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A Beat-Inspired Weekend Itinerary

Posted on October 1
Michelle Polizzi

Michelle Polizzi

A silver train follows a track through red cliffs dotted with sagebrush in the Colorado mountains.

The California Zephyr route takes Amtrak riders from Denver to California, but they can stop off in Glenwood Springs for an accessible getaway. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

There’s no better way to romanticize your life than with a train ride. That’s why we recommend hopping on the Amtrak at Union Station and taking the six-hour scenic route to Glenwood Springs.

Ponder the meaning of life as you pass stunning red rock formations, follow the Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon, and get a new perspective on the wilderness that’s just a stone’s throw from the Mile High City. You might end up with so much inspiration that you’ll need to write it down in your locally-designed mini notebook.

Upon arrival, head to Iron Mountain Hot Springs for a much-needed dip in nature’s healing waters. Look out at the mountains that Beat poet Allen Ginsberg surely visited during his long tenure as a resident of Boulder. If you have more time to spare in Glenwood Springs, consider an overnight stay at Hotel Colorado. Opened in 1893, it has served guests for more than a century.

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