One Week Adventure

A Beer-Lover's Trip to Colorado's Front Range

Some have dubbed Denver "the Napa Valley of beer" for its preponderance of microbreweries, not to mention brewer-turned-mayor John Hickenlooper. Extend the quest for suds in all directions and you'll find enough beer-related destinations to build a weeklong vacation.

Day 1: Arrive in Denver -- Stay downtown for easy access to the Wynkoop Brewing Company, the mayor's flagship joint in LoDo, not to mention several other brewpubs. Rock Bottom, Flying Dog, and Breckenridge should be high on the list.

Day 2: Denver -- On your second day, try to time your trip for a baseball game, day or night, at Coors Field, and a visit to the resident microbrewery, the Sandlot, before heading out for nightcaps at Falling Rock Tap House, one of the greatest beer joints on the planet, with 69 beers on tap.

Day 3: Golden -- Home to the world's largest single-site brewery -- Coors Brewery -- Golden is the natural next stop. There is plenty to do here besides the brewery tour -- hiking, rafting, and riverboarding being our personal recommendation.

Day 4: Colorado Springs -- Colorado Springs has its fair share of microbreweries, so pop downtown for a visit to Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. and Palmer Lake Brewing Co. at The Warehouse. While in the area, take in the Garden of the Gods by day, or hit the links for a round of golf.

Day 5: Boulder -- Venture north again on Day 5 for a visit to Boulder and its numerous brewpubs -- Walnut Brewery and Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery come to mind. Hit the tour at the Rockies Brewing Company, and, for a change of pace, visit the Redstone Meadery to see what a micromeadery is all about.

Days 6 & 7: Lyons and Rocky Mountain National Park -- Stay in Boulder again on your sixth night if you'd like, but try to time your trip so you can take the free shuttle up to Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, the state's largest brewpub, in Lyons. Cap your trip by working off a bit of that beer on the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park on the final day of your trip.