Leadville Colorado claims "highest" status in several categories.

Leadville Colorado is a short drive from the main tourist towns of Frisco, Silverthorne, Breckenridge, etc. To get yourself in good with the locals, you would do well to learn that Leadville is pronounced "led-vil." This little city is the highest incorporated city in North America, sitting at 10,430 ft and resting in the shadow of Colorado's highest peak Mt. Elbert. It also boasts the highest municipal airport, and highest golf course. If you plan to take your Colorado family vacation to this city, you should know some history first.

The entire city is designated a National Historic Landmark District and consists of over 50 Victorian buildings put up in the 1870's, including the Tabor Opera House and the Tabor Grand Hotel. As will become readily obvious when you arrive, the city got its start in mining silver and since there were so many other other towns with the name silver in it, the founding fathers decided upon Leadville, just to be different.

This brings us to the recommendations of things to do around this city. Probably the most famous activity is to go on a historic train ride. You will take the Leadville, Colorado and Southern Rairoad on a approximately hour long ride that offers great views of the Continental divide, including the two highest peaks of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive. You can figure on paying about $26 per adult and $15 per children. If you plan on eating on the train as well, you can pay an extra $9.50 to get a sandwich, chips, cookie and water. This historic train ride is highly recommended, especially if you have younger children who will find the ride fascinating.

Leadville Colorado is a city that has seen its prime come and go and is just barely hanging on to the tourism that keeps the city alive. Most of the mines in the area have closed down and therefore people that are left living in this city are very blue collar and rough around the edges. You will find a large number of mobile homes in the area and drunks driving around at night, therefore we recommend camping out of town or limiting your nightly stays in the hotels.

A thing that Leadville has going for it is the fact that it is one of the last affordable towns in an area surrounded by heavy tourism. You can still find cheap housing in the $100,000's and skiing is still much more affordable than along the interstate corridor.

The food at the restaraunts is suprisingly good for a city that seems so rough around the edges. We recommend The Grill Bar and Cafe and High Mountain Pies. Any of the Mexican restaraunts are good too, but they had wierd hours so we only were able to enjoy them at night. If you are planning on spending a night in Leadville, then we recommend you go all out and get the full effect of the city and stay at the Delaware Hotel on Harrison st. This historic hotel was built in 1886 and offers suprisingly good rates compared to what you would pay in the other cities. For rates, photos, and contact information you can click here.