Colorado Vacations
Vacation Planning Guide for Visiting Colorado with the Kids
Vacation Planning Guide for Visiting Colorado with the Kids
Family Travel in Colorado by Train
Did You Know? Pikes Peak, rising to 14,110 feet above sea level, is not the highest peak in Colorado. (That honor goes to Mt. Elbert.) Pikes Peak does, however, have the highest railroad in the state. The Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway - Cog Wheel Route, otherwise known as the Pikes Peak Cog Railway takes visitors to the summit of this famous mountain.  Photo: A train ride to the top of Pikes Peak is a highlight for a family vacation in Colorado with the kids. |
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Photo: The historic Durango & Silverton Railroad, in south western Colorado, is a photographer's dream.
Two short train whistle blasts warned us that it was time to climb aboard. All seemed to be going smoothly until we found our seats and found them occupied! The conductor looked at our tickets and said they were booked for a different day. Our good friends, another family that we’d planned this trip with months ago, stared at us with open mouths.At that point, the conductor tore off his brass-buttoned jacket, revealing a muscular, spandex-clad chest and his flowing cape, and whisked us to the ticket office. There he exerted his considerable charm and the agent was able to find us seats a few cars forward on the train. We jumped aboard and settled into our seats just as the steam engine began its slow chugs out of the station.
It was a breathless introduction to one of the best ways to travel in Colorado with kids: by train.
Our separation from our friends turned out to be a major blessing. With one set of parents in the back of the train, and one set positioned near the door to the snack car, the five children (ages 11, 9, and 6) were able to move about, yet be relatively well supervised. They had a ball.
Most of train travel in Colorado is on scenic and historic railroads, but Amtrak traverses the state from east to west, and Denver provides public transportation via light rail trains.
The following passenger railroads operate in Colorado:
Amtrak – The California Zephyr (Transportation and scenery)
Amtrak – Ski Train (Transportation and scenery to Winter Park Ski Resort)
RTD – Denver Light Rail (Transportation through the Denver Metro Area)
Colorado’s Scenic Railroads:
Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Georgetown Loop Railroad
Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad
Pikes Peak Cog Railway (Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway, Cog Wheel Route)
Royal Gorge Route