This town, at the bottom of winding Bear Creek Canyon, is perhaps most famous for the nearby natural outdoor concert venue, Red Rocks Amphitheatre. If you've already planned to see a show — and even if you haven't — stop in picturesque Morrison. Its tiny main street strip is filled with restaurants, quaint shops and antique haunts.

Just outside Morrison rests the high-end, critic-approved, wild-game establishment known as The Fort. A replica of Bent's Old Fort, the adobe is a celebration of the West; decor and Southwestern foods are the standard, as are quality wines and decadent desserts.

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Near town, a bike path skirts Bear Creek and leads to Bear Creek Lake Park, where you'll find an extensive trail system, reservoir and lakes for kayaking and SUPing. Dinosaur Ridge is a must-see for geology or archaeology buffs; exposed dinosaur prints are perfectly entombed in sandstone all over this self-guided tour. The visitor center in Morrison may help you start the journey, and more bones are on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum.