Glenwood — hot springs and more

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — The Roaring Fork Valley is a diverse place. At one end lies Aspen — all glitz and glam. At the other end is Glenwood Springs – a steady-as-she-goes kind of place where locals and tourists blend together seamlessly.

Less glitz but equally glamorous, this old town was host to presidents and glitterati before Aspen created a name of its own. (The town's prestigious guest list included President Theodore Roosevelt, Baby Doe Tabor, President William Taft, the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, the Mayo Brothers, gangster Al Capone and Doc Holliday, whose gravesite in Linwood Cemetery remains a popular attraction today.)

But not all that makes Glenwood Springs so attractive is historical. Today, there’s plenty to keep you busy in this mountain town — after all, the local chamber of commerce's motto is “Relax. You've got options in Glenwood Springs.”

“On the one hand, we've got all the tourist town trimmings,” noted a chamber spokeswman. "And on the other hand, we've got the lure of a remote mountain town.”

A quick tour of Glenwood Springs and you have to agree. Take a soak in the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, spend a day at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, or pamper yourself at the Yampah Spa.

Dine at one of Glenwood’s myriad restaurants. Window-shop downtown, head to the Glenwood Springs Mall or, check out the new Glenwood Meadows, a shopping and dining experience on par with the big city!

For outdoor adventures, hit the slopes at Sunlight Mountain Resort for an unexpected mix of great cruisers and steep terrain, join in a cave tour at the Glenwood Caverns, or spend an afternoon on any of the snow-packed hikes or cross-country ski routes that surround the area.

Or, mix together a bit of present-day Glenwood Springs with the towns rich history by visiting the Frontier Historical Society or following “A Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Glenwood Springs.”

The choice is yours — because Glenwood does, indeed, offer options.

<b>At a Glance</b>
Elevation: 5,758 feet
Population: 8,500 year-round residents

Websites
City of Glenwood Springs: www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us
Chamber Resort Association: www.glenwoodsprings.net

Phone numbers
City of Glenwood Springs: 384-6400
Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association: 945.6589
Glenwood Springs Police Department: 911 for emergencies; or 384-6500 for non-emergencies

Transportation
RFTA provides bus transportation up and down the valley from Glenwood Springs. Once in Glenwood, the city’s free, local transit system — Ride Glenwood — is the call. It operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Visit www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/transpo/1A-1.htm for bus routes and schedules.