Jessica Giles, 5280 Magazine Journalist Profile

Articles

Like Run Clubs? Try a Women-Only Running Vacation This Summer.

1 week ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

In other states, going out with your gal pals means sipping wine at a vineyard, gossiping over brunch, or dancing to Doja Cat in a nightclub. But in Colorado, a GNO often looks more like gabbing during a lunch run or a post-work hike. It only makes sense, then, that a Coloradan is the mastermind behind Run Wild Retreats, a company centered around women-only running travel experiences.
Everything You Need to Know About National Park Timed-Entry Reservations This Summer

3 weeks ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

Since nothing puts a damper on a day of hiking like being turned away at the entrance, you’ll want to know exactly what reservations, permits, and passes you’ll need before you wait in an hourlong line outside Rocky Mountain National Park. All national parks require an entrance pass ($80 for an annual pass, daily rates vary by park), but you might need to do some extra paperwork if you plan on visiting a popular recreation area or a specific trail.
Coloradans Will Love These 6 Summer Travel Destinations

4 weeks ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

The problem is, we live where a lot of people vacation, so we’re forced to share our precious Centennial State with the masses—especially in the summer. But rather than hike to Hanging Lake in a conga line or fight for parking on a Saturday at Chatfield Reservoir, why not consider trying your favorite Colorado activities in a new place? We’ve rounded up six travel destinations for Denverites who want to live the mile-high lifestyle while enjoying a change of scenery.
How to Make the Most of Your Stay at the Newly Expanded Springs Resort - 5280

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

1. Don’t skip the soaking guide. 2. Catch the sunrise from a riverside pool. 3. Brave the Warrior Plunge—and more.
11 Important Bills That Passed During Colorado’s 2025 Legislative Session

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

Late Wednesday night, the 75th Colorado General Assembly regular legislative session came to an end after an eventful and relatively productive 120 days. In all, 733 bills were introduced—up from 705 last year—and those that passed will impact issues like gun rights, immigration, energy policy, education, and voting rights.
Be a Good Person Celebrates a Decade in Business—and Its Message Still Rings Clear

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

The four words beamed out from a brick wall on the side of a gym in the Golden Triangle. They were big and bold—in size, in color, and in meaning. When I first saw them, back in 2017, I thought they were a joyful message of positivity from one of the city’s many talented street artists. I was half right. The mantra is admirable. And it was painted by local creatives. But the team behind it was actually a nascent Denver brand aiming to promote kindness via a straightforward slogan and a clothing line.
4 Ssssurprising Facts About That Viral Colorado Rattlesnake Mega Den

1 month ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

If the phrase “rattlesnake mega den” makes you shudder, you aren’t alone. Rattlesnakes don’t get much love, at least not from the roughly half of Americans who feel anxious about serpents, with the most fearful two to three percent identifying as true ophidiophobes. And rattlers, with their potentially deadly bite and vibrating tails, tend to prompt an especially strong reaction.
Step Inside Rockies’ Pitcher Austin Gomber’s Offseason Home

2 months ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles |Daliah Singer

The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today! Professional athletes grow accustomed to moving a lot. But no matter where they’re based, baseball players in the Cactus League spend a lot of time in Scottsdale, Arizona, for spring training.
An Insider’s Guide to Red Rocks Amphitheatre

2 months ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

We won’t mince words: Going to Red Rocks Amphitheatre can either be heavenly or hellish—rarely in between. Without a little planning, you could easily miss your favorite song in a 30-minute queue for the bathroom, reach the front of the merch line only to find a pathetic stash of XX-smalls, and, before you know it, you won’t be able to hear Lord Huron without thinking about that time you tumbled down a flight of Red Rocks’ iconic stadium stairs in your stilettos. The point is, preparation is key.
Will Travel for Food: Where to Eat and Drink in Breckenridge

2 months ago | 5280.com | Jessica Giles

There used to be a mud season in Breckenridge: A time in May and October when business owners would lock up and head to Cabo or Moab while the snowmelt trickled down from the Tenmile Range, fattening rivers and making hiking and biking trails impassable. These days, Main Street Breckenridge doesn’t know a slow season. Visitors continue to flow in from I-70 and Highway 9, shopping, eating, staying in hotels, and seeking out dry patches of “mud season” recreation.