"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain
Family adventures create the best memories! Whether it's a day trip or a two-week vacation that takes years of saving, our Macaroni Kid travel reviews make the planning a breeze. We try to include where to stay, eat, and play so you can just get out and have some FUN!
Please Note: All reviews were based on actual experiences during visits with our families. Special offers mentioned may no longer apply, and dates for annual events will likely be similar but not exact; be sure to check any referenced websites and calendars before making your reservations.
For even more ideas, visit our Colorado Adventures and Family Travel Pinterest Boards. Subscribe (for free) to our Macaroni Kid Family Travel newsletter and you'll get fresh ideas delivered to your inbox every month.
Colorado Day Trips
- 6 Front Range Nature Centers (#getoutside)
- 12 Local Places for Indoor Fun When It's Cold Outside (Denver Metro)
- Bike Around Vail (enjoy blue skies & green mountains)
- Breckenridge Expedition Zipline Tour (atop Peak 8)
- The Butterfly Pavilion (an invertebrate zoo)
- Ferrara's Happy Apple Farm (go apple picking in September)
- Joy Park: An Outdoor Adventure (Children's Museum of Denver)
- Kid-Friendly Hikes at Colorado State Parks (discover nature)
- KEEN Vail Adventure Games (for thrill-seeking kids)
- Mount Evans' Drive to the Top (the highest paved road in North America)
- Pick-Your-Own Produce Farms (DIY farm-to-table)
- The Royal Gorge: America's Highest Suspension Bridge (near Cañon City)
- A Taste of Colorado (Labor Day weekend in Downtown Denver)
- Visit Hudson Gardens Year-Round for Free (30 acres in the midst of Littleton)
Warm Weather Road/Weekend Trips
- Beaver Creek Loves Families (must-do summer activities)
- Breckenridge with Kids (stay a weekend ... or a whole week)
- Crested Butte Charm (great for a long weekend)
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train (travel through time)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park (near Mosca, CO)
- Lunch with a Llama (Northern New Mexico)
- Rio Grande National Forest (rent a US Forest Service Ranger Station)
- Summer Fun in Keystone (snow tubing, live music, Kidtopia, and more)
- Steamboat Springs (affordable summer fun)
- White Water Rafting in Cañon City (take the plunge)
Cold Weather Road/Weekend Trips
- 10 Best Family-Friendly Hot Springs Destinations (four in Colorado)
- Aspen: World-Class Skiing and Oh-So-Much More (more than a resort)
- Beaver Creek: Ski and Stay (for kids, skiers, and non-skiers too)
- Copper Mountain: An Adrenaline-Fueled Weekend (even if you don't ski)
- Escape to Latigo Ranch (excellent cross-country skiing)
- Keystone Resort (family-focused fun)
- YMCA of the Rockies at Snow Mountain Ranch (great for summer too)
A Day's Drive to Get There
- Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas (fantastic Spring Break destination from Colorado)
- Rapid City, South Dakota (presidents, snakes, and bears — oh my!)
- Sweetwater County, Wyoming (the "WOW" factor will impress you)
- Taos, New Mexico (family-friendly and adventurous)
You'll Probably Want to Fly
- Atlanta, Georgia (travel to the Peach State)
- Cruisin' on the Disney Wonder (tips for any Disney cruise)
- Cruising the Caribbean with Kids (on the Carnival Freedom)
- Death Valley National Park, California (the hottest, lowest, driest spot in the US)
- Great Wolf Lodge (more than a dozen around the US)
- Hawks Cay Resort, Florida (60 beautiful acres of fun)
- LEGOLAND & SeaWorld (the perfect quick getaway)
- Majestic Mountain Loop, California (three National Parks in three days)
- Maui, Hawaii (not just for honeymoons)
- Monterey, California (a coastal playground for families)
- New Orleans, Louisiana (let the good times roll)
- New York, New York (visiting the Big Apple with kids)
- Puerto Vallarta With Kids (Spring Break getaway)
- Riviera Nayarit, Mexico (discover it before everyone else does)
- Universal Orlando Resort (our family's dream vacation)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (a magical adventure)