Colorado Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series) [Paperback]

Alli Rainey (Author), Curtis Casewit (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005 | Series: Off the Beaten Path Series (Book 8)

Travel off the beaten path in Colorado--see dinosaur footprints near Purgatory River, go dogsledding in Aspen, and experience the nearly tropical Rifle Falls State Park.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Tired of the same old tourist traps? Take the road less traveled and discover the hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales other guidebooks just don't offer. Off the Beaten Path® features the things you'd want to see - if only you knew about them! From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits, you'll say over and over again: "I didn't know that!"
Whether you're a visitor or a local looking for something different, let Colorado Off the Beaten Path show you the Rocky Mountain State you never knew existed. Learn how to snowshoe in the backcountry of Ashcroft; discover ancient dinosaur tracks while hiking in Picket Wire Canyonlands; or marvel at the triple waterfall at Rifle Falls State Park. So if you've "been there, done that" one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

About the Author

Alli Rainey lived in Boulder, Colorado until she became a permanent traveler in September 2001. An avid rock climber, she now travels around the country visiting climbing areas and other offbeat destinations while continuing to pursue her freelance writing career.

A Denver resident, Curtis Casewit has written more than 40 books, eight of them travel guides.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 8th edition (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076273518X
• ISBN-13: 978-0762735181
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,359,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Guide to roads traveled fairly often, April 23, 2006

By 

Patricia Tryon (Longmont, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Colorado Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series) (Paperback)

Five years ago we came to Colorado agog at exotic scenery in the mountains, on the plains, and along the Front Range. The more we know Colorado, the more we want to know, so I am always on the lookout for books to give us interesting information and suggestions. I wish this had been such a book. Instead, this guide directs readers to some of the roads most most heavily trafficked: to Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, to Mesa Verde in the southwest corner of the state, to Garden of the Gods, and to almost anywhere you already know about in Colorado.

The book takes an unconventional (okay, I'll say it: weird) approach to dividing the state into regions. For example, city smack in the middle of the state ends is grouped with a town at the southwest corner. I am struggling to explain what simply does not make sense about how this book constructs its regions for travel without raining down a barrage of geographic detail you neither want nor need. In the end, I can tell both as a visitor to the state and, now, as a resident, the organization of regions will only obfuscate any rational approach to creating an itinerary.

Relatively few recommendations of restaurants and lodging appear. This matters because so much of the book's territory is the road more traveled. Get a guide that provides lots of ideas. Because you are not deviating much (if at all) from the beaten path, you'll want a lot of information and options.

A number of the nooks and crannies I hold sacred around the state blessedly do not appear in this book. Yet they are covered in glorious detail on the Web. Some pointers can be found in various official sites: state tourism, city and county governments, the National Park Service. Colorado is a great place to visit and, honestly, a wonderful place to live. Some of the best places truly are on roads less traveled. If that is your interest, this is not your book.