12 Places To Visit That You Never Knew Existed In Colorado

DENVER, June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- There are a number of lesser-known and unusual places that provide a different path for adventure and exploration in Colorado. Uncover Colorado's truly unique places to visit. For more, visit www.colorado.com/articles/99-gorgeous-places-colorado-part-3-hidden-gems.

1. Bent's Old Fort/Santa Fe Trail. Bent's Old Fort in southeast Colorado was an 1833 fort built for the trade of buffalo robes.
   
2. The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. Set in the Rocky Mountain Foothills of Boulder, The Dushanbe Teahouse was made by hand in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and gifted to Boulder, its sister city.
   
3. Camp Amache. Also known as the Granada Relocation Center, Camp Amache forcibly imprisoned over 7,000 Japanese from 1942 through 1945 as a World War II internment camp.
   
4. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Set in central Colorado, the Florissant Fossil Beds are one of the most diverse fossil deposits in the world.
   
5. The Grand Mesa. The largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa covers hundreds of square miles near Grand Junction and stands more than 10,000 feet above sea level.
   
6. Kit Carson County Carousel. One of the fewer than 150 wooden carousels still in existence, the Kit Carson Carousel is on the county fairgrounds in Burlington.
   
7. Missile Site Park. Weld County is home to Missile Site Park where visitors can get a glimpse into the Cold War Era's national defense.
   
8. National Earthquake Information Center. The National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) in Golden has the mission of quickly reporting the location and size of earthquakes occurring anywhere in the world.
   
9. Picketwire Canyon. Situated near La Junta in southeastern Colorado, Picketwire Canyon is home to the longest set of dinosaur tracks discovered to date.
   
10. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The highest train in the U.S., The Pikes Peak Cog Railway takes passengers 14,115 feet above sea level to the summit of Pikes Peak.
    
11. The Real South Park. Bearing little resemblance to the TV show, South Park is home to the towns of Fairplay and Alma along with a variety of heritage areas and scenic sights.
    
12. UFO Watchtower. Take the Cosmic Highway just outside Alamosa to the UFO Watchtower. The attraction provides 360-degree views of the San Luis Valley with no light pollution.

Contacts: Carly Holbrook / 720-289-9366, [email protected]

SOURCE Colorado Tourism Office