If winter has you feeling cooped up, consider flying the coop altogether. A weekend getaway can make all the difference in these short, frosty January days, whether you gravitate toward the rugged or the pampered.

When you live at Stepping Stone, it’s pretty easy to get out into the wild. The south metro area puts a lot of incredible places easily within reach: Castlewood Canyon State Park, Roxborough Park, Waterton Canyon, and all the gorgeous Pike and San Isabel National Forest destinations that offshoot from U.S. 285. All the more …

It may seem counterintuitive, but living south of the city—instead of west—may mean you actually get to the mountains more often. Think about it. That maddeningly slow I-70 drive sucks the fun right out of any getaway. But for families who live around Stepping Stone, easy-drive camping might inspire more frequent trips. Here are just …