8 Prettiest Main Streetscapes In Colorado
Colorado is known for its jagged peaks, most of which peer over the rugged landscape with a timeless and kingly aura. Dotting this showy expanse is a cornucopia of small, charming towns with stunning backdrops, an Old West feel, and nice, colorful Main Streets. You can come to slide down world-famous ski trails. You can also come to explore these neat, tree-lined thoroughfares. From high-end galleries displaying local artwork to family-owned restaurants with side-street patios, you will find a stretch worthy of a canvas painting. Not sure where to start? Continue reading to discover 8 Colorado towns with beautiful main streetscapes.
Telluride
Set against a dramatic mountain backdrop, Telluride is a fairytale town tucked into a narrow box canyon and surrounded by steep forested peaks on three sides. The town boasts some of the most scenic alpine skiing in the United States, with terrains that attract skiers and snowboarders from around the world. Colorado Avenue, which serves as Telluride's main drag, is aesthetically speckled with original buildings from the late 1800s and an architectural landscape that provides a yummy feast for architecture tourists.
The iconic Ajax Peak towers above the eastern end of town, while high-end art galleries and fine dining restaurants offer a wide variety of unforgettable treats. MiXX Projects, for example, arguably has the best selection of jewelry and art in town, while The Butcher & The Baker offers delicious sandwiches and a variety of fresh, farm-to-table options. Between the Covers Bookstore and Bruno Cafe, unique for being part bookstore, part coffee shop, is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy a great book with a delicious cup of coffee. Check if there's a show at the Sheridan Opera House, a quaint live-music venue with plenty of memorabilia on the walls.
Ouray
Ouray is a tiny town in Southwestern Colorado that lies in a heart-gripping mountain bowl at an elevation of about 7,792 feet. It is accessed by the U.S. Highway 550, part of the scenic Million Dollar Highway, which is reputed to be among the most beautiful drives in the United States. To have an idea of what Ouray looks like, the fact that it has been nicknamed “the Switzerland of America” says it all. Ouray’s Main Street, which runs through the town’s historic district, brims with Victorian-era buildings now housing local shops and restaurants. Cassidy’s Café & Antiques, a cozy little place right on the main drag, offers an unforgettable dining experience in a warm, inviting atmosphere. From here, cross the street to Ago Gallery & San Juan Pottery, which keeps wonderful pottery, bronze sculpture, and beautiful paintings and photography from Western Slope artists. Ouray Alchemist Museum & Penthouse, a full-blown alchemy museum, is the best place to dive into the fascinating history of alchemy and pharmaceuticals.
Silverton
Silverton is an interesting time capsule with a palpable Wild West feel. Narrow streets, simple storefronts, and a compact downtown make it easy to imagine life during the silver boom, a prosperous economic era that lives on in the town's name. Furthermore, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad still pulls into town daily, steam billowing as it has for over a century, delivering visitors much the same way supplies and miners once arrived. Silverton’s main street is Greene Street, a memorable stretch with many elegant buildings, most of which were built between 1882 and 1910.
Notable ones include the 144-year-old Grand Imperial Hotel, whose ornate gingerbread makes it one of Silverton's flagship buildings. Ye Old Livery, today selling art, gifts, and apparel, was once a working livery run by the Silverton Transfer Company. It has been part of the streetscape for nearly 130 years. Along the stretch is Quiet Bear Art, which shows customers how to make little blacksmith projects. It is a cool place to drop by, especially if tagging your little angels along. Start your day at the Coffee Bear, which features rooftop seating and awesome views.
Durango
Perched at more than 6,500 feet in the lush Animas River Valley, Durango is a storybook spot with college-town energy, art, and more award-winning, high-quality restaurants per capita than San Francisco. The Strater Hotel, built in the 1880s, is the most dominant structure on Main Street. This giant red brick building, which accentuates the southwestern retreat’s rich past, is one of the West's iconic hotels. It boasts the largest collection of American Victorian walnut antiques, most of which adorn the hotel and guest rooms. Other highlights include numerous shops, restaurants, brewpubs, and attractions for all ages.
The 636 Main Ave, which is just across the street, is a dark-wood bistro with diverse Asian-inspired dishes. Duck inside Earthen Vessel Gallery, a lovely spot with beautiful pottery, jewelry, and other locally made goods, not to mention the friendly and highly knowledgeable staff. There's the D&SNG Museum, which is packed with railroad artifacts, a nice-sized model railroad diorama, and a number of real-life rail cars and engines.
Canon City
Often touted as Colorado’s longest continuous Main Street, Cañon City’s downtown stretches for several walkable blocks and forms the heart of the Cañon City Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district is distinguished by its dense collection of late-19th- and early-20th-century commercial buildings, showcasing architectural styles from the turn of the century that reflect the city’s heyday in railroads, mining, and agriculture. Fremont Center For the Arts, is a fun art center housed in a historical post office building. The centre offers great classes for adults and youth.
Other notable places include The Artists' Gallery, which features gorgeous paintings capturing the beauty of the surrounding mountains and the Arkansas River. From beautiful pottery and wood sculptures to fiber craft and photography, this adorable space packs a punch. On a different note, Cheryl's Book Nook is a book lover's dream, although the organization is a little awkward, which means you have to give yourself time to scour the phenomenal stacks of books.
Crested Butte
A pedestrian-friendly town with historical buildings and fabulous mountain views, Crested Butte is known for terrific ski slopes in the winter, colorful wildflowers in the summer, Victorian storefronts, and one of Colorado's largest National Historic Districts. Crested Butte’s main street, named Elk Avenue, runs through the town’s National Historic District and is notable for its preservation of brightly colored Victorian-style storefronts.
Some big names on Elk Avenue include the Crested Butte Museum, a wonderful place with a plethora of historical items from the mining days through to the early ski and mountain bike days, and Paragon Gallery, which displays photography, pottery, paintings, jewelry, and stained glass. In terms of food, several options abound, including The Hideout, a small, unassuming spot just off Main Street with indoor and outdoor seating. For a nice break from the hassle and bustle, work your way to Totem Pole Park, a peaceful spot to rest and people-watch.
Breckenridge
Affectionately known as 'Breck' to locals, this Colorado jewel serves up big-mountain views, an endearing small-town charm, ski-to-town trails, and an atmosphere fine-tuned for both adventure and relaxation. Main Street runs directly through the center of town and features candy-colored Victorian architecture mixed with contemporary amenities. Think of more than 200 shops and restaurants, meaning you can drink and be merry after a day on the mountain. Start at the Breckenridge Welcome Center, which offers digestible information about the town and the attractions to hit. It doubles up as an informative museum with open-air observation decks and plenty of vignettes to read.
A few steps ahead is Clint's Bakery & Coffee House, a casual option for bagels and other breakfast staples. The interior is cozy, warm, and quite inviting. For a slightly different experience, Mountain Time Escape Rooms - The Adventure House offers a variety of fun and challenging escape rooms with well-designed puzzles and engaging storylines. History nerds will get a blast at Breckenridge History: Edwin Carter Museum, which tells entertaining stories of old Colorado. Bonus point if you like taxidermy.
Leadville
At more than 10,000 feet above sea level, Leadville has the distinction of being North America’s highest incorporated city. Its downtown, stretched along eight blocks of Harrison Avenue, retains an air of Wild West grandeur and carries echoes of a bygone era. Butch Cassidy, a notorious American outlaw and the leader of a gang of train and bank robbers in the Old West, is known to have strolled Leadville’s main drag, a beautiful stretch that runs between neat rows of brick Victorian buildings framed by prominent views of the state’s two tallest peaks: Mt Elbert and Mt Massive.
The Historic Delaware Hotel is a fantastic place to set base, although according to certain accounts, some shadowy guests from Leadville’s bygone days are yet to check out. Across the street is Alpine Gift Shoppe, which keeps a good selection of Leadville gifts. Turn back the wheels of time at The Leadville Heritage Museum, a neat space with a series of dioramas that tell the history of Leadville, then pass by Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin, which depicts Leadville as a booming 19th-century silver mining town.
So, when it comes to beauty, Colorado clearly goes overboard. And it is not just about its craggy, ice-capped mountaintops or peaceful alpine lakes. The many charming towns that stud the state have some of the prettiest Main Streets you will ever set your eyes on. As you come to explore thigh-busting trails and soak up jaw-dropping views, spare some time to amble through some of these vibrant corridors.
