austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Denver

Halloween is nearly here, and we want to set the mood. We asked friend of the show and local contemporary art curator Thad Mighell — the biggest paranormal stan we know — to set our spines tingling with tales about the spookiest spots in Colorado (that 

This ghost town in Chaffee County is the eerie remnants of a mining boom community. Virtually destroyed by a fire in the late 1800s, St. Elmo was almost totally abandoned by the living by the 1960s — but many believe it remains today as the stomping ground for some eccentric lost souls who can’t seem to leave their hometown.

This fully functioning hotel in Aspen is purportedly haunted by the ghost of a little boy who drowned on the grounds in the 1930s. Guests report seeing apparitions of a dripping wet child who leaves puddles for footprints.

This Gilded Age hotel in Glenwood Springs is supposedly built on a cursed site. Allegedly, the hotel is haunted by decades of ghostly guests trapped on the hallowed grounds.

Out in the middle of nowhere over Kiowa Creek, this desolate road-crossing’s alleged connections to the underworld have attracted cars full of teenagers for decades — some of whom never seem to make it back home.

Situated in the San Luis Valley, this UFO — or UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena) as they are now known — viewing location is reportedly the best place in the world to have an extraterrestrial experience.

This fully operational city in Teller County is a former mining camp where long-dead spirits allegedly abound — like the father and daughter duo who are rumored to haunt the Imperial Hotel and a childlike ghost who draws on the walls of Buffalo Billy’s Casino.

 for each of these ghostly stories on the City Cast Denver podcast.

Then, get more spooky season recommendations from Thad in our 2024 

Halloween is nearly here, and we want to set the mood.

The Most Haunted Places in Colorado

Find the best of everything that Denver has to offer.

Denver’s Best

Denver's Best

Less than two hours from central Denver, this quaint little high country village sits next to Dillon Reservoir and is just a hop, skip, and a quick drive to surrounding vacation spots like A-Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Keystone. While winter here is magical, this place is equally beautiful and packed with fun things to do in the warmer months, too. In this week’s 

If a vintage themed bed-and-breakfast is more your style, Main Street offers options like the simple and relatively affordable

. Want that mountain getaway vibe? Try the 

 spa and hotel. (Plus, with lots of vacation homes in the area, 

For an authentic beer hall experience, grab a brew and a sausage at 

 and soak up the sun in their beer garden (then walk over to the 

 for a whiskey tasting inside an antique train car!) Want a casual sit-down dinner? 

 offers delish Italian dishes and a vast wine selection. 

 serves burgers, pizzas, and great veggie options. 

 mountain town kitsch is a vibe for brunch, or keep it simple with coffee and a muffin at

: Bagalis has the same killer brunch menu as its uber-popular sister,

— an easy 1.5-mile, dog- and family-friendly trek that can be done in less than an hour. Advanced hikers can take the moderately difficult

 all the way to Breckenridge. Prefer sturdier ground? Check out Frisco’s 

 that meander around the whole town, great for biking or walking. 

 has kayaks, pontoons, stand-up paddle boards, and even fishing poles for rent. 

Unlike some of its surrounding ski resort-centered counterparts, Frisco has managed to maintain its small town charm, and Main Street is where it’s at. Start at the 

, which includes a town museum housed in the original schoolhouse. Then check out 

 operating out of an 1870s structure from Frisco’s mining days, indie book retailer 

 for tons of Colorado-centric merchandise. Vintage lovers will dig the 

, a mini-mall of gorgeous mountain consignment shops. Crate diggers and audiophiles will be pleasantly surprised to find that Frisco is home to two vinyl record stores, too — 

Free Concert in the Park: Roundhouse Assembly

Check out our other Summer Mountain Getaway Guides:

Where to stay, shop, and dine in Frisco, Colorado.

A Guide to Frisco, Colorado

Summer Mountain Getaway Guide: Frisco

Everything to know about Denver neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Denver Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

We’re wrapping up our week of fall getaway recommendations with a list for all you foodies. From Fort Collins to Alamosa, these dining destinations offer incredible ambiance, fascinating backstories, and of course, a dining experience worth driving for. Here are 

This classic Italian spot in Trinidad serves up penne smothered in spicy marinara, linguine with clams, and classic menu staples like steak and lobster. But the true star of this 

 housed in an 1880s church? Musician, crooner, and owner Frank Cordova and his band of singing waiters.

According to local lore, a gambling man named Fargo wandered Colorado’s mountain towns looking for a wife and a good time. When he met the love of his life, Sophia, he settled down and started Fargo’s Pizza in Colorado Springs. The result is an 

Old West-meets-Guilded-Age themed, two-story parlor

 that offers piping hot pizza, massive house-made carrot cakes, and a generous salad bar. Dine amongst chandeliers, taxidermied animals, and a balcony table featuring Fargo and Sofia immortalized in wax!

Located just an hour’s drive from Denver, this 

 is the ultimate reason to plan a day trip to Fort Collins. The menu rotates regularly to spotlight local ingredients in season, but menu standbys you can’t miss include the Bacon Wrapped Dates sprinkled with bleu cheese crumbles and a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a 

 — a 6,000-square-foot hidden gem located about a mile and a half from the main strip — has the locals’ stamp of approval. The Long Island-born team at Antonio’s specializes in thick-crust, crispy, cheesy Sicilian-style ‘za that is well worth the drive from the city. But if you’re looking to really test your pizza grit, consider ordering the 26-inch Mega Don or the 12-pound Hell’s Kitchen.

When husband and wife Nealson Vialpando and Denise Vigil decided to revive the crumbling, decommissioned, 1926 adobe church at the heart of sleepy Alamosa, a Colorado culinary masterpiece was born. Don’t believe us? This 

whimsical restaurant offering simple and cozy Italian eats

 was even named as a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant 2023.

Way out in the teeny tiny town of Boulder, Utah, the dusty red desert is hiding a diamond in the rough. Dishing up steaming plates of Colorado bison tenderloin and buttery lemony steelhead trout, each dish stars locally sourced and environmentally responsible ingredients from its own 6-acre farm. But this 

 menu is one reason to love this restaurant — the 

 of the owners’ activism to protect the natural lands around them is equally enthralling.

You can get the full deets on each of these picks in 

From Fort Collins to Alamosa, these dining destinations offer incredible ambiance, fascinating backstories, and of course, a dining experience worth driving for. Here are our tasty, travel-worthy recs: 

travel

The Most Haunted Places in Colorado

Summer Mountain Getaway Guide: Frisco

Restaurants Worth a Road Trip in Colorado (and Beyond!)

Latest articles

The Most Haunted Places in Colorado

Summer Mountain Getaway Guide: Frisco

Restaurants Worth a Road Trip in Colorado (and Beyond!)