Any Colorado summer family vacation ideas?

Question

We live in Kansas City and would like to drive to our vacation spot. We have a 2 and a 7 year old. Last year we did the Black Hills of South Dakota. We are thinking about something in Colorado this year. Any suggestions?

Not too concerned about price if it is good, small kid friendly attractions. It's mostly about showing them a good time. Museums, historical sites, national parks, things unique to Colorado.

Answer 1

Need more info on what you're looking for.

Natural beauty: Rocky Mountain National Park. A bit crowded but you did do the Black Hills,

Mountains, fancy shopping, fancy restaurants, luxurious accommodations, expensive. Aspen.

Off the beaten path, nice mountains, less spectacular.. Lake City/Creede.

Urban stuff, parks, museums, big zoo, aquarium, Children's Museum. Denver.

Of course there are other choices in each category.

EDIT.

OK, 2-3 days in Rocky Mountain National Park; 2-3 days in Denver. The Children's Museum, the Denver Art Museum has a lot of kid friendly stuff. the Natural History Museum. Eat at Casa Bonita. Go to Tiny Town. Butterfly Pavillion in Westminster. Check the Performing Arts Center for kids concerts. Railroad museum in Golden. More time? Head to Colorado Springs for the Garden of the Gods and a really neat zoo. The Broadmoor ($$$) is a fancy resort small kids will like; lake with swans, large park like grounds to be out in, indoor and outdoor pools, great staff.

Disagree with one idea here. The tram ride up Pikes Peak is 3 hours in a small cog railroad car, way too long for small children. The Georgetown Loop Railroad is short, much more suitable.

Answer 2

If you just want to go to the cities, Colorado Springs and Denver have lots of touristy things to do. However, if you already live in a city, why do the same darned things in another city, just because you've driven 8 hours to get there?

My recommendation would be to leave the museums and attractions behind and get yourselves out into the mountains. You have three options: 1) A dude ranch if you've got big bucks; 2) A resort with cabins where you can rent horses nearby and maybe have a fishing pond; 3) Go to a ski area and rent a condo - much cheaper in the summer.

Teach your kids to fish and hike and pick up rocks and look for colors. Stay away from Rocky Mountain National Park - beautiful but crowded in the summer. There are many, many wonderful areas in the state. Many communities have great summer programs for kids where they can hike and do activities together.

Answer 3

Another vote for Colorado Springs, Pike's Peak, Manitou Springs area. Some of the sites of the area include:

Cave of the Winds, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak Mtn, The North Pole and Santa's Work Shop, lots of museums, trains, ranches and rodeos, Cheyenne Mtn Zoo and other wildlife attractions, Air Force Academy (not sure if it has been re-opened to the public because of heightened national security, so check before making plans).

This is a great link listing the attractions and more info:
http://www.pikes-peak.com/ListAttractions.aspx?t=Attractions

And another informative link:
http://www.experiencecoloradosprings.com/gc_searchResults.asp?attrib_val_id=570&cat_id=7&pageid=6|183&se=attractions

Lots of fun, family friendly stuff!

Answer 4

Our Family had a fun time as Mesa Verde National Park, where you can see the cliff dwellings of the anazazi. Colorado Springs has a cool park with lots of rock formations I think it's called garden of the gods or something. And you can see the Airforce Academy while your there. There is a small mountain town called Silver Town that has a hot spring. We had a good time, and the family had three teenagers at the time.

Answer 5

Trappers lake. It's in the white river national forest. Extremely beautiful, No motorized boats allowed on the lake, Excellent fishing,hiking and horse back riding..Can't find better scenery anywhere just amazing.. If you're just looking to spend a couple of days go to Trail Ridge Road. It's in Estes park above boulder Co. Absolutely amazing scenery. Elk bigger than horses on the side of the road. But it is a national park so admittance is not free. I think it's around $10 per car load.

Answer 6

4 corners , the only place in the US that 4 states meet, Take the Tram ride to the summit of Pikes Peak in Co. Springs, Garden of the Gods, 7 Falls .Plus all the other great ideas

Answer 7

rocky mountain national park, going to the summit of pikes peak, the renaissance fair in larkspur, garden of the gods in colorado springs, denver is supposed to have an awesome zoo altho ive never been, plus there is waterworld in denver, glenwood springs west of denver, any number of old mining towns in the mountains.

Answer 8

Go to Limon and do the tornado watching excursion.