Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Georgetown, CO
Year Listed: 2003
Nestled among some of the West's most majestic peaks, Georgetown sprang into existence in the summer of 1864, when the discovery of the Belmont Lode started a stampede of prospectors and ultimately gave the town its nickname, "Silver Queen of the Rockies." At the turn of the century, the Georgetown Loop Railroad was a marvel of engineering, hailed as the most complex railroad loop in the world. Today, the historic railroad still thrills riders as it traverses the 95-foot-high Devil's Gate High Bridge.
The Hotel de Paris in Georgetown, Colorado.
Credit: Melanie Short
In town, visitors won't want to miss two museums: the Hotel de Paris, established in 1875 and long famed as one of the West's most elegant inns; and the Hamill House, completed in 1879 as the home of silver baron William A. Hamill and filled with furnishings from the owner's birthplace in England. Its spectacular setting makes Georgetown a year-round vacation wonderland. Summer months offer trout fishing, back-country hiking, biking, rafting and more - while during ski season, Georgetown is a convenient base for hitting the many nearby slopes. The town really comes alive during the holiday season. A Christmas Market, the Santa Lucia Children's Processional, hot roasted chestnuts and horse-drawn wagon rides evoke an earlier time. Under a night sky sequined with stars, the snow-covered village is pure enchantment.
