10 Best Vacation Spots in Colorado for Families

A visit to Estes Park, Colorado is like a day at the park – with even more to do. It’s an ideal destination for a family vacation. In the summer, horseback riding, hiking (with pet-friendly trails), camping, and fishing are popular options. Estes Park is also home to the thrilling Mustang Mountain Coaster. Daredevils will love the feeling of ripping through the alpine, but it’s the views you’ll remember forever. Consider staying at the YMCA of the Rockies where you’ll also have access to mini golf, an archery range, roller skating, and an indoor pool. In the winter, sledding and snowshoeing through the Rocky Mountain National Park are memorable ways to spend a day.

In town, you’ll find plenty of dining options for all kinds of eaters, including pizza parlors and burger joints. Don’t miss the numerous ice cream shops for dessert.

Colorado Springs, a bustling city 70 miles south of Denver, is a treasured locale for a family vacation. The list of attractions and activities is too long for a single vacation. A noteworthy stop is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – one of the nation’s top zoos, beloved for its mountain scenery and interactive exhibits. Other spots include Springs Adventure Park – home to an American Ninja Warrior course and trampolines galore, and the Cave of the Winds – a walking tour of a cave originally excavated in the late 1800s.

Lodging options include luxury hotels like the Broadmoor, low-cost inns, or family-friendly resorts like the Great Wolf Lodge.

If you want to give your family an unforgettable ski vacation, look no further than Aspen, Colorado. The city gets more than 300 inches of snow each year on average. Aspen Snowmass is a highly regarded ski resort with 4 mountains to explore. Get your gear rentals, lodging, and ski lessons all in 1 place to maximize your fun.

In town, ice skating or sledding at the Aspen Recreation Center are other great ways to keep the family entertained. Don’t miss the Aspen Art Museum which frequently has family-friendly workshops and exhibitions.

Durango is a southwestern Colorado town near the New Mexico border with a ton of things to do. One can’t-miss experience is a ride on the Cascade Express. The day train will take you and your family on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through the canyons of the San Juan National Forest and return you to Durango in the afternoon.

Downtown Durango and the North Main neighborhood are the places to be for the best shopping and the most varied dining options. From national chains to small-town burger joints, there is sure to be an option to interest every type of eater. In the warmer months, expect all sorts of festival activities buzzing in the city’s heart.

For water-loving families, a visit to the state’s largest body of water – the Blue Mesa Reservoir – is a must. The 29-mile lake is a dream for boaters, windsurfers, and water skiers, and the secluded canyon inlets are ideal for fishing for trout and salmon.

There are a lot of campsites and RV spaces in the area, but you’ll want to reserve your spot early as it is a popular summer vacation spot. The Elk Creek campsite is the most convenient with a multitude of amenities, while the Ponderosa campsite is more secluded and natural.

With just one short drive from Denver, you can take your family on an off-the-grid weekend of outdoor adventure in the Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Perfect for when you need to unplug and reconnect, the cabins and yurts in the park don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi but do have plenty of character. Traveling with the whole extended family? Some onsite cabins sleep up to 30 people.

Inside the state park, trout fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing are popular activities. Don’t be surprised if you see an elk grazing near your campsite or lodge, a coyote hunting at dusk, or a mountain chickadee hopping among the bushes – this is a nature-lover’s paradise and a great place to introduce kids to the wild world. And if you need to head into town for family-friendly dining, Idaho Springs and Golden are close by and teeming with good restaurants.

Mesa Verde was once home to the ancestral Pueblo people, now preserved as a National Park. For more than 700 years they lived in remarkable cliffside dwellings that are still visible within the park. From May through October, you can enter the dwellings on a guided tour with park rangers.

Beyond the truly remarkable relics the park is famous for, there is plenty to do at Mesa Verde and you can easily fill a few days if you’re camping onsite. Hiking, of course, is popular as the mesa tops offer beautiful vista views. Don’t miss the tribal dances and demonstrations that are held at the Morefield Campground Amphitheater in the evenings. Afterward, stick around for unbeatable stargazing in this International Dark Sky Park.

Near Cañon City, Colorado you’ll find one of Colorado’s most stunning attractions: the Royal Gorge. Carved over millions of years by the Arkansas River, the 1,200-foot canyon and surrounding area makes an unforgettable family vacation destination.

There are several ways to experience the gorge from above, like walking across the suspension bridge, riding the skycoaster, ziplining, or by taking a more leisurely gondola ride. From deep within the canyon, rafting tours offer a water-level view of the geologic wonder. Or book a ticket on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad for a ride beside the river, where you can wine and dine while taking in the spectacular views.

For a truly unique vacation, consider taking the family to the Great Sand Dunes. Pick up a new sport while you’re at it – sand sledding or sandboarding. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is located near Alamosa in southern Colorado. It contains the tallest sand dunes (up to 750 feet tall) in North America. These are a sight to behold, and also make for a natural playground.

Hiking in the nearby San Isabel National Forest or splashing in the Medano Creek are other great ways to spend a day in the park. If your family has specific interests, local tour companies can guide you to the experience you’re looking for – try a day of bird watching, off-road 4-wheeling, or horseback riding.

Dinosaur, a tiny town in Colorado boasts a big attraction perfect for curious young minds – Dinosaur National Monument. The large monument spans both Colorado and Utah and is home to fossil beds and exposed fossils on cliff faces. In this awe-inspiring place it is easy to imagine the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

The town is truly so small that it is recommended to stay in the nearby Rangely or camp on the Utah side of the park. Don’t forget to take a drive on the Dinosaur Diamond, a scenic byway that takes you through prehistoric dinosaur territory. Stop at the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita to check out the area before continuing onto Dinosaur.