Nature is full of beauty and splendor if you only know where to look for it. One of the most popular tourist attractions in the American West is Colorado’s Buena Vista. Buena Vista is a small town with big sites founded in 1879; the name Buena Vista means “beautiful view” in Spanish. Buena Vista attractions include a number of natural and historical sites to be enjoyed by tourists of all ages. With an elevation of 7,954 feet and a small population of just under 5,000 people, Buena Vista is one of the most beautiful and secluded locations to take a relaxing and eventful vacation. Here are five of the most popular kinds of Buena Vista attractions for tourists to enjoy.
Slopes
Colorado is known for its beautiful ski slopes and resorts, Buena Vista is no exception. The small town has a number of peaks that are ideal for sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and just about any other winter sport imaginable. Some of the most ideal winter Buena Vista attractions include Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, Mount Harvard, Mount Columbia, among other peaks that exceed an elevation of 14,000 feet. For those looking for a winter paradise, Buena Vista may offer your some of the most gorgeous mountain views in the country.
Ghosts
You don’t need a license to go ghost hunting. Visiting such foreboding places will do one of two things for someone: for the faint of heart it will make their blood run cold; for the adventuring spirit it can get the adrenaline going. One of Colorado’s best preserved ghost towns, St. Elmo, is located just 20 miles to the southwest of Buena Vista. Many individuals have been said to have personal experiences of the otherworldly in this abandoned town; St. Elmo has a reputation for turning skeptics into believers.
Adventure
Thrill seekers will find no shortage of adventure in Buena Vista. Directly west of Buena Vista is Cottonwood Pass, an area offering around 100 miles of perfectly groomed snowmobile trails for hours of recreational snowmobiling fun. For those looking for a less weather-contingent source of recreation, look no further than the over 100 miles of whitewater rafting potential courtesy of the Arkansas River that runs just along the eastern edge of Buena Vista.
Trails
Nature enthusiasts will be the ones that get the most out of Buena Vista attractions. San Isabel National Forest is one of the main recreational hubs in the Buena Vista area, covering a 1,109,782 acre expanse. The national forest is filled with over 700 miles of trails, so be sure to bring comfortable hiking shoes!
History
In its relatively short 120 year history, Buena Vista has made somewhat of a name for itself. The charming small town atmosphere is accented by the numerous historic buildings that date back to the 1880s and 1890s. Visitors will find a unique blend of historic and modern buildings, as the small town continues to grow its commercial district to offer visitors a plethora of unique shopping opportunities.