Family Travel: Colorado Summer Vacation Guide 2016

It’s finally here! We have put together the Ultimate Colorado Summer Vacation and Activity Guide. MileHighMamas.com is one of the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive geographic guides in the World! We are so proud of all of our traveling mamas, both local and visitors.

Be sure to also check out Colorado’s Ultimate Activity Guide with 250+ ideas divided up by activity–from railroads to fishing to sporting events to best picnic spots to yurts all over our great state. If you’re staying in the Mile High City, don’t miss our Summer Activity Guide for Denver Fun with 150+ ideas. 

-Amber + Julie

Here’s our personal top five for the bucket list this summer.

1. All Aboard! I come from a train family, with deep Midwestern roots in the rails. I kicked off this spring with a great event at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and then sent my father and son on the train trip of their lives. They rode the Cumbres & Toltec Steam Train, the longest and highest narrow gauge railroad in America—and have declared this as the ultimate unknown train trip for train lovers in North America, and accessible. From desert to high alpine forest to rushing rapids and cliff edges, in addition to 11 times across state lines between Colorado and New Mexico, this one needs to be on the list this summer if you have some “trainy’s” in the family. It climbs to over 10,000 feet, is 64 miles in length and can last from three hours or more. Most trips are full days, requiring the true buff who can sit still for some time. (cumbrestoltec.com)

2. Fly-fishing. It started on my honeymoon and it’s morphed into more than a hobby, but a necessity. I write about this topic often, but find it hard to get my children involved. I’m excited about the Westin Riverfront’s program. They offer free fly fishing classes daily at 10:30am on their Wedding Lawn overlooking the Eagle River from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They are led by guides from Gore Creek Flyfisherman, who has an on-site outpost in the summer. I can’t wait to get Hank up there this summer for a lesson or two. (westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com)

3. Telluride. It’s quite a road trip from Denver, and we don’t get there every summer, but it’s always a highlight of my warm season travels when the cards play out. This summer we have three days scheduled in August and I can’t wait to take the kiddos down Main Street, up the gondola and hiking. But, isn’t this just a blanket description for any great mountain town? Make any town your Telluride, pick one mountain town you’ve always wanted to go to, and make a weekend of it. I’m sure we have a blog or tips on any place in Colorado you want to go. I know, Gateway Canyons isn’t up there yet, stay tuned, the Bielenbergs will be visiting later this summer. It might only be a town of 20, but we’ve got it covered here at Mile High Mamas. (tellurideskiresort.com)

4. When is the YMCA not on our list? It’s for a good reason. Snow Mountain Ranch, part of the YMCA of the Rockies, is an epic epicenter of family adventure and highlighted year-round here at Mile High Mamas. However, year after year, they keep throwing some new activities, accommodations or adventure our way. This summer, we are most excited to check-out their yurts. (snowmountainranch.org)

5. A princess and a castle. I remember touring Glen Erie Castle in Colorado Springs a few years back, but I knew I needed to return one day to get the full experience. Late this spring my daughter, almost five, and I visited the castle, attended their tea party, and spent a night in the Victorian B&B. We recommend the tea and tour of the grounds in a princess gown. The landscape is sensational, there is abundant wildlife and the gardens are impressive. Dora most enjoyed pushing her buggy over the numerous walkable bridges and an early evening jaunt through the amazing rock formations. (gleneyrie.org)

And while we’re at it, we ran up some top activities for Colorado mountain towns, front range communities and city day-trips to devour. 

Aspen/Snowmass

It may be summertime but Snowmass has returned to the Ice Age with the Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center that features the most significant Ice Age ecosystem find in Colorado history (and it’s free). Touch a mastodon tooth, marvel at a half-sized 6-foot Wooden Mammoth Skeleton or a daily hike. Visit the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday nights (June 8- August 17) and sign your kids up for the Calf Scramble and Mutton Busting. Every Thursday (June 25-Aug. 11), the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center at the Base Village offers a free craft hour from 4-5 p.m. to make mementos such as hats, backpacks and picture frames. Ride the Elk Camp Gondola up Snowmass Mountain where the Elk Camp Restaurant has activities including downhill biking, dinner, campfires, live music, movies, a Stryder Park and a kid’s playground on Friday evenings. Try your hand at some slopeside bowling at Slopeside Lanes that features eight full-sized lanes, a lounge area with full bar, wood-fired oven pizzas and upscale bar food. Or, there’s nothing quite like stand-up paddleboarding the Roaring Fork River. Then get inspired at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, a stellar place for kids of all ages to take workshops in sculpture, photography, painting, beading and mask-making. 

Beaver Creek

If your family loves to hike, Beaver Creek is the place for you. Whether you’re interested in exploring on your own, taking a leisurely lift-served stroll across the mountain, or you prefer a rigorous climb up one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, the Beaver Creek Hiking Center has a knowledgeable staff of well- trained guides. Beaver Creek Stables offer one- and two-hour horseback rides as well as three-hour picnic rides. Horseback rides are available for riders ages 7 and older and younger buckaroos may enjoy complimentary tame pony rides in the stable arena. If movies under the stars sounds like fun, bring the whole family out for a great selection of family movies at the base of Beaver Creek on the Back Lawn. New this year: Wednesday Night Music Experience concerts will feature various artists throughout July and August from 6-7 p.m. and are free and fun for the whole family. 

Boulder

I am convinced Chautauqua is Colorado’s best-kept secret and I’m amazed how few locals know about its charms. Located at the base of the Flatirons in Boulder, this National Historic Landmark has rental cottages with 48 miles of hiking trails and thousands of acres of natural lands right outside the front door. On weekends in July, Arts in the Open will take audience members on a moderate hike amidst the scenic backdrop of Boulder Open Space while scenes from “Goldilocks”are performed along the way. On July 2, don’t miss the Colorado Music Festival’s Young People’s Concert, which is a narrated work that includes solo “instruments” such as toy pianos, fishing roads, and bird calls. (tickets are $8). The historic Chautauqua Dining Hall (a tradition since 1898) has recently undergone a huge overhaul and the wraparound porch offers some of the best patio dining in Colorado. If you visit on a Saturday, be sure to also visit the Boulder’s Farmer’s Market (voted the best in Colorado by USAToday readers). Still need more? Head to the trendy, historic  Pearl Street Mall’s restaurants, shops, street performers and Pop Jet Fountain–they never fail to entertain. 

Breckenridge

Breckenridge is a gorgeous mountain community 1.5 hours from Denver where we will build our cabin someday (dare to dream, right?) Peak 8 Fun Park at the base of the resort just got a lot more fun with a two-stage zipline that soars 50 feet above the ski slopes at 45 miles per hour with a dual span of 392 feet and a second quad span of 1,095 feet.  Be sure to also do the Fun Park’s Gold Runner Coaster, climbing wall, Alpine Superslide, Superputt Mini Golf and free scenic gondola rides with spectacular views of Cucumber Gulch. If you want to explore the great outdoors even more, local fan favorites include fishing the Blue River, a scenic drive over Boreas Pass road, accessing 1,000 miles of mountain biking across Summit County, hiking countless miles of trails or climbing a nearby “14er.”  Grab your bikes or strollers and explore Breckenridge’s extensive paved trail system that connects to mountain towns Frisco, Dillon, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Vail. Once upon a time, the Country Boy Mine was one of the largest and most famous gold mines and today, offers family-friendly tours where you can actually pan for real gold.

Colorado Springs

We love Colorado Springs staples like the Garden of the Gods Park, The Pike’s Peak Cog Railway, U.S. Olympic Training Center and Manitou Cliff Dwellings but the big news this summer is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s newish $13.5 million exhibit Encounter Africa. Highlights include an amphitheater that allows guests to see elephant training, enrichment and husbandry, a new exhibit for the African lion pride and a “Skybridge” that takes guests from the exhibit to the barn, enabling them to see the elephants from above. www.cmzoo.org. For a thrill, check out the Cave of the Winds’ Wind Walker Challenge Ropes Course that is located on the rim of a 600-foot drop into Williams Canyon.  Colorado Wolf Adventures have teamed up to host “Up Close with the Wolves” this summer. The 4,400 square-foot Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument’s Visitor Center offers more fossils on display and interactive exhibits.  If a train ride is on your bucket list, the South side of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park takes on a new look with the addition of Pinon Ridge Play-Land, a 2,000-square foot playground built specifically to blend into the natural surroundings. And last but certainly not least, The Broadmoor Soaring Adventure consists of 10 zip-lines that range in distance from 300 feet to 1,800 feet as well as moderate hiking and rope bridges while you enjoy the Seven Falls area. Dine at the new Sevens Falls Restaurant 1858 and don’t miss their trout fritters, honey lemonade and peach cobbler. 

Crested Butte

Crested Butte may be a four-hour drive from Denver but the drive is worth it—it’s my favorite destination in Colorado.  In addition to world-famous mountain biking and hiking (the views from Snodgrass Mountain are second-to-none), don’t miss the nine-week-long Crested Butte Music Festival and the Wildflower Festival (July 11-23, 2016) where you’ll swear you climbed onto a Monet canvas of mad, extravagant colors. At the base the resort, get airborne on the Coke Zero Gravity BagJump a 50 feet by 50 feet bag of air for guests to tube and ski and ride into. For younger kids, check-out the Trailhead Children’s Museum and big kids (must weigh at least 70 pounds) can try the Crested Butte Zipline Tour, which includes five zip lines ranging in length from 120 – 400 feet connected by features or “events” such as suspended wood bridges and towering platforms. P.S. A few years ago, my kids did Kids Nature Camp at world-renown Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in nearby Gothic, Colo. and still rave about it. It is truly one of the prettiest drives in Colorado. 

Durango

I secretly fantasize about teaching at Fort Lewis one summer as an adjunct and living downtown Durango. This is one cool town, and everyone who visits usually gets it right away. The town is rooted in railroads and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is iconic, scenic, memorable and still a huge attraction. While my boys took the train up to Silverton, my daughter and I visited James Ranch, just 10 miles North of Durango en route to the remote town of Silverton for a rendezvous. They have a great farm with a cheese making shop, tons of livestock and great stories. The tour wraps with an opportunity to snack and some delicious farm fare. Once back in Durango, there’s a fabulous little children’s museum, Durango Discovery Museum, that is heavy on the science exhibits, and truly appealing for most pre-teen children. The Animas River Trail runs through town and gives to access to gold medal waters for fishing and a white water park for water enthusiasts. My kids also enjoyed the Durango Wildlife Center and Fish Hatchery.  Whether you want to wander a great downtown with brews and burgers, hike the gorgeous San Juans or drive along the awesome scenic byways, Durango will certainly be your kind of town the second your arrive. Also check out Purgatory Resort for their summer programming and outdoor adventure. The famous Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings are also only an hour away from Durango and the opposite direction towards Pagosa Springs is Chimney Rock, a great center with hiking trails. 

Estes Park

Most Coloradoans know about hiking and camping in glorious Rocky Mountain National Park, biking around Lake Estes, checking out the darling shops on Elkhorn Avenue and tearing around the go-cart tracks. But most don’t know about the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, which offers a variety of half-day courses for kids and grown-ups alike such as geo-caching, animal tracking, stargazing and art sketching as a travel souvenir. Festivals abound in Estes Park during the summer–the Fishing Derby (June 4, 2016) and Wool Market (June 10-12) is free and fun for kids. Featuring many animals, performances and sheep-sheering, this event is especially ideal for tactile learners and kids with special needs. Estes Park’s Rooftop Rodeo will be celebrating its 90^th year July 7-12. It not only has all the staples of a great Western time but the parade features horses, trick riders, cowboys and more.

Fort Collins

Fort Fun or Choice City, whatever you want to call it, Fort Collins is the perfect urban getaway for Denverites. Just an hour jaunt up I-25 and you are in an agricultural, bicycling, beer-brewing, coffee-grinding, farm-to-table wonderland. Visit the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and don’t miss out on the Tornado Tunnel, it’s a kid and adult favorite. More kid fun includes wandering through the Gardens at Spring Creek loaded with kid’s activities. Certainly book a trip on the Magic Bus Tour offering up kid-friendly tours, farm tours and history tours, all around the city and even Horsetooth Reservoir. Want to do a brewery tour with kids, head to the third largest craft brewery in the nation, New Belgium. Their newest remodel includes a great lawn for their Bike-In Movie series, expanded tap room and they’re known to have games (and hula hoops) available for entertainment. Stroll down Main Street (College Avenue) near the CSU Campus and take in the coed culture and the blooms at the Annual Trial Garden. The Farm at Lee Martinez Park is an agricultural oasis smack dab in town. And, to top off any day, head to The Colorado Room for some of my favorite local eats in town, may I recommend the bison poutine? My daughter LOVED it! 

Glenwood Springs

Take the world’s largest outdoor mineral hot springs pool (Glenwood Hot Springs), add to it a new hot springs attraction along the Colorado River (Iron Mountain Hot Springs), an adventure park built on top of a mountain (Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park), and sprinkle in the Roaring Fork Valley’s crimson rocks and emerald forests and you have a memorable family vacation just a few hours from Denver. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s thrill rides Glenwood Canyon Flyer, Giant Canyon Swing and the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster are perched on the edge of Glenwood Canyon. For fun without fainting, try the zipline ride, alpine coaster, laser tag, Music on the Mountain’s free concert series and the Historic Fairy Cave and Kings Row caverns tours.  Local rafting companies annually guide thousands of visitors down the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers through rapids with names like Upper Superstition and Tombstone (consider yourselves warned). Even if you’re not a kayaker, you’ll love watching the daredevils at the Glenwood Whitewater Activity Area or have your own adventure by renting a Segway and glide through downtown Glenwood Springs, up Red Mountain or along the river trails.  Head outside of town 7 miles to Hike the steep mile-long trail to Hanging Lake, a crystal-clear, turquoise blue lake (but come very early and on a week day or prepare to wait for a parking space, as this hike has become overly popular with locals and visitors alike). Grab your bikes and take the paved Rio Grande Trail, which winds along the Roaring Fork River from Glenwood to Aspen. 

Take the world’s largest outdoor mineral hot springs pool (Glenwood Hot Springs), add to it a new hot springs attraction along the Colorado River (Iron Mountain Hot Springs), an adventure park built on top of a mountain (Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park), sprinkle in the Roaring Fork Valley’s crimson rocks and emerald forests and you have a memorable family vacation just a few hours from Denver. The new Historic Fairy Caves Tour at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has sections never before opened to the public, takes 50 minutes and has only 12 stairs (more perfect for families with small children than the tour of King’s Row, which has 127 steps each way). Also, don’t miss the adventure park’s thrill rides including the Cliff Hanger Roller Coaster,, Soaring Eagle zipline ride, Giant Canyon Swing, alpine coaster, laser tag and much more. Glenwood Hot Springs is the iconic hot springs attraction with over 128 years of soaking. Glenwood Canyon Resort has white water rafting on the Colorado River and for an extra thrill, soar on the zipline across the river or test your mettle on a high ropes course. Grab your bikes and take the paved Glenwood Canyon Trail along the Colorado River or the Rio Grande Trail, which winds along the Roaring Fork River from Glenwood to Aspen. If you visit mid-week, pack a picnic and enjoy free concerts at Two Rivers Park on Wednesday. For a night out on the town, your family will love the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue dinner variety show.

Three of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park’s thrill rides — Glenwood Canyon Flyer, Giant Canyon Swing and the Cliffhanger Roller Coaster — are perched on the edge of Glenwood Canyon, 1,300’ above the Colorado River. For fun without fainting, try the zipline, Alpine Coaster, laser tag, Music on the Mountain’s free concert series and the guided cave tours. The Historic Fairy Caves Tour takes 40 minutes and has only 12 stairs; it is perhaps better-suited for families with small children than the tour of King’s Row, which has 127 steps each way.  

Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Glenwood’s newest wellness destination, offers 16 thermal mineral water soaking pools alongside the Colorado River, plus a freshwater family pool and jetted spa. The onsite café offers outdoor dining on the covered patio or at tables and lounge chairs around the family pool. The menu includes snacks, salads, sandwiches, bratwurst, flatbread pizza, smoothies, specialty coffees, juices, soft drinks, beer, wine premixed cocktails. There’s a Ride & Relax Combo Package that provides discounted admission to both Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and the Iron Mountain Hot Springs. It’s valid for one visit to each within a seven-day period.

Grand Junction

The Western Slope of Colorado, which includes Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade, has plenty of charms, including being a dinosaur mecca with plenty of hands-on science, and is the heart of Colorado’s agricultural region, which includes the highly regarded Colorado’s Wine Country. Don’t let the wine stop you from bringing the kids to Grand Junction, there is plenty to do with kids of all ages! Dedicated to putting science in the hands of kids, the John McConnell Math & Science Center features interactive exhibits in biology, physics, earth and space science, and electronics. Spring through fall, Museums of Western Colorado features Cross Orchards Historic Site which allows visitors to step back in time and experience early pioneer life in western Colorado. The Red Cross Land and Fruit Company was established in 1899 and operated a massive orchard on the site until 1923. Today, Cross Orchards is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and Places. The original packing shed and bunkhouse have been preserved, and summerhouse and blacksmith shops have been reconstructed and are brought to life with volunteer docents. From June through October, Grand Valley orchards are laden with some of the sweetest harvests around: cherries, grapes, apples, plums, pears, apricots and what are argued to be the best peaches around. Take an orchard tour or check out the myriad of roadside stands selling fresh produce, jams and ciders. For great biking or strolling, the Colorado Riverfront Trail winds for more than 28 miles of mostly paved trails through the city of Grand Junction’s picnic grounds, botanical garden, protected wetlands and fishing pier following the flow of the Colorado River. There are some great deals and coupons to be had; especially dining deals available by the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau. Don’t miss out on all of the adventure offerings in and around Grand Junction. Get the kids on a rafting expedition with the pros or what about the only jet boat ride in Colorado which excites guests on the Colorado River to put the thrill back in your vacation.

Keystone

If you needed a reason to visit Keystone this summer, here are several: Cupcakes and Canvases, Bike-In Movies, Kidtopia Kids Theatre, festivals such as Snake River Festival and Cirque D’Wheels, Model Boat Regata. If those don’t keep you busy, try Adventure Point Summer SNOW Tubing Hill, Kidtopia Play Park, Lakeside SUP, paddle boating, kayaking, GPS Geo-Cache Adventure, Keystone Science School Day Camps, miniature golf and dinner wagon rides. There are plenty of freebies, too, including a free scenic ride for kids 12 and under and if you’re staying at the resort, the Kidtopia Children’s Theatre in the Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre is free on Fridays.

Steamboat Springs

In the winter, Steamboat Springs in northwestern Colorado is famous for its champagne powder; in the summertime the Yampa River Valley, Steamboat Lake and Zirkel Wilderness Area become a veritable outdoor wonderland with boat rentals, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, SUP, swimming and camping. Hike to Fish Creek Falls or wind along the paved 7.5-mile Yampa River Core Trail on your bike. Or better yet, grab a tube and cruise down the only free-flowing river in the Colorado River Basin (grab your tube rentals or arrange a shuttle from Backdoor Sports or One Stop Ski Shop). If you just want to soak,  do the short, scenic hike to Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs (warning: clothing optional at night) or the more family-friendly yet less inspiring geothermal springs at Old Town Hot Springs with waterslides and a climbing wall.  Getting there is half the fun with Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch, which offers hourly horseback rides (kids need to be at least 6 years old) and summer pack trips. During the half-hour shuttle ride from town to their 6,000-acre ranch in the Elk River Valley, fourth generation Steamboat native, Olympian and cowboy Ray Heid delights guests with stories of his family’s colorful history in the valley. The Coca Cola Adventure Zone at the base of Steamboat Ski Resort includes ropes course, slingshot bungee jump, climbing wall, mini-bounce, mechanical bull, human gyro and t-shirt spin art. If you love hot air balloons, pilots let spectators help inflate the balloons at the Hot Air Balloon Rodeo July 11 and 12. The Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo runs every Friday and Saturday mid-June through mid-August. Once upon a time, my daughter won the Ram Scramble and still raves about it. It’s not every day grabbing a ribbon from a sheep’s rear counts as a win. (AJ)

In the winter, Steamboat Springs is famous for its champagne powder; in the summertime the Yampa River Valley, Steamboat Lake and Zirkel Wilderness Area become a veritable outdoor wonderland with boat rentals, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, SUP, swimming and camping. The Coca Cola Adventure Zone at the base of Steamboat Ski Resort includes ropes course, slingshot bungee jump, climbing wall, mini-bounce, mechanical bull, human gyro and t-shirt spin art. Bring your bikes and wind along the paved four-mile Yampa River Core Trail that follows the Yampa River. Or better yet, grab a tube from Bucking Rainbow Outfitters and cruise down the only free-flowing river in the state, meaning that nowhere along its 261 miles is it obstructed by dams or diversions (a bonus for those float trips). If you want to warm up (really hot), checkout the natural hot mineral springs at Old Town Hot Springs and Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs. A not-to-be missed event is Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo where contestants gather once a week to compete. Once upon a time, my daughter won the Ram Scramble and still raves about it. It’s not every day grabbing a ribbon from a sheep’s rear counts as a win!

The majority of the state REAPED the major rains in May leading to one heck of a colorful floral explosion in June when temperatures heated up. While I fancy many gardens statewide, here are some favorite stops for the family. Steamboat Springs has most wonderful, accessible and free gardens. For a small town, this garden packs punch. Named for the river babbling or rushing beside it, Yampa River Botanic Park is easily located right off the Yampa River Core Trail which is a popular walking, biking and fishing route for locals and visitors alike. Your family can do a quick loop or spend an entire morning or afternoon moseying around. I recommend early morning. yampariverbotanicpark.org

Vail

Adventure Ridge is the big news at Vail and mid-summer, the resort will implement several new activities, including a four-line 1,200-foot long zip line, two aerial ropes courses, and a kids zip line as well as a kids ropes course, climbing wall, rebound trampoline. Gore Creek Mini Golf offers family-friendly putting atop the Lionshead base area for the second summer season. Grab your family and try the  FREE bean bag toss, horseshoes or the new slackline park where kids of all ages can test their balance at a variety of levels. If your kids are age four and older, they can use digging tools and a map to uncover dinosaur bones and learn about prehistoric creatures. The FREE Bud Light Hot Summer Nights Concert Series on Tuesdays June 12-August 21 has become the social event of the season. If you have aspiring adventurers, the 4th annual KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race on August 10 and 11 lets kids ages 6 through 14 experience the thrill of adventure racing with mountain biking, hiking, tubing, archery, a low ropes course, a zip line, a climbing wall, a Tarzan swing, a giant slip-n-slide and more.

New at Vail is Epic Discovery – the first of its kind at Vail. Epic Discovery provides a unique, connected, on-mountain summer experience, immersing guests in activities which provide big-time thrills, allow them to challenge themselves physically, guide them to explore and better understand their natural surroundings, and ultimately create lifelong memories. Further, more detailed information about Epic Discovery can be found here.

Winter Park/Granby/Grand Lake

Aptly named, Grand County is, indeed grand. Located about 90 miles from Denver in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, family-friendly activities abound. Winter Park boasts Colorado’s longest alpine slide, a climbing wall, free Friday movie nights and the Trestle Bike Park, which has over 40 miles of lift-serviced mountain bike trails perfect for riders of all ages and abilities.  Take a one hour educational walking tour of the kennels at Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park or a 45-minute cart ride through the forest. Grand County has five mountain lakes popular for fishing and boating and 7,000-acre Grand Lake is one of Colorado’s largest bodies of water. Known as the “Western Gateway” to Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake’s historic boardwalk has more than 60 shops, restaurants, and galleries including the new Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater. The national park has more than 350 miles of hiking trails and the western slope trails in Grand County are much less frequented than those on the eastern slope. In nearby Granby, YMCA of the Rockies’ Snow Mountain Ranch offers an affordable and wholesome environment where friends, families and groups enjoy everything from roller-skating to zip lining to swimming to a new Snowflex® tubing hill that is the first of its kind and only the third in the United States.

Author: Amber Johnson

Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.