Summit County and the Vail Valley are great destinations in winter and summer. In the summertime there are many different activities to enjoy. For the adventurous type, hiking and mountain bike trails are all around, and many of them travel right into the mountain summits. Several trails approach 14,000 feet in elevation. If you can't handle such challenging activity, try something else and go canoeing in a pristine lake, or try your hand at fishing in one of the gold medal trout streams in the area.

In the end, you don't really have to do much of anything to have a good time in the summer in the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy a good book while sitting by a stream, or take in the sailboat races from Lake Dillon. Browse one of the boutique shops for a memorable souvenir.

Colorado locals and tourists love this area. Accommodations in the summer can be up to half the price for the same room and amenities during the ski season.