Colorado Family Travel
Check-out oodles of adventures in Colorado including where to find the best family travel getaways & Denver kid friendly activities.
Denver’s Best Snow Day Activities for Families: 20+ Activities
Let it snow! Denver transforms into a winter wonderland when snow blankets the city, and there’s no shortage of family-friendly activities to make the most of it. Whether you’re bundling up for outdoor adventures or keeping cozy indoors, here’s your ultimate guide to a snow day in Denver with kids. Also, be sure to check out Denver Snow Day: 80+ activities for playing inside and outside. Denver’s Best Snow Day Activities for Families Outdoor Adventures Sledding Hills Denver is full of sledding spots that kids love. Check out Ruby Hill Park for its wide slopes and free snow-tubing opportunities or head to Sloan’s Lake Park for gentle hills perfect for younger children. Don’t miss the 30 best places to go sledding in Colorado. Ice Skating Glide across the...
Get the 411 on Rocky Mountain National Park’s timed entry system in 2025
Rocky Mountain National Park has announced the dates and times for its timed entry reservation system for 2025. This system will be in place starting May 23-mid-October, and aims to help manage crowding, congestion, and preserve park resources. Here are the key details: Timed Entry Reservation System for 2025: Bear Lake Road Corridor Permits: Time Frame: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Area Covered: Includes the Bear Lake Road Corridor and access to the rest of the park. Season End: October 20, 2025. Rest of Park Permits (Excluding Bear Lake Road): Time Frame: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Season End: October 14, 2025. Key Details: Timed Entry Requirement: A timed entry permit is required to enter the park during the specified time periods for both areas. Outside of those times, no timed entry permit is...
16 indoor (and outdoor) Colorado arts festivals kids will love this winter
It looks like you’re planning to explore some fun and creative activities in Colorado! Whether you’re into outdoor art, visiting local galleries, or trying your hand at DIY crafts, there’s a lot to dive into this season. Here’s a summary of some standout experiences: Outdoor Arts Blossoms of Light (Denver Botanic Gardens, Nov.–Jan.): Get into the holiday spirit with a stunning, immersive light display. Berthoud Snowfest (Loveland, Jan.): Watch snow-sculpting competitions, shop at an artisan market, and enjoy a lighted parade. Cripple Creek Ice Festival (Feb.): Watch ice sculptors create beautiful works of art, navigate an icy maze, or sip cocktails at the Ice Martini Bar. Ice Castles (Cripple Creek): Explore frozen caverns and zip down slides in an acre of ice sculp...
Family Guide to the National Western Stock Show 2025
The National Western Stock Show is gearing up for its 2025 event January 11-26, 2025, with tickets now available for the 16-day extravaganza. A Colorado tradition since 1906, the event celebrates the state’s agricultural heritage with a mix of rodeo action, livestock shows, and family-friendly entertainment. Here’s a breakdown of what’s in store for this historic event: Family Events: Attendees can also enjoy fun shows such as the Xtreme Dog Shows and Wild West Shows. Also, don’t miss the Catch-a-Calf Show, Farmyard Follies, Colorado Fiddle Championships, Folkloric Dancers, Aberdeen Pen/Junior Show, the Dog Pull, and the Remarkable Roundup, an adaptive ag experience for kids with special needs. Rodeo Performances: There will be 29 rodeo performances, including exciting ev...
New Year “First Day Hikes” for Families!
Do you want to start 2025 off right? Join in a First Day Hike on January 1, 2025 at your favorite Colorado State Park. Hikes are free but registration is required and park visitors must possess a valid park pass. Participating parks may require a reservation prior to the hike, check the park’s webpage for details. Hikes will vary in skill level and length depending on location and weather conditions. Bring snacks, water, extra clothing, and hiking shoes with good traction. If trails are icy or snowy consider bringing trekking poles, snowshoes, or shoe spikes. Some hikes may have an initial requirement of these items, so make sure to check the event to know what you need! Scroll down for more hike ideas or check out Hiking with Kids: 52 Great Hikes for Families. Participa...
Denver Zoo is free for kids the rest of December!
Don’t miss Free Days 2025: Your guide to free museums, zoo and attractions. It’s the (free) gift that keeps on giving! Just in time for winter break and forecasted mild temperatures, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is offering Kids Free December presented by Primrose Schools. All children ages 15 and younger receive free daytime admission through Dec. 31 to experience more than 2,500 animals across DZCA’s 80-acre campus, and popular habitats, including Toyota Elephant Passage, Benson Predator Ridge, Down Under and recently renovated Tropical Discovery. There are also daily animal talks and demonstrations featuring Asian elephants, African penguins, bighorn sheep, flamingos, vampire bats, tigers and many others. With highs expected in the 50s an...
Snow Days opens for the season at Children’s Museum!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means Snow Days at the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus opens Dec. 7, 2024-February 17, 2025! This winter wonderland takes over the museum’s Joy Park and snow much fun is guaranteed, even if there’s no white stuff on the ground. Here are some of the fun things you’ll find: • The Snow Hill: Guaranteed snow for sledding, snowman building and endless winter play • Sock Skating on The Plaza: Glide, slide, spin and race your friends on the rink • Snow Maze: Journey through the maze and discover the cozy cabin • Fire Pits and Hot Cocoa Bar: Get toasty after a day of play • More Winter-inspired Fun: Explore an ice fishing hut, snowmobiles, dog sleds and more Don’t miss out on this classic Colorado experience. Put...
Holiday Magic in Loveland, Colorado: Lights, Indoor Skiing and Public Art!
Loveland’s enchanting historic district was bursting with festive cheer as I wove through the crowds at the annual Festival of Lights. The holiday market, brimming with cider and seasonal treats, offered indulgences at every corner. I savored pumpkin spice kettle corn, fed live reindeer (while dancing with an enthusiastic Rudolph impersonator on stage), posed with a sparkling human snowflake, and joined the countdown for the lighting of the grand tree at the center of the square. The tree will stay illuminated through January 1, 2025, with dazzling light shows every hour from 5 to 8 p.m. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, and outside of the North Pole, a place that beautifully embodies the spirit of the holidays is Colorado’s city of love, Loveland. Though best known for its Va...
New Year’s Eve 2024 in Denver: 20+ Family-friendly Events!
There’s no better time than now to start planning your family’s New Year’s Eve fun in Denver! There are so many options–from checking out fireworks, blockbuster museum exhibitions, stunning light displays like Zoo Lights and art shows all over town. Reminder: Zero Fare for New Year’s Eve. RTD is once again offering free fares on buses and trains, supported by Molson Coors. Make your celebration a safe one from 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 7 a.m. on Jan. 1. Plan Ahead: Don’t wait until the last minute for all your New Year’s Eve party favors. Check out these goofy 2025 New Year’s Eve glasses, plastic disposable champagne flutes for your kids’ Martinelli, and this fun New Year’s Eve party kit for kids. Scroll down for our Denver guides to the holidays! Family-Friendly N...
Take a plunge for pumpkins at this Denver pool!
Take a plunge…for pumpkins? That’s right! The Pumpkin Plunge on October 17, 2024 from 3-6 p.m. at South Suburban Parks combines two of our favorite things: pumpkins and plunging. Enjoy the pumpkin patch in the pool at Buck Recreation Center. Jump into the pool, pick out two pumpkins and decorate. Stay after for an open swim and leave with a spooky goodie bag. Children 3 to 5 years will plunge for pumpkins in the zero-depth pool area. Ages 6-12 will plunge for pumpkins in the rive. Children ages 3 to 5 must be accompanied by an adult in the water. Fee is $25 for residents; $27 for non-residents. Registration deadline is Nov. 16. Also, don’t miss the Ultimate Guide to Denver pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Other Fun Events at South Suburban: Hole-O-Ween at...
Scenic train rides in Colorado for the whole family
Fall is almost here and Colorado is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, and exploring them by scenic trains can be a fantastic family activity. Here are some Colorado scenic trains that offer family-friendly experiences. Are you looking to ditch the train and hit the trail? Check out Colorado hiking with kids: 50 hiking adventures for families and scroll down for fun fall activities for families. Colorado’s Best Scenic Trainrides with Kids Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: This historic train takes you on a spectacular journey through the San Juan Mountains. You and your family can board the steam-powered train in Durango and enjoy a round trip to the charming town of Silverton. Along the way, you’ll be treated to stunning mountain views, deep canyons, an...
Denver Art Museum Celebrates 1M Kids with Fun FREE Programs
The Denver Art Museum (DAM) and Bellco Credit Union today announce that this fall, the museum will admit the one millionth kid for free, thanks to the museum’s Free for Kids program, presented by Bellco Credit Union. Launched in 2015, Free for Kids underwrites general admission for all visitors ages 18 and under, including youth groups, summer camps, school groups and family visits. To celebrate, the DAM will present an array of youth-centered activities and programs starting Thurs., Oct. 17 and continuing through Sun., Oct. 20, 2024. This fall at the DAM, Free for Kids includes access to the museum’s new and renovated collection galleries in the Martin Building, featuring Indigenous arts of North America, Latin American art, arts of the ancient Americas, arts of Asia, photograph...
