Family Summer Vacation in Colorado
4 Best Cities or Towns for Kid-Friendly Activities in Warm Weather
Jan 31, 2009
Once school lets out, families flock to the big cities and mountain towns in Colorado to take advantage of a myriad of outdoor activities as well as educational museums and other "only in Colorado" sightseeing stops and adventures.
Summer brings gloriously sunny days and low humidity in the Centennial State -- a perfect climate for a summer vacation in family-friendly Colorado. Here's a peek at the four best cities and towns for families in the summer months, with an idea of what visitors can see and do in each.
Denver for Families
The capital of Colorado is known as the Mile High City, since it sits at 5280 feet in elevation. Family-friendly attractions here include the Downtown Aquarium, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Children's Museum of Denver and the Denver Zoo. Seasonal Elitch Gardens, known as Elitches among locals, is a 70-acre amusement and water park located in the heart of downtown. Kids love taking the free trolley up and down the 16th street pedestrian mall.
Aspen for Families
This chic mountain town makes a splendid home base for enjoying all the great summer sports visitors can enjoy in the Rocky Mountains. Hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking, river-rafting and mountain biking are all at guests' fingertips. Many annual festivals -- like the nearby Snowmagical Family Fun Fest -- are free, and Aspen Music Festival and School puts on concerts just for kids. Theatre Aspen also has a summer show designed for families with young children.
Durango for Families
Parents of train-loving preschoolers should check the Day Out with Thomas website to find out when that blue train rolls into Durango's Main St. railroad station every summer. Otherwise, visitors can take a historic ride on the Durango-Silverton Railroad, or check out the fun on-mountain activities at Durango Mountain Resort, such as disc golf, a climbing wall, bungee trampoline and alpine slide. Mesa Verde National Park, where families can tour the ruins from the Ancestral Pueblo people, are nearby.
Pagosa Springs for Families
The big draw here is the terraced hot springs pools at The Springs Resort. Guests who stay at the hotel have free access to the pools, or visitors can purchase day passes. The pools, with fun names like Lobster Pot and Coffee in the Clouds, are stacked along the banks of the scenic San Juan River. The bravest souls hop in a steamy pool, then cool off with a freezing plunge into the river!
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