COLORADO
The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) today introduced a new initiative that will officially go live on Monday aimed at inspiring travelers to explore the state’s hidden gems and carry their dollars to less-visited destinations in the state.

The new Colorado Field Guide will launch on Monday with an online collection of three- to seven-day itineraries along with tips on ways travelers can protect the state’s natural resources, whether by traveling like a local or taking part in “voluntourism.”

“While the Colorado Field Guide is available to any of the millions who visit Colorado.com each year, our research has been telling us that the people most likely to take a trip to the less-traveled parts of Colorado are Coloradans themselves,” said CTO Director Cathy Ritter. “Given the huge population growth our state has experienced in recent years, we believe there’s a big opportunity to drive rural economic development by inspiring Coloradans to explore their own backyard.”

The itineraries, which include specific recommendations for things to do and places to eat and stay, are housed on Colorado.com in a brand-new trip planner built from the ground up for Colorado by Utrip, an artificial-intelligence-based destination discovery and planning platform. Travelers can use an itinerary as is or swap out items to create a customized trip plan. They can even share their itineraries or invite friends to help them plan their trip through email or social outlets built into the Field Guide.

The thinking behind the Field Guide grew out of research developed for the new Colorado Tourism Roadmap, a strategic plan aimed at building the Colorado tourism industry’s competitive advantage. In keeping with a new focus on promotion of sustainable tourism, the Field Guide is designed to relieve pressure on the state’s most popular sites by guiding travelers to lesser-known spots. The itineraries provide tips on best times to visit and inspire visitors to support the state’s natural beauty, whether through volunteering, donations or embracing behaviors that limit their impact on the state’s resources.

To create these “voluntourism” opportunities, the CTO is partnering with other organizations, including Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, whose #YourCO app is featured on the Field Guide microsite. By downloading the app, travelers and locals alike can complete more than 50 do-it-yourself stewardship tasks and earn digital badges qualifying them for discounts at REI.

The Colorado Field Guide introduces 12 itineraries today, with more than 20 coming online for the official launch on Monday and many more to be added over the next year. Available itineraries include:

“Silver Thread Byway”: Five days in South Fork, Creede & Lake City: Opportunities to survey untamed wilderness, uncover mining history and pursue some of the state’s most iconic outdoor activities including hiking, rafting and fly-fishing. 

“Spirit of the Southwest”: Five days in Durango, Silverton, & Pagosa Springs: In southwest Colorado, everything seems a little heightened: higher mountains, bluer skies and so many activities you’ll have a hard time choosing. Spending just a few days here will give you a taste of the glories of true Southwest living. 

“Gold Rush Getaways”: Three days in Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Central City & Black Hawk: Find Gold Rush lore, modern-day prospectors, railroad adventure and cooler temps just 40 minutes west of Denver.

To view the Colorado Field Guide, visit www.colorado.com/fieldguide