I was spending a lot of time outdoors in Colorado, hiking in the incomparable Rocky Mountains, driving up Pikes Peak Highway until I hit a wall of snow, and occasionally crossing paths with some animals roaming around, sniffing out lunch. When I emerged from nature into the state’s urban areas, I was equally captivated by Colorado’s architecture. From a hotel good enough for the Queen of Romania and the Beatles to a Venetian-style tower, from a Tajik teahouse to a Mayan-inspired theater, Colorado boasts an unexpected diversity in its architecture. Read about the top five buildings in Colorado >