10 Ways To See The World Without Leaving Colorado

Stay local this summer and explore everything Colorado has to offer. Just make sure Conoco® is the one getting you there!

1. For starters, there's a castle that could blend in perfectly in Europe pretty much right in your backyard.

Peter Ciro Photography / CC BY-ND 2.0 / Via Flickr: petercirophotography

This magical establishment fit for any king was built by a single man named Jim Bishop. If you're visiting in the winter, look for smoking coming out of the "fire-breathing dragon" (aka a handmade chimney made of steel).

2. Turquoise Lake has you covered when it comes to A+ scuba conditions...

gregor_y / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Via Flickr: gregor_y

The lake can be found outside Leadville, and you can see up to 30 feet down its 100-foot depth. Maybe you'll even find some quartz!

3. ...and forget about surfing an unpredictable ocean. You'll soon be able to hang 10 on South Platte River!

Robert Fullerton / Getty Images / Via Thinkstock

You'll need a special board, but you should be catching man-made waves at South Platte River Run Project by July.

4. Want to take a step into the past? Explore the Manitou Cliff Dwellings!

Jenniferschwalm / CC BY-ND 2.0 / Via Flickr: jenniferschwalm

Created by the Anasazi, the cliff dwellings are between 800–1,000 years old. While you're checking out the structures, make sure to look for ancient pictographs.

5. You can easily have a little taste of Vietnam...

Tomasz Stasiuk / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Via Flickr: zstasiuk

The Vietnamese population is booming in Denver. Tons of restaurants and goodies can be found on Federal Boulevard between Alameda and Mississippi Avenue.

6. ...or get a glimpse of Tokyo.

quinn.anya / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Via Flickr: quinnanya

You can experience a real Japanese tea ceremony at the Denver Botanic Gardens, home to Shofu-En, the Garden of Wind and Pines. Want more? A Cherry Blossom Festival is also held every June in Sakura Square.

7. Hanging Lake is basically a lush paradise.

W.G. Dayton / CC BY-ND 2.0 / Via Flickr: wdayton

Sorry, you absolutely can't go in the water, but you can admire the falls from afar.

8. The Denver Art Museum offers TONS of multicultural exhibits.

danxoneil / CC BY 2.0 / Via Flickr: juggernautco

Portraits and jewelry from colonial Latin America are currently on display. A ticket to the museum is way cheaper than a flight to Colombia, after all!

9. You don't have to go all the way to France to see a beautiful cathedral...

Sharon Mollerus / CC BY 2.0 / Via Flickr: clairity

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver was inspired by French Gothic designs. Fun fact: Most of the marble inside the cathedral is from Marble, Colorado, and with 75 windows, there are more here than in any other church, of any faith in the U.S.

10. ...and finally, who needs the Swiss Alps when Crested Butte ("The Nordic Ski Capital of Colorado") exists?

TRAILSOURCE.COM / CC BY 2.0 / Via Flickr: trailsource

This tiny town offers beautiful skies and a long history of Nordic skiing and snowshoeing.

So where are you off to? Tell us about your adventure with the hashtag #ConocoConfessions #Contest and you could win free gas and other awesome prizes!