7 Fun Family Vacation Destinations in Colorado
From vast mountain playgrounds to charming small towns, Colorado has a little something for everyone – including kids and teens. Whether your crew adores outdoor adventures, immersive museums or relaxing activities surrounded by nature, the state is your dream destination. To inspire your next getaway, we’ve rounded up seven fun family vacation destinations in Colorado.
In This Article
Denver
With a bounty of attractions and activities to choose from, the Mile High City is a must-stop for travelers with kids in tow. At the Denver Zoo, you can see stingrays, elephants, giraffes and many other wild animals, while also supporting a global nonprofit wildlife conservation organization that’s working to protect endangered species and their habitats around the world. Next door, feel dwarfed by real dinosaur fossils, admire sparkling gems and experiment in a science kitchen at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Or drive over to the Denver Botanic Gardens, where the entire family will love exploring the 24 acres of diverse plants and rotating art exhibits. Don’t miss the Mordecai Children’s Garden, a special 3-acre area with hands-on experiences designed for children ages 12 months to 8 years old. And Meow Wolf, a building packed with large-scale immersive and interactive art installations, is a contemporary museum sure to impress even the most disengaged tweens and teens. Denver is one of the top family vacation destinations in Colorado.
Colorado Springs
Nestled at the base of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs offers a mix of outdoor adventures and educational experiences perfect for family vacations in Colorado. Start with a trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the highest zoo in America at more than 6,700 feet, where families can hand-feed giraffes, goats and birds and explore exhibits featuring over 750 animals. For budding scientists, the Space Foundation Discovery Center offers hands-on exhibits about space exploration and STEM topics. Want to burn off some energy? Head to the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, a free public park where you can hike around gravity-defying red rock formations. Or find out what it takes to train like an athlete in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum while taking in exhibits about history’s most famous Olympians. In nearby Cripple Creek, you can also hop aboard the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, a small antique steam locomotive, for a 45-minute journey through two historic mining towns.
Salida
Situated along the banks of the Arkansas River and surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Sawatch Range, Salida is a laid-back mountain town that’s perfect for those looking to unplug and explore. Start your adventure at Riverside Park, complete with a playground, picnic tables and an area for wading into the river. Pint-size artists and creativity-minded grown-ups will adore the colorful downtown. The designated Colorado Creative District has galleries, public murals and the SteamPlant Event Center, which hosts art classes and has an outdoor sculpture garden. For a taste of high-altitude history, visit the Salida Museum or take a drive to the well-preserved ghost town of St. Elmo, where you can imagine life in the mining boom days. When you’re ready to stretch your legs, enjoy a hike or bike ride along the Monarch Spur Trail, an easy paved path that winds through town. And don’t miss a scenic chairlift ride up Monarch Mountain in the summer for colorful wildflower views and fresh mountain air.
Glenwood Springs
Famous for its steamy hot springs, Glenwood Springs is a year-round Rocky Mountain playground. Soak up the fun at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, where kids can splash in the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool while parents relax amid views of the surrounding peaks. Or check out Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Colorado’s newest hot springs. For heart-pounding thrills, ride the tram to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park – America’s only mountain-top theme park – where you’ll find roller coasters, cave tours and a giant swing that soars over the canyon’s edge. Then rent bikes to cruise the scenic Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail, a gentle riverside ride that’s great for all ages. Or lace up your hiking shoes for a short trek to the grave of Doc Holliday, the dentist turned Wild West gunslinger who ventured to Glenwood Springs in hopes the mineral-rich waters would cure his tuberculosis. Cap off your getaway with a guided whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River for gentle rapids and beautiful views. When considering family vacation destinations in Colorado, Glenwood Springs is a clear winner.
Estes Park
The eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Estes Park offers lots of opportunities to bask in the state’s alpine splendor. The national park’s Trail Ridge Road – dubbed the “highway to the sky” for its 4,000 feet of elevation gain and jaw-dropping mountain views – is an excellent place to start your visit. If you’re up for a hike, RMNP has several kid-friendly routes, including Bear Lake Loop and Alberta Falls Trail. (Tip: Go to the park on a weekday, when crowds are thinner – it’s the state’s most visited national park.) In town, stroll along the Riverwalk, where souvenir shops, old-fashioned candy stores and quaint cafes line the Big Thompson River and hop aboard the Estes Park Aerial Tramway for a quick ride to the top of Prospect Mountain. Make time for a visit to the historic Stanley Hotel, a grand hilltop landmark known for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining. Tours offer a mix of history and fun, with spooky stories that are more fascinating than frightening. For some wholesome entertainment, little ones can pan for gemstones or take a spin on bumper boats at Fun City amusement park.
Burlington
Tucked along Colorado’s Eastern Plains near the Kansas border, Burlington offers a glimpse into the state’s pioneer past with wide-open skies and captivating sights. A must-stop for families is the beautifully restored Kit Carson County Carousel – an ornate, hand-carved ride from 1905 that still delights visitors with its original band organ music and colorful menagerie of animals. (Bonus: A ride still costs just $0.25!) Just down the road, the Old Town Museum brings history to life with more than 20 historic buildings, including a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and vintage general store. There, you can try your hand at old-fashioned games, climb aboard a vintage train car and watch gunflights in the saloon or Western dance shows (select dates, Memorial Day through Labor Day). Then burn some energy at Parmer Park, which has lots of shade, picnic areas and a large playground; look for the tribute to Mike Lounge, the Burlington-born Navy pilot and NASA astronaut. If your crew enjoys birding, Burlington is a prime place to spot migratory flyers in the spring, Lark Buntings (Colorado’s state bird) in the summer and shore birds in the fall.
Alamosa
Set in the heart of southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Alamosa is a gateway to some of the state’s most breathtaking landscapes. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is just a short drive from town. In the park, you can sandboard down the dunes or splash in Medano Creek (spring and summer) at the base of the slopes. Or tackle the short jaunt to Zapata Falls, where a cool stream and waterfall tucked inside a rocky crevasse offer a worthwhile payoff. For an unexpected detour, head to Colorado Gators Reptile Park, a one-of-a-kind rescue facility where visitors can meet alligators, tortoises, pythons and snakes. Back in Alamosa, stroll along the Rio Grande, then pop into Two Scoops, Here’s the Scoop, Jermaine’s or Frosty Acres for some ice cream.