of the state. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of the state's circular seal, the state's mascot (the mountain ram), the columbine (the state flower), and the state's official anthem.

Explore the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

This 15,000-acre reserve is located northeast of Denver. It is home to over 330 species of wildlife, including bald eagles, hawks, rabbits, bison, black-footed ferrets, deer, wolves, and a large number of Prairie hounds, also known as prairie dogs or dog squirrels, which are burrowing herbivorous rodents native to the grasslands of North America. To protect the wildlife and habitat, visitors are only permitted to drive on designated roads.

I drove leisurely along the 11-mile-long, one-way road, occasionally stopping to pan my camera over the dense patches of grass teeming with prairie dogs—sometimes even more numerous than the grass itself. In the reeds, a family of ducks would appear, huddled together. Or on the other side, rabbits scurrying about, deer grazing, occasionally circling and chasing each other.

I waited until my eyes were red, almost at the end of the route, before the giant bison finally appeared, resting peacefully beneath the Rocky Mountains, exactly as I had been looking for. It took me about an hour to drive along this road, and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

The Rocky Mountains are also an ideal winter destination for ski enthusiasts. For locals, skiing has been a sport since the 1880s, but it became popular after World War II. With its high, snow-covered mountains, Colorado attracts winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world.

"The Beer Capital of the World"?

In each state I visit, I always enjoy trying the local beers. So, trying some Colorado beers and experiencing a "beer tour" was a given!

If you're a fan of beer, especially American beer, then the Coors Brewing Company will be an intoxicating treat when you visit Golden City. This is the world's largest brewery, capable of brewing up to 22 million barrels and packaging up to 16 million barrels per year, with over 100 teams producing countless world-famous beers.

The tour is free. Parking is free, shuttle service to the brewery is free, and even the aroma of yeast and beer tasting are free! What more could you ask for?

Attending the Budweiser Beer Festival in Ft Collins is another exciting experience. They offer a variety of experiences for "brewers," including factory history tours, a tour of the headquarters, interactive play areas, concerts, and BBQ meats marinated in the company's signature sauces. Beer isn't free, but who wouldn't open their wallets for such a fun and festive occasion!

In addition, Colorado boasts a "forest" of breweries, most of which are highly successful and produce a wide variety of delicious beers. Perhaps this is partly due to the pristine waters of the Rocky Mountains, as is often the case.

The name "Colorado" has several pronunciations in English. People born and raised in Colorado often pronounce it as "Co-ler-ra-do," while those in the eastern United States and eastern Canada often pronounce it as "Co-lor-ro-do." In the south, it's "Co-ler-ro-do," in the northern United States, it's "Ca-ler-ra-do," and on the West Coast, it's "Co-lor-ra-do." The pronunciation "Co-lor-ra-do" above is the Spanish pronunciation and is also a common pronunciation among Vietnamese Americans.

As for me, I took another sip of Budweiser beer and, slightly tipsy, kept praising the place: "Oh, Colorado - Ochen' khorosho" (which means very good in Russian)!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

+ Transportation:

- Always apply the principle of "Avoiding trucks is no disgrace," because the federal highway through Colorado has quite a lot of trucks.

- When planning a road trip, if you have to drive into the city center for sightseeing, you should add some extra time and be prepared for traffic jams.

- When wanting to take photos with the welcome signs at the "Colorado State Line Sign" on interstate highways, be mindful of your GPS and estimate your travel time, as these signs do not have specific addresses.

Note:

Each state in the United States has its own unique two-letter symbol for identification. Colorado's symbol is CO.

- There will be a lot of pollen along the roads in the spring, so you're more likely to get allergies if you're not used to it. You should bring allergy medication.

- The Colorado State Capitol building is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends and most national holidays.

- The tours last approximately one hour and include a free guide every hour from 10 am to 3 pm.

- Visitors should arrive at least 20 minutes before the tour to register, as there are usually many people registering to participate.

+ Cuisine:

- Vietnamese food: Pho Nastic restaurant - 229 E Colfax Road, right next to the Parliament building. When ordering, you should only order a small bowl, suitable for Vietnamese people.

- Korean food: DAE GEE KOREAN BBQ - 827 Colorado Blvd and 460 Broadway, Denver

- Delicious chocolate treat: Kilwins Chocolates & Ice Cream - Old Town Square in Fort Collins.

- The Columbine Steak House and Lounge restaurant and bar at 300 Federal Blvd in Denver serves delicious steaks at affordable prices.

+ Sightseeing:

- If you travel by train, you'll have the opportunity to experience looking out the window at the parallel Moffat Tunnel and Aqueduct, stretching 10 km with its highest point reaching 2816 m above sea level in northern Colorado. You can also admire the rugged Glenwood Canyon, approximately 20 km long, with sheer cliffs up to 400 m high reflecting onto the Colorado River, the heartland of the 80-million-year-old Rocky Mountains, which stretch 4,800 km from the far north of Canada to the southern United States.

- Register for a free brewery tour and beer tasting at Anheuser-Busch Brewery (2351 Busch Dr. – Fort Collins), MillerCoors (13th & Ford Streets – Golden), Wynkoop Brewing Co. (1634 18th Street – Denver)...

- The electric trolley operates from May 31st to September 3rd each year, with a trip every 30 minutes, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Ticket price: $5 USD per adult, $2 USD per child, free for children under 4 years old. Website: www.denvertrolley.com.

- The free MallRide runs along Route 16, with buses departing every 5 minutes. Visitors can explore the city center for shopping, dining, visiting the Parliament House, and many other attractions.

- Tiny Town (6249 South Turkey Creek Road, Morrison) will take visitors to a world of tiny people on a train that is just as tiny.

+ Accommodation:

- Hotels in the city center are all owned by large corporations, so the prices are quite expensive. Prices range from $152 to $402 per night.

- You can book small hotels, motels, or inns along the E Colfax highway in the Montclair, Aurora, and other areas, then drive into Denver for sightseeing. Prices range from $52 to $87 per night.

- Shared accommodation booking services through airbnb.com are also a good option for a road trip.

Vinh Phan