Estes Park is located 7,522 feet above sea level, nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Shops, galleries and boutiques line the main street, which has a quaint, small-town ambiance. Exceptional outdoor adventures await both families and enthusiasts. Wildlife sightings, including elk and big horn sheep, are prevalent. Estes Park is the basecamp for adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park, where world-class hiking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing and scenic drives abound.

Fondly described as “the city nestled between the mountains and reality,” Boulder delivers an urban twist on the outdoor fun you’d expect from a town surrounded by wilderness. In a single day, you can hike miles and miles of trails or bike alongside Boulder Creek – then head back into town for some well-deserved shopping on Pearl Street. And with many of Colorado’s top restaurants right within reach, be sure to treat yourself to at least one great meal.

Despite its name, Winter Park is really a destination for all seasons. The Winter Park resort draws skiers and snowboarders in the winter and mountain bikers in the summer. Trailblazers may take to the woods on snowmobiles or cross-country skis in the snowy months, but when the sun comes out those same trails are perfect for hiking and the water is high for rafting. Spring wildflowers, summer wildlife, fall colors and crystalline winters make Winter Park a true natural wonder all year long.

Big Sky is an outdoors person's dream, nestled high in the Gallatin National Forest, presided over by Lone Mountain and just a few miles from Yellowstone Park. The Big Sky Ski Resort offers ample activities for all seasons, with exhilarating skiing and snowboarding in the winter and scenic lift rides during the summer. The surrounding terrain and trails make excellent biking, snowshoeing, horseback riding or snowmobiling escapes, while the Gallatin River offers thrills for the intrepid rafter.

Hood River beckons travelers with the scent of orchard blooms and the promise of adventure on the rushing waters of the Columbia River. The winds through the Columbia River Gorge provide the perfect conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing, making the city a hotspot for those sports in recent years. The surrounding area is ripe with orchards growing cherries, apples, peaches and other sweets. Take the Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad through the orchard route and take in the views of Mt. Hood.

A visit to Lewis and Harris is like stepping into the pages of a Scottish fairy tale. In Lewis, the northern part of the island, the legendary Callanish Standing Stones poke up from the ground like a strange and massive rock city. The Blackhouse, the Shawbost Norse Mill and Kiln, and the Carloway Broch all offer a peek at what island life used to look like. In southern Harris, the east side beaches boast some of the oldest known rocks in the world, dating back millions of years. Cruise over to the volcanic islands of St. Kilda to explore the ruins of a medieval village.

With world-class trails, bouldering in the park and more, Sheffield is known as The Outdoor City — but the adventure doesn’t end when you’ve finished exploring its climbs and rides. With brilliant street food markets, independent microbreweries, a vibrant arts and events scene, and plenty of live music, it has everything travellers need to turn an exhilarating day in the sun into a legendary night out.