Welcome to the Travel in the United States Series. This series will explore family friendly vacation options in each of the 50 states (and as a bonus, I will include our Nation’s capital, The District of Columbia). An index to all the 50 States posts can be found here.

Colorado Travel

Colorado is the eighth largest state in the United States and offers a wide variety of travel experiences. Even though I lived in Colorado for a few years, I was never able to see all the wonderful sites the state has to offer. Colorado is a beautiful state and a great place to live!

Colorado has been divided into seven different regions: Denver, Southeast, South Central, Northwest, Front Range, Northeast and Southwest.

Denver, Colorado

The heart of Colorado is it’s capitol city – Denver. I lived close to downtown and loved the feel of the city. I highly recommend the free mall shuttle service that runs up and down the downtown area. There are no cars allowed on this street and the walking to restaurants and stores is easy and enjoyable. At one end of the free shuttle line is Union Station which was built in two eras: 1881 and 1921. Just one block south is the Oxford Hotel. Built in 1891 it is full of history. The other famous hotel – The Brown Palace – opened in 1891 and sits on a rounded corner at 17th Street. The atrium inside is gorgeous! You can’t miss the State Capitol building with real gold leaf covering the dome. Also located in Downtown Denver is the U.S. Mint where you can get a free tour (reservations are required).

There are many cities surrounding the Denver area and plenty of places to explore. Don’t forget to check out what’s playing at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison. This outdoor arena is the place to be on a hot summer night!

Southeast Colorado

Grasslands dominate the Southeast Region of Colorado where herds of bison used to roam. Here you can drive along the old Santa Fe Trail which connected Missouri to New Mexico. You will find a number of family friendly activities in this area including the Buell Children’s Museum in Pueblo which features hands-on exhibits and a baby barn, Pueblo Zoo in City Park, and the Nature & Raptor Center in Pueblo that has dozens of trails and hundreds of birds of prey along the Arkansas River.

The Colorado State Fair is hosted in Pueblo each year at the end of August. Featuring a rodeo, carnival rides and games. concerts and food, it is a must see event.

South Central Colorado

If you have an budding Indiana Jones fan, you can’t miss the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Antonito, Colorado. This 1880 railroad was featured in the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This narrow gauge steam train departs daily from late-May through Mid-October. Various trip packages are available and daily trips include a buffet lunch.

Colorado’s second largest city, Colorado City, is located in this region. This is a great place to stay and explore the surrounding area. Pike’s Peak is a must see as is Royal Gorge, a crevasse that is spanned by North America’s highest suspension bridge. Why not try a whitewater rafting trip down the Rio Grande River!

Northwest Colorado

If winter sports are your passion, then Northwest Colorado is the place to be! Home to some of the best snow on earth, this area boasts world-class ski resorts. But, Northwest Colorado is not just for winter, summer activities abound here. One of my favorite destinations is Steamboat Springs. In the summer you can visit the rodeo and then head off to listen to the Strings Music Festival featuring various performers and musicians all summer long. Don’t miss the Hot Air Balloon Rodeo that is held each summer too. Of course, you must at least drive through Aspen and Vail, maybe you will sight a celebrity!

TIP!
Aspen and Vail are beautiful cities to visit in the summer! These cities are not just for skiing and winter sports. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy year round.

The largest city in this area is Grand Junction. To the west of the city is the Colorado National Monument, filled with red rock formations and beautiful scenery. Take the 23-mile Rimrock Drive to get a bird’s eye view of the canyons. The Colorado River flows near here and river raft rides are a popular tourist attractions. Stop by Rattlesnake Canyon to see the red-sandstone arches that are very picture worthy!

Calling all Dinosaur lovers! Dinosaur National Monument on the Colorado/Utah border is not to be missed. In Quarry Exhibit Hall, you will see the world-famous Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry with over 1,500 dinosaur bones. Other exhibits include dinosaur models and a place where you can touch real dinosaur bones. There are campgrounds near by and you can hike, fish and river raft in this areas as well.

Front Range Colorado

This is the region where Boulder, Colorado is located – a college town with an artsy feel. Not far from Boulder is Estes Park which is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. This is the place to shop and eat before exploring the National Park. After visiting Estes Park, take Trail Ridge Road, a national scenic byway and see the alpine wilderness. You might see elk in the meadows and other wildlife as well. The road is 48 miles long and travels between Estes Park and Grand Lake. At it’s highest point, you will be 12,183 above sea level!

 

Northeast Colorado

Northeast Colorado is all about the Great Plains. Take the South Platte River trail, a 19-mile loop where you will discover the Colorado’s only Pony Express station in Julesburg, Fort Sedgewick which was established in 1864 and the sugar beet mill and restored steam engine in Ovid.

Southwest Colorado

Southwest Colorado offers popular ski resorts and national parks – Mesa Verde and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Plus, there are more scenic byways, lakes and rivers then in any other part of the state. Fish for trout and kokanee salmon in the water and enjoy numerous hiking and biking trails. Head down to the furthest south and furthest east you can in Colorado and you will be in Four Corners. A place that is seemingly in the middle of nowhere, you will be able to stand in four states at one time (Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico). Navajo Native Americans sell their crafts and food and there are picnic tables available. Be sure to take a photo!

TIP!
Bring plenty of water with you! Four corners is located in a desert and the temperatures soar during the summer time. I know you will look silly, put be sure to get a picture of you “standing” in all four states at once. Hint: It requires using your hands too!

At Mesa Verde National Park, you can see fourteen centuries of history. In 1906, Congress established Mesa Verde as the first national park to preserve the works of humankind. Stop first at the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center to get a park overview and then visit the pueblos that are built into the side of the rocks.  An awesome site that you won’t soon forget!