Colorado Vacations
Your Guide to Visiting Colorado with the Kids
Best Colorado Attractions for Families
Colorado's
Family Attractions?
How about:
Spectacular mountains, breath-taking canyons, historic mining camps, scenic railroads, ancient ruins, world-class museums, fabulous shopping, hiking trails, ski runs,
(We're running out of breath...)
Whatever you are interested in, Colorado has family attractions that will keep your kids coming back for more.
| The Prettiest Places in Colorado  From Mesa Verde's Far View Lodge to Vail Mountain's Eagle's Nest, Colorado is full of great scenic spots to show the kids. Check out our article about the Prettiest Places in Colorado. |
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Photo: The world's biggest
sandbox is in Colorado.
At the
Great Sand Dunes
National Park
and Preserve,
kids can play
for hours
in Medano Creek,
near the base
of the dunes.
Photo: The dunes have been piling up for centuries near the base of the mountains.
sandbox is in Colorado.
At the
Great Sand Dunes
National Park
and Preserve,
kids can play
for hours
in Medano Creek,
near the base
of the dunes.
Photo: The dunes have been piling up for centuries near the base of the mountains.
Photo: Colorado's state flower, the blue columbine, is found growing in sub-alpine meadows, open woods, and near streams in the mountains.
Did You Know? A passenger railway runs from just outside of Colorado Springs to the top of Pikes Peak. Families have been enjoying the trip since 1891.  |
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Colorado Hotels have come a long way. Canvas tents and drafty log buildings have been replaced by elegant inns and plush accommodations.  Photo: Colorado hotels like The Little Nell in Aspen, offer vacationing families posh quarters close to blue-ribbon outdoor recreation. Read our articles about Colorado's Luxurious Lodges. |
Did You Know? Ruthie's Run, on Aspen Mountain, is over 55 years old. It remains one of the most demanding downhill race courses in North America. Such greats as Buddy Werner, Franz Klammer, and Pirmin Zurbriggen schussed to World Cup victory there. Kids with good intermediate skills can easily navigate the upper part and say they have skied Ruthie's Run!  Photo: Ruthie's Run is served by Ruthie's chairlift at Aspen Mountain ski area. |
See Colorado's National Parks with the Kids! Our nation's National Parks have been called the crown jewels of America.  Colorado is the proud home of four National Parks:
Start with the National Parks Directory at FamilyTravelColorado.com |
Photo:Garden of the Gods Park, at the base of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs,
is one of Colorado's most popular family attractions, for good reason.
is one of Colorado's most popular family attractions, for good reason.
Families around the world travel to Colorado to experience the state’s unique attractions. With 54 mountain peaks rising over 14,000 feet above sea level, and over 600 more that top 13,000 feet, Colorado’s mountains are a sight to behold.
High Points
And while mountains in general draw families for skiing or hiking, certain high points stand out as attractions in their own right.
Pikes Peak, inspiration for the song, “America the Beautiful”, pulls over 250,000 visitors to its summit each year, and many more to viewpoints in Colorado Springs, at its foot.
Meanwhile, the Colorado state quarter features Longs Peak, the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park. This mountain is visible up and down the front range and forms a lovely backdrop for Estes Park, Colorado, a popular stop for families on vacation.
While there, families who stay at the Stanley Hotel will experience a bit of haunted hospitality. The Stanley is just one of Colorado's grand old historic hotels.
View junkies get their fix at any of a number of the Prettiest Places in Colorado, or plan a great American road trip on one of Colorado's Scenic Byways.
Colorado's mountains are also home to a variety of family ski resorts, which offer visitors a variety of entertainments in addition to world-class skiing.
From posh spots like Beaver Creek and the four mountains surrounding the town of Aspen, Colorado to relaxed, down-home ski areas like Sunlight Mountain Resort and Ski Loveland, families can find the right mountain for their taste and pocketbook. Scan our quick reviews on our "Colorado Ski Area Roundup" page.
In the Southwestern Corner
Other must-see attractions include Mesa Verde National Park (a World Heritage Site) and the Historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a recommended ride for families.
Best Sandbox in Colorado (Includes Running Water)
Don’t miss the tallest sand dunes in North America and a first-rate sand box for kids at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
If dinosaurs are the passion of the day for your youngster, Dinosaur National Monument in the northwest corner of the state might be just what you are looking for.
A Capital Capitol
Families can start exploring Colorado right in Denver. Attractions include the completely unique and spectacularly pretty Red Rocks Amphitheater. This world-class concert venue owes its incredible acoustics to huge slabs of sandstone surging from the surrounding hillside. It’s a great place for kids to yell and sing and have their voices soar over a make believe crowd.
Sight-seeing families won’t waste their time visiting the Buffalo Bill Museum on Lookout Mountain or the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver’s scenic City Park.
As a special treat for your preschoolers, visit Tiny Town, tucked just inside the foothills southwest of Denver. This Victorian village is built on a 1/6 scale and is encircled by a miniature steam driven locomotive. Enjoy lunch in a beautiful setting, where little kids get to feel like giants.
Great Plains
Even Colorado’s vast High Prairies offer traveling families local flavor in its small towns, like La Junta, that line the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, and at Bent’s Fort National Historic Site, a pivotal spot on the route.
All in all, kids and their parents can find entertaining and educational attractions just about anywhere they travel in Colorado.
Other Related Articles at FamilyTravelColorado.com
Check out our site map for a well-organized list of over 140 articles on great Colorado vacations for families.