re: Colorado Mountain Towns

Drive around to the Leadville side and climb Mt Massive or Mt Elbert, depending on your experience and ambition. They are the two highest peaks in CO. I'm 1 for 2 with Massive, failing the first time due to altitude headaches, but succeeding the second time by camping at tree line for a couple days before taking the summit. Most locals can do it in a single day hike. I even saw some insane super marathoners run up the damn thing, which was pretty humbling.