Colorado goes for the gold: More reasons to love this state

Missy Franklin.

It's been a tough summer for Colorado -- the toughest in recent memory, I wrote a week ago, on Colorado Day, August 1. By then, the state had weathered drought, wildfires and the horrors of the Aurora shootings.

But already, things were looking up: Missy Franklin had just snagged her first gold medal.

Colorado's always going for the gold. The discovery of gold in 1858 is what started the rush to the Rockies, and the founding of Denver. Every fall, there's another rush to the Rockies, as leaf-peepers head for the hills to see the turning aspen. And now, of course, Missy Franklin is bringing home a handful of gold medals.

On Colorado Day, we decided to get out of the office and find more reasons to celebrate this great state. You'll find the result in the new issue of Westword, which hits the streets today.

And coming up soon on The Latest Word, you'll find an updated version of our "50 reasons why Colorado is the best state in America" list, originally published in August 2011, and republished on Colorado Day 2012. Think life doesn't change quickly in Colorado? Two words: Tim Tebow.

Missy Franklin is speedy in the water, and on dry land she's just as quick to share credit for her Olympics performance. Read more in our post "Video: Missy Franklin on Today show gives shout out to the Rowdies."