Set high in the Rocky Mountains, Winter Park Resort’s 3,000 acres (1214 hectares) have a remote feeling despite being one of the closest ski resorts to downtown Denver. The resort’s typical 300 inches (762 centimeters) of snow and 300 days of sunshine each year make it one of the most popular skiing destinations in the US for beginners and experts alike.
Meow Wolf Denver (Convergence Station) can barely be contained into words, but let’s try: It’s an interactive playscape of sci-fi-esque, neon worlds. The Denver installment marks the brand’s third and largest permanent exhibition, where visitors wander through a maze of visual and textile delight, like an art museum gone rogue. You have to see it to believe it.
A premier education center in America’s Southwest, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science boasts a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and a wide range of exhibits that showcase the biological and geological history of Earth and the universe. Exhibits range from ancient artifacts to interactive virtual-reality zones the whole can family can explore.
Set in a historic fire station in downtown Denver, the Denver Firefighters Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day lives of firefighters. Visitors will learn about the training, work, and history of Denver’s courageous firefighters through hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. Adults and children alike are drawn to the museum’s large collection of vintage fire trucks.
The Colorado Trail offers an outdoor experience ranging from breathtaking to “life-changing,” according to people who have hiked all or even just a portion of its 500 miles (805 kilometers). Ideal for hikers, runners, and bikers alike, it runs from outside Denver to Durango, carving through eight mountain ranges and seven national forests.
Atop Iron Mountain in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park provides a day of nonstop thrills with some of the best views of any amusement park around. Home to the highest-elevation full-size coaster, the park gives adrenaline junkies plenty to scream about with rides that zip and swing across cliffs and canyons.
In the heart of downtown Denver, Elitch Gardens is an amusement park featuring rides, activities, and entertainment for all ages. From exhilarating roller coasters and plunging towers to gentle kid-friendly rides and refreshing water slides, the park is a family favorite and a popular summer attraction for locals and visitors alike.
Situated near Cañon City, Colo., Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a 360-acre (146-hectare) amusement park located along the edge of the Arkansas River-formed Royal Gorge. The park is home to the country’s highest suspension bridge at 956 feet (291 meters) with a span of 1,260 feet (384 meters) and adrenaline-fueled activities like a guided climbing experience and zipline.
This downtown destination is more than just a state-of-the-art aquarium with over 500 species of fish and sea animals. It's also a dining and entertainment complex, as well as a place for aquatic adventures. Host to sea otters, a Stingray Reef touch tank, and even a dive tank where you can snorkel or scuba dive with the sharks, the Downtown Aquarium is one of Denver’s most popular family attractions.
Catering to young kids (up to about age 8), the Children’s Museum of Denver is a fully interactive space designed to inspire future leaders and adventurers. Exhibits encourage children to learn about nature, science, the arts, and more through hands-on fun. There’s also a daily offering of workshops and special activities like storytime, crafts, and even cooking classes for kids.
Estes Park is the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, but it’s no quick stopover. The downtown area blends small-town charm with tourist-friendly offerings, and a stroll along Main Street’s boutiques, souvenir shops, and restaurants is a must. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife—a fox, elk, or bighorn sheep might cross your path.
Home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High is renowned for its vibrant game-day atmosphere and Rocky Mountain backdrop. Opened in 2001, the stadium seats 76,000 fans, offers state-of-the-art amenities, and also hosts concerts and cultural events in addition to football games.
The highest sand dunes in North America sit within Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. The dune field encompasses some 30 square miles (78 square kilometers)—a vast area for hiking, sand sledding, horseback riding, camping, stargazing, or swimming in Medano Creek.
One of the largest planetariums in the United States, with its 65-foot (20-meter) dome, the Fiske Planetarium is part of the University of Colorado Boulder campus. A magnet for space enthusiasts, it screens a rotation of several dozen astronomy and laser shows, along with presenting talks, special NASA and eclipse events, and artistic productions.
Denver’s Coors Field offers views of two types of Rockies: the state’s famous Rocky Mountains, naturally, and the Colorado Rockies, the Major League Baseball team. One of the league’s best stadiums, Coors Field fits more than 50,000 spectators for a rousing day at the ballpark, right in Denver's trendy LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood.
In any season, take in spectacular views from atop Aspen Mountain courtesy of a ride on the Silver Queen Gondola. No pricey lift ticket is required to enjoy one of the most epic vantage points in the Rockies at the 11,000-foot summit of Ajax Peak. The gondola is fully enclosed with picture windows for a safe and scenic ride.
Since 1924, Folsom Field has been the home of the Colorado Buffaloes football team. Named after University of Colorado coach Fred Folsom, the stadium seats more than 50,000 people, and also hosts concerts, graduations, and special events from its hilltop perch on the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
Near downtown Boulder, Flagstaff Mountain makes it easy to enjoy the great outdoors. Part of the city’s open space, it’s home to numerous hiking and biking trails, outcrops for bouldering, viewpoints, and a summit area with accessible trails, a nature center, an amphitheater, picnic areas, and fantastic views.
Escape to nature without going completely off the grid in Wonderland Lake Park, an urban oasis 10 minutes away from downtown Boulder. Locals come to this wildlife sanctuary in all seasons to have a picnic, fish in the lake, walk or bike the easy trails around the wetlands, and watch paragliders take off over the open prairies and streams.
Isak Heartstone, a public art piece in Breckenridge, is a 15-foot (4.5-meter) wooden sculpture designed by Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who used recycled materials as a medium. It was created during the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts in 2018 and co-commissioned by the city. Isak Heartstone is one of the main features of the new Trollstigen trailhead.
At 9,500 feet (2,896 meters) in Summit County, Colorado, Sapphire Point offers scenic views of Dillon Lake and Reservoir, and the Gore and Tenmile mountain ranges. An easily accessible overlook and day-use area, it’s a popular hiking destination and location for small weddings.
Embrace the spirit of the great Colorado outdoors in Grand Lake, home of the state’s largest natural lake, located at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. At an 8,300-foot (2,530-meter) elevation, enjoy brisk mountain air and year-round outdoor activities ranging from hiking and biking to fishing, golfing, and lake tours.
This Aspen sanctuary is both a public park and a memorial to the musician John Denver, whose songs like “Rocky Mountain High” capture the spirit of Colorado. Come to relax on the shores of the Roaring Fork River, stroll along the paths, and appreciate the work of the park's namesake in a garden devoted to his music.
The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway winds its way from Estes Park at the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park to Interstate Highway I-70, past dense forests, pristine lakes, and the towering peaks of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, and the Indian Peaks. It travels 55 miles (89 kilometers) along the Continental Divide and provides excellent views of the Rocky Mountains’ Front Range.
One of the oldest canyons in North America, Black Canyon of the Gunnison was carved over a period of 2 million years. Today, the National Park encompasses vertigo-inducing drops and colorful mesas that are sliced in half by the Gunnison River.
At an elevation of 6,800 feet (2,072 meters), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is aptly called “America’s only mountain zoo.” Its 146 acres (59 hectares) are home to hundreds of animals, including grizzly bears, monkeys, hippos, tigers, elephants, and its renowned herd of giraffes—one of the largest in the world.
Set in the northern corner of Denver’s City Park, the Denver Zoo is the city’s most visited family-friendly attraction. This 80-acre (32-hectare) site is home to over 700 species, including some of the world’s rarest animals, like the Amur leopard, Siberian tiger, and black rhino. Most animals live within naturalistic habitats, an idea the zoo pioneered with its construction of Bear Mountain in 1906.
Located just minutes from downtown Aspen, Aspen Mountain—sometimes known as “town mountain” or Ajax—is a skier’s dream come true. Fly down groomed trails and gladed runs all winter long, then return in the summer to bask on the mountaintop sundeck and explore hiking trails studded with wildflowers.
Featuring 128 trails across more than 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares of diverse terrain, Keystone Resort is one of Colorado's premier ski and snowboard destinations. When the snow melts, the mountain is also a popular summertime spot for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and golf. With activities for all ages and weather, it’s a family-friendly Rocky Mountain playground in any season.
The historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad takes passengers on a spectacular 45-mile (72-kilometer) trip through the gorgeous San Juan Mountains of Colorado, connecting the two towns for which the railroad is named. The steam-powered locomotive is a vintage—though comfortable—train that makes you feel like you’re traveling back in time, while the museum in Durango offers a tchotchke-filled experience to help visitors grasp the history behind their historic ride.
