Comment on 10 great adventures for ordinary travelers, from whitewater rafting to ziplines

It’s so hot right now: sitting in a small, steamy room, sweating out the aches of life. It’s also very, very cool: submerging your overheated self into a tub of near-freezing water complete with tiny icebergs. Welcome to the world of sauna, an ancient practice that’s resurging as a wellness tool and workout-recovery technique.

Denver International Airport’s longest-ever flight — a nonstop leg from Denver to Istanbul — will take to the skies for the first time Tuesday evening. The new Turkish Airlines flight will carry Colorado travelers 6,130 miles to Istanbul, marking the longest flight in DIA history, airport officials announced in April. The flight will take about 13 hours, longer than the 12-hour, 5,788 mile direct flight between Denver and Tokyo. “This new partnership is expected to produce over $54 million in annual economic impact for Colorado and approximately 350 new jobs,” airport officials said. The first flight is scheduled to take off from Denver at 6:05 p.m.

No matter where you find yourself in Colorado, there’s a state park ready to embrace your arrival. Colorado’s parks reflect the state’s ecological diversity, whether nestled in the mountains or sprawled across the prairies, alongside flowing rivers, or in dense forests. Embark on an adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting adventure or gather for a family picnic.

Colorado is home to both hot springs and historic scenic train rides, which both are known for the release of steam. Why not combine these experiences for a little steam with steam for a memorable and unique trip? Although none of these entities currently offer a package with a train trip and a hot springs soak, you can choose your own adventure and try out multiple hot springs with one train ride or something else.

Officially, the first day of summer isn’t until June 20. Unofficially, the season kicks off with your first dip in the pool or cannonball — however, you prefer to make an entrance. While there are plenty of pools around the state, some offer superlative swims thanks to their views, waterpark amenities, and, yes, even a rock climbing wall that juts above the water. Ahead, discover 10 unique pools for a memorable swim this summer. A rock climbing wall towers over the Scott Carpenter Pool, which also includes a lazy river, slides, a high dive, and a lap pool.

“Exploring Colorado With Kids,” by Jamie Siebrase (a freelance writer for The Denver Post) and Debbie Mock (Falcon Guides) Letting a kid “wander the historical buildings at the Centennial Village Museum or touch a cloud inside the National Center for Atmospheric Research, that’s when a spark is ignited and the best kind of learning happens,” write the authors in their introduction to “Exploring Colorado With Kids.” “Exploring Colorado With Kids,” by Jamie Siebrase and Debbie Mock (Falcon Guides) This guidebook is a list of fun places to go in Colorado that also teach something. For instance, at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, kids take a mile-long journey through a petrified forest.