by Sue Miner

Created on: July 04, 2007

Myself, I prefer the mountains over the beach for a summer vacation. I've only had one beach vacation in my life, to Mazatlan, Mexico. Although we enjoyed ourselves and the beauty the ocean and sunsets on the beach have to offer, I thought the setting was too commercialized.
I vacation in the mountains everyday, this is where we have chosen to make our home, at 8,500 ft in the Central Mountains of Colorado. The mountains have so much of Mother Nature's beauty to offer in one place. There is the fresh air and mountain lakes so crystal clear that you can't tell which is the sky and which is the lake. Freshwater fishing in the many lakes and rivers throughout the mountains. There is the wildlife, in abundance if you just slow down long enough to spot it when it's right in front of you. You can watch the Eagles and Hawks soar above in the blue sky searching for a tasty morsel and at the same time, the chipmunks and squirrels scurry about at your very feet, looking for the days meal. Bird lovers can enjoy a variety of songbirds, woodpeckers, finches, sparrows flitting about from branch to branch and tree to tree in the forest, as well as many species of water fowl living on the high mountain lakes. Sightings of deer, elk, antelope, and Big Horn Sheep are common in the high country. If your lucky you might even spot a moose family standing just off of a mountain road. Really you don't have to be all that high, at 8,500 ft we see deer and elk practically everyday, many days right in our front yard. Yet, I would still prefer to take off for a days drive or camping trip in the many other mountain areas for a vacation.

The Mountains are wonderful for one on one time with the family. No commercialized interruptions(i.e. television, telephones, video games, music, etc.) The chance to explore and learn about nature together is a wonderful experience. You can find a secluded place to get away from it all and everyone or you can join many others and enjoy yourself at the many Music Festivals, Car and Motorcycle Rallies and Arts and Crafts Fairs held in the small Mountain Communities of Colorado.
There are many historical sites located in the mountains, mines, abandoned "ghost" towns, and many of the small communities are rich in local folklore and history and offer museums with artifacts from the area. You can also find mountainside instead of beach front casinos, a variety of restaurants, from elegant fine dining to enjoying a hot dog from the nationally famous Coney Island. There are many Hot Springs Resorts to choose from and many of the ski areas offer summertime activities as well, such as bike riding, river rafting, horseback riding, hiking, four wheel drive and ATV trails, quaint specialty shops and mom and pop stores. You'll find Dude Guest Ranches that offer relaxation and pampering as well as real working ranches that give you a taste of what it's like to be a real cowboy.
Let's see you find all of these things and more in a beach vacation. So pack your bags and head for the mountains for your next vacation, whether it be the Rocky Mountains, Appalachians or some other mountain range in the country, your sure to find a variety of activities to enjoy.

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