Family Attractions

Colorado has more than its share of stunning natural attractions, but sometimes the kids are eager for things to do that don’t involve mountain vistas and scenic drives. We’re happy to oblige with Colorado family attractions that make great vacations for every member of your clan.

Quell all that fighting in the backseat by wearing the kids out at Denver-area fun parks like Water World, Elitch Gardens and Lakeside. Check out Denver’s family-friendly attractions, including the Downtown Aquarium, Children’s Museum of Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Denver Zoo, and head south to Colorado Springs to see the giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the caverns of Cave of the Winds, then let them run off whatever energy is left on the easy hiking paths at Garden of the Gods.

If you’re heading beyond Colorado’s big cities, there are still plenty of things to see and do with the family. Many of the state’s ski areas have fun parks that offer kids attractions and rides in summer and winter, including Vail, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Steamboat, Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte and Durango. In the winter, nearly every ski resort has a festive outdoor ice-skating rink and a tubing hill to sail down.

Need more Colorado family vacation ideas? You could spend a full day at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs or the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Cañon City, commune with rainforest creatures at the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center in Broomfield, and certify the little ones as Junior Rangers at Rocky Mountain National Park or Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

In addition to the zoos in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, your family can get in touch with exotic wildlife at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park, lions and tigers at The Wild Animal Sanctuary and rescued black bears, mountain lions, elk and more at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park.

Whatever your group’s taste, a Colorado family vacation is sure to keep the fun level high and the boredom level low.