Start by contacting the Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202 (tel. 800/COLORADO; www.colorado.com), for a free copy of the official state vacation guide, which includes a state map and describes attractions, activities, and lodgings throughout Colorado. Another good source for Colorado information is the website of the Denver Post, the state's major daily newspaper, at www.denverpost.com.
The Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, 999 18th St., Suite 1240, Denver, CO 80202 (tel. 303/297-8335; www.coloradolodging.com), offers a free guide to lodging across the state. The nonprofit Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado, P.O. Box 38416, Colorado Springs, CO 80937 (tel. 800/265-7696; www.innsofcolorado.org), distributes a free directory describing about 100 B&Bs across the state, including a number of historic inns in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs.
Hostelling International-USA, 8401 Colesville Rd., Suite 600, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (tel. 301/495-1240; www.hiayh.org), has a computerized system for making reservations in hostels worldwide, and also has a print directory of U.S. hostels.
A free copy of Your Guide to Outdoor Adventure, which contains details on the state's 40 parks, is available from state park offices at 1313 Sherman St., Suite 618, Denver, CO 80203 (tel. 303/866-3437; www.parks.state.co.us). State park offices can also provide information on boating and snowmobiling.
Telephones -- The area codes for Denver and Boulder are 303 and 720. In Colorado Springs, it's 719. In Denver and Boulder, the full 10-digit phone number is required to make local calls, whereas the area code is not necessary in Colorado Springs. Most convenience stores and supermarkets carry calling cards for national and international calls. Pay phones still exist in the area, but their numbers have been on the decline in recent years. However, they are readily available in the downtowns of all three cities.
