It's Colorado Day and we sure have a lot to celebrate in beautiful, Colorful Colorado! We're blessed with great vistas - some might even say buenas vistas - to remind us of our incredible Creator. Coloradans can certainly say alongside the Psalmist, "Praise the Lord, for he is good; Who spread the earth upon the waters, for his mercy endures forever!" (Ps 136:1a, 6).

Seeing the way God has crafted such beauty all around us, we can't help but praise him for all of his goodness. In fact, Pope St. John Paul II once said, "When we contemplate with wonder the universe in all its grandeur and beauty, we must praise the whole Trinity."

From the majestic mountains to the peaceful plains, there are plenty of spots to marvel in God's creation and give thanks and glory to him. Here are just a few Colorful Colorado places in the Archdiocese of Denver to encounter the beauty of creation, and to give glory to the Creator!

1. St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, Allenspark, CO

The iconic Chapel on the Rock stands as a beacon of faith in the Rocky Mountains, drawing innumerable pilgrims from all over the world. A fully functioning Catholic chapel, visitors can attend Mass, spend time in prayer and Adoration and engage in fellowship at Tahosa Coffee Shop, next door to the chapel. The nearby Stations of the Cross trail offers another opportunity for prayer and reflection, complete with stations created by world-famous artist Tim Schmalz.

2. Mother Cabrini Shrine, Golden, CO

Originally founded as a summer camp for orphans cared for by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini's Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the shrine sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. In fact, the shrine's iconic statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the end of a 373-step staircase Stations of the Cross, overlooks the Denver Metro in blessing. Complete with a fully functioning Catholic chapel, retreat space, a gift shop, a museum, and outdoor prayer spaces, the legendary pilgrimage site offers peaceful respite and prayerful reflection to the thousands of pilgrims and retreatants who visit each year.

3. Annunciation Heights, Estes Park, CO

The archdiocesan camp situated in the heart of the Rockies is a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. With their comprehensive programming for youth, young adults, families and retreat groups, Annunciation Heights is a wonderful place of transformative encounter with Jesus Christ.

4. Abbey of St. Walburga, Virginia Dale, CO

The home of a number of Benedictine sisters who spend their lives in prayer and work, the Abbey of St. Walburga is also a beautiful place of encounter for the many retreatants who visit throughout the year. Just south of the Wyoming border, the small community is a place where the voice of the Lord lives in the mountains, plains and rivers in the surrounding area.

5. Regina Caeli Hermitage, Littleton, CO Encircled by the beauty of Colorado's natural landscape, the hermitage is a beautiful respite from the noise of the world, allowing retreatants to encounter the still, small voice of the Lord. Run by the Community of St. John, the hermitage is available throughout the year to groups and individuals wanting to encounter God in a silent, peaceful place.