Colorado Rockies vs Maui

The Colorado Rockies pack big mountain scenery within easy reach of a lively city, which makes them perfect for a long weekend. Start in Denver, the Mile High City, where food halls, breweries and green-chile-smothered everything have turned neighborhoods like RiNo, LoHi and Union Station into a serious food scene. Just 30 minutes west, Red Rocks Amphitheatre sits between towering sandstone slabs and is one of the world's most famous places to see a concert, or simply to climb the stairs at sunrise. From there the mountains take over: Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park climbs past 12,000 feet above treeline, and the old mining towns of Idaho Springs and Georgetown, plus the gateway town of Estes Park, make charming bases. With more time, head to Breckenridge, Vail, Glenwood Springs' hot springs pools, Aspen's Maroon Bells and the red rocks of Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs. Plan ahead: Rocky Mountain National Park requires timed-entry permits in summer and early fall, the Maroon Bells need a shuttle or parking reservation, and the altitude is real, so drink plenty of water and take the first day easy.

Maui packs an astonishing range of Hawaii into one island: a 10,023-foot volcano where the sun rises above a sea of clouds, a rainforest coastline threaded by the famous Road to Hana, and golden beaches where green sea turtles graze on the reef a few feet from shore. In five days you can snorkel the clear waters of Molokini Crater, watch dawn break from the summit of Haleakala, wind past waterfalls and black-sand coves on the way to Hana, and end each evening with a sunset over Lanai and Molokai from Kaanapali or Napili Bay. Plan ahead, because Maui now runs on reservations: Haleakala sunrise entry, Waiʻānapanapa State Park and Iao Valley all require advance bookings for visitors. Base yourself in Kihei or Wailea for the south shore and upcountry, then move to Kaanapali or Napili for West Maui. Travel with care and respect for local communities, too. Lahaina is still rebuilding after the August 2023 wildfire, and the burn zone is not a sightseeing stop; the best way to help is to spend with open West Maui businesses, follow posted closures, and keep to the island's slower, aloha-minded pace.