Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak.    If there’s one thing I truly love about Colorado, it’s…everything! Including all the fun things you can do year-round. One of my favorite things to do is go on train rides. Especially, the ones that take you through loops and switchbacks around the majesty of our Rocky Mountains.

Our first departure is 45 miles from the city of Denver, in the rustic town of Georgetown, Colorado. The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs all year and is a great way to enjoy the beauty of Colorado during all four seasons. Don’t worry. They switch over to their heated cars for the Fall and Winter. The steam train takes you on a 75-minute ride from Georgetown to Silver Plume and back again. They also offer an option for mine tours. However, keep in mind, that the mine tours are seasonal and are currently closed until the end of April 2019. After your train ride, you can make your way downtown and enjoy the local shops, restaurants and museums.

Our next departure is from Cañon City, a little over two hours South of Georgetown. We will be boarding the Royal Gorge Route Railroad (RGRR). It is said, that when our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, rode the RGRR, he was quoted describing the rail ride as: “The trip that bankrupts the English language!” Now, if that doesn’t tell you how much fun it is or how spectacular the views are, well, you’re just going to have to go experience it for yourself! The train has been running since 1999 and they offer first-class dining for lunch and dinner. Yes, they even offer adult beverages. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad also offers events such as Murder Mysteries. Now that is incentive enough!

South West of Cañon City is the town of Durango. Here, you can climb aboard the Narrow Gauge Railroad all the way to Silverton, Colorado. It has been hauling passengers and freight since July of 1882. Throughout the years, the railroad has been faced with many challenges. Including slides, floods, snow, war, financial instability, loss of control and a 20-year temporary closure. Thanks to individual promotions and support, the railroad was kept alive. Even Hollywood stepped in and filmed several movies, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, around the Narrow Gauge Railroad. By the late 1960s the Durango-Silverton railroad was registered as a National Historic Landmark and then became a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Man! You’ve got to love Colorado! So many things to do that are filled with so much rich history, adventure and awe-inspiring views! Let’s take a moment to acknowledge our honorable mentions: Tiny Town Railroad in Morrison, Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad Co. in Leadville, Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in Alamosa, Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad in Cripple Creek and so many more. The list, loops and switchbacks seem almost endless – and so do the adventures.

(Originally published in the November 15, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)