Every year we drive to Colorado because we love it and it’s our happy place! We have been fortunate to see many areas of Colorado on our adventures, and I want to share that with you!
Colorado, while a long drive, is so worth it. We usually break up the trip for the kids and spend one night in a hotel or state park along the way. If it was just my husband and me, we would drive the whole 16 hours in one day!
Southern Colorado
Trinidad State Park- 6,010′ elevation
It’s a beautiful park with an amazing view of the lake. In the summer we hike and fish, and in the winter we enjoy the fire pits, sledding, and snowball fights.
Pueblo State Park- 4,692′ elevation
Summer or Winter there is amazing trout fishing. Either on Arkansas River or in the park at the lake.
Canón City- 5,331′ elevation
Summer activities include the Royal Gorge, trout fishing, and hiking to amazing mountain views
Gunnison/Crested Butte- 7,703-8,909′ elevation
Crested Butte offers beautiful views and an awesome downtown walking atmosphere
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers dozens of hikes with varying difficulties
Central Colorado
Colorado Springs- 6,035′ elevation
Great Wolf Lodge
We are HUGE Great Wolf Lodge fans. We have taken the kids for years and recently stopped because we have literally done everything in the place and spent all the money. Great Wolf has everything you need all in one place and the water park is legit!
Manitou Springs- 6,412′ elevation
Garden of the God’s
Beautiful hike. This is truly my happy place. It’s called the Garden of the Gods for a reason.
Cave of the Winds
Book a cave tour, zipline, 3D movie, or stroll around the park and look at the view
Seven Falls
Great hike, lots of stairs but still kid-friendly. There is also a train that runs to the base of the third waterfall.
Fairplay- 9,954′ elevation
Neighboring town is Southpark, YES that Southpark.
We rented a cabin and the kids made snow angels and we walked the 5-acre property with snowshoes
Drive out to Breckenridge where kids can ride the gondola and have snowball fights
Stop for a photo op on the Continental Divide.
Divide- 9,165′ elevation
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Dinosaur Museum, rent a cabin and enjoy the wildlife
Northern Colorado
Winter Park/Fraser- 9,121′ elevation
Snow tubing is a blast! Fraser offers an escalator for heading back up the hill and while this doesn’t seem like a big deal IT IS HUGE.
Take a sleigh ride across the beautiful Colorado countryside, with breathtaking views.
Denver- 5,280′ elevation
Denver Zoo for typical zoo-tivities, Hammond’s Candy Factory Tour where they hand pull taffy, Washington Park for some pedal boats around the lake, or head to the beautiful Botanical Gardens.
DON’T FORGET:
National parks all over the country offer Junior Ranger Badges if you complete their workbook while there! The kids LOVE collecting their badges!
And if you love Colorado as much as we do, invest in the yearly state park pass! The pass saves you money getting into the parks and on reservations!
