Colorado is a wonderful state to visit, and is well-known for its national parks and many ski resorts. Also, many of the cities in Colorado are hip and are always filled with friendly locals, making them wonderful places for youngsters to visit when they want good food and good booze. The climate in Colorado actually differs from place to place, but something that’s consistent is that it’s sunny all year round, making it a gorgeous state to visit at any point in the year. With so many interesting things to do within the state, how can one choose? Never fear, because we’re here to list some of our favourites!
1. Check out one of the most popular national parks
The Rocky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the entirety of the United States, and our active and adventurous readers will definitely thrive here. You can drop by this national park at any point in time, and still be taken away by how beautiful the scenery is. Anyone who’s a huge fan of nature will adore this park because you’ll be surrounded such a tranquil environment and you can watch the local wildlife in their natural habitats. Take part in any of the outdoor recreational activities, like hiking in the summer and sledding in the winter!
Rocky Mountain National Park
Address: Colorado 80517, USA
Price: from 20 USD per automobile, for 1 day.
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours.
Website: Rocky Mountain National Park
2. Bridging the fun and beautiful views together - Colorado Springs
Perched right on top of the Royal Gorge lies one of the highest bridges in the world, the Royal Gorge Bridge. Take some time to walk across the bridge, which might take a while since it’s so long, but you’ll be able to admire the gorgeous sights. Even better, there’s a small amusement park for some exhilarating fun! Nearby the visitor centre is one of the world’s remaining world clocks, which is an exact replica of the original that was destroyed in the 2013 fire. There’re some exciting rides for you to ride on, like the zipline, sky coaster and aerial gondolas, where you’ll feel like you’re flying. Kids will also be entertained because there’s a 3-storey playland.
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Address: 4218 Co Rd 3A, Cañon City, CO 81212, USA
Price: from 22 USD (Adults), 19 USD (Seniors, ages 65 and up) and 17 USD (Children, ages 4-11).
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays.
Website: Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
3. Visit a mountain and a zoo at the same time - Colorado Springs
Zoos may seem like a touristy attraction to visit while on vacation, however, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is unique as it’s one of America’s only mountain zoo! So while you’re visiting the zoo, you’ll not only be able to admire the animals, but you’ll also be able to admire the beautiful views. The zoo also hosts one of the largest herds of giraffes in the entire world, and you can even feed them lettuce! Children are always enthralled by animals, but what makes this zoo even more kid-friendly is that it has a classic carousel they can ride on, or even go horseback riding. With so many things to do and see, you’ll probably leave the zoo wanting more.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Address: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA
Price: Prices vary from different months and days.
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm (Last admission is always at 4pm). Check websites for the holiday hours.
Website: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Help solve a cool murder mystery - Denver
Instead of watching the cult-classic movie, Clue, or playing the board game Cluedo, how about actually taking part in an actual, well-planned murder mystery dinner! What takes place during these types of events is that you have to solve a mystery, and the killer lurks amongst you. You’ll be sitting at a table with people you’ve never met before, so you can socialise with the locals, but everyone is also a suspect so you have to watch out. Who knows, you might even be sitting next to the actual killer! So with the guidance from the detectives and hints, you must try to solve the mystery. So for a truly one-of-a-kind experience, take part in this event.
The Dinner Detective Denver
Address: Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, 1420 Stout St, Denver, CO, 80202, USA
Price: from 59.95 USD + 12% taxes & service fees.
Opening Hours: 6am - 9pm. Only on certain dates, so check out their website for more information.
Website: The Dinner Detective Denver
Colorado Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of the US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona! Let's GO!! stepheley@gmail.com
Tours by Stephanie
5. Try out unique activities on the dunes
With such luscious forests and snow-capped mountains in many of the other national parks, it’s a tad bit strange to see a sandy national park. However, it’s still an extremely famous place for locals and tourists alike to visit. Within the sandy dunes is the Medano Creek, and if you’re there in the summer, it makes the surrounding area resemble a beach, so you can swim a little and play in the sand. There are other outdoor activities you can take part in, like the usual hiking and watching wildlife. However, you can even go sandboarding and sand sledding while you’re there. So if you want to try out a new fun and unique activity, you should check this place out.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Address: Colorado 81146, USA
Price: from 15 USD (For non-commercial vehicle and occupants).
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays.
Website: Great Sand Dunes National Park
6. Recreate The Shining and feel spooked out - Estes Park
For fans of the paranormal, the spooky and the kooky, the Stanley Hotel is a great place to stay or even to visit! It’s considered to be one of America’s most haunted hotels, and is even the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write ‘The Shining’. As many people claim that there are several ghosts haunting the hotel, you can actually go on tours to discover where the rumoured spirits haunt. They’ve even installed a maze in front of the hotel, which is reminiscent of the movie, so you can run around. However, as mentioned, it’s truly a wonderful hotel to stay in as the staff are wonderful. So even if you’re a sceptic, it’d be nice to stay over for a night, just watch out for Room 217.
The Stanley Hotel + Tours
Address: 333 Wonderview Avenue Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
Price to stay at the Stanley Hotel: from 169 USD
Price of The Stanley Tour: from 23 USD (Standard price), 20 USD (Seniors, 55 and up), 17 USD (Children, ages 12 and under).
Price of The Stanley Night Tour: from 28 USD (Standard price), 25 USD (Seniors, 55 and up).
Website: The Stanley Hotel
7. Treat yourself to a soak, or live in a cabin - Near Telluride
Ghost towns are typically dark and abandoned, with nothing great in sight, but some people saw something in this Colorado mining town, and now it’s a resort area. Nestled deep within the Colorado Rockies is the Dunton Hot Springs, and it’s so secluded, making it a tranquil place to spend your vacation. It resembles an old-fashioned and cosy town with several cabins lining the area, so it’s possible for you to stay the night. Of course, the main draws to the area are the hot springs. There are several hot springs, both indoors and outdoors, and you can even enjoy some spa treatments. So treat yourself to a pampering session and just relax and unwind.
Dunton Hot Springs
Address: They’ll provide you with maps and directions.
Price: Depends on which activities and package you choose.
Website: Dunton Hot Springs
8. Rock out at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Near Morrison
Many people consider this to be one of the greatest outdoor, open-air amphitheatres, and we can see why. If you’re in town, you could drop by for a concert, and many have praised the view, atmosphere and the superior sound quality, so music-lovers will have a wonderful concert experience. Even if you’re not there for a concert, there are other things you can do. Hike on the trails available, or even explore the fossils that litter the area. Or in the summer, there are special events like watching a film or taking part in a yoga session.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Address: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465, USA
Price: Depends on the concert.
Opening Hours: Opens 1h before sunrise - closes 1 hour after sunset (Non-events day). 1h before sunrise - 2pm (Event days).
Website: Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9. View and hike around the Black Canyons
For our active and adventurous readers, this is a must-visit as it’s large and rocky and has tough hikes. Even better, if you’re in great health and love exercise, you should take a hike inside the canyon or even to the bottom of the canyon to watch the river up-close. However, everyone is welcome as there are trails of different difficulty levels so anybody can take a hike and admire the views. Look out for the wildlife that live in the area, grab a permit and camp in this serene park or even stargaze at night. With so many things to do, you’ll never get bored!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Address: Colorado 81415, USA
Price: from 15 USD (Per vehicle or motorcycle), 7 USD (Per pedestrians or bicyclists), free-of-charge (16 years of age or younger).
Opening Hours: Open daily.
10. Relax and unwind with the locals - Boulder
Named after a legendary man in Boulder, the Rayback Collective hosts the first ever food truck park in Boulder. Besides being home to the food truck park, it’s also a social space where locals and tourists can get together to eat, drink and just be merry. There’s plenty of space inside and out, and you can unwind and grab a great drink while enjoying some live-music on the inside. Or lounge on the adirondack chairs, or take part in some outdoor games on the outside. When you’re hungry, buy some delicious food from the rotating food trucks around the area. It’s truly a wonderful space to visit when you want to indulge in what the locals love - good food, good drinks and having a good time!
Rayback Collective
Address: 2775 Valmont Rd, Boulder, CO 80304, USA
Price: Depends on what you order.
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm (Monday - Friday), 11am - 11pm (Saturday), 11am - 9pm (Sunday).
Website: Rayback Collective
Have a cheery time in Colorado!
Colorado is a comfortable and captivating state to visit, not just because of the beautiful natural landscape, but also, there are many other attractions too. There are several large cities and are extremely hip, so you’ll have fun in many parts of Colorado. So book a trip to Colorado, and have fun exploring the entire state!
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