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The sun is shining, the weather’s getting warmer and the time has never been better to get out and enjoy Colorado. Plan a family escape that is sure to create memories that will last a lifetime. Hop on your bike and rediscover a favorite Colorado ride or hit the road and take in a cool Colorado festival. Colorado’s calling you, it’s time to get out and start exploring.
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create your Family memories today
From horseback riding to historic railways, dinosaur digs to digging for gold, Colorado is the ultimate family vacation destination. Luckily, we don’t have to travel very far to create lifelong family memories in Colorado. Here are just a few ways to spend a Colorado summer:
Ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, in operation since 1891, it climbs to the top of Pikes Peak for the same breathtaking views that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful.
With a town named “Dinosaur,” is it any wonder Colorado appeals to aspiring paleontologists? Dinosaur National Monument features countless fossilized dinosaur bones, dinosaur dig sites and Fremont American Indian rock art, among its many other engaging sights.
Travel into the underground world of Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves. You'll discover some of nature's most amazing scenery, millions of years in the making, hidden deep inside Iron Mountain. Learn about the living-caverns system that is home to thousands of formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, cave bacon, flowstone and more.
Archeology buffs won’t want to miss the ancient cliff dwellings of the Mesa Verde National Park, the largest archeological preserve in the United States. Located outside of Cortez, this 52,000-acre site is the first national park to preserve works created by humans and is a World Heritage Site.
Head to Burlington, learn about the state's Western and agricultural history with its well-preserved Old Town Museum. It's more than a museum, really. It's a collection of antique-filled buildings with exhibits and information that help put the state's history into perspective. If you time it right, you might even catch a mock gunfight or a can-can show in the bar. And don't leave without taking a look at the 1905 Kit Carson County Carousel, where you can ride not only horses, but hand-carved wooden giraffes and lions, whirling to the music of a 1909 Wurlitzer Monster Military Band Organ.
For a real “taste” of Colorado, families will find the state’s produce among the finest and freshest anywhere. Several U-Pick Farms dot the Grand Valley area, offering families the opportunity to sample legendary Palisade peaches, as well as locally grown apples and cherries.
For families seeking an authentic dude ranch experience, Colorado offers everything from working ranches to luxury ranches with gourmet food, heated swimming pools and equestrian riding. The Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association represents more than 30 member ranchers dedicated to helping families find the right ranch experience.
At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, kids can head to the African Rift Valley exhibit for a chance to feed the giraffes. The largest mountain zoo in the country, it is home to more than 30 endangered species.
Head out to Coors Field in Denver and cheer for the home team at a Rockies game. “Rock Pile” tickets are just $4, but the memories are priceless.
Strike it rich at the Hidee Gold Mine in Central City. Take a tour of this famous mine and learn about local geology, history and mining methods both past and present. Tours include a stop at a five-foot vertical gold vein where you use a jack hammer and chisel (provided) to chip a gold ore sample loose, and it’s yours to keep!
For more ideas on Colorado family vacation opportunities visit www.colorado.com/DoVacationIdeasAndArticles.aspx
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Cruise Across Colorado: Cycling and Mountain Biking in the Centennial State
Here in Colorado we know cycling isn’t just recreation, it’s a way of life. From the vast eastern plains up to the Continental Divide and west to the Four Corners there’s a slice of singletrack, a plethora of mountain passes and plenty of flat road for every mountain biker or cyclist.
So throw your bike on your rack and revisit some of Colorado’s classic rides.
The Horse Gulch/Telegraph Trail (Durango): This two- to six-mile mountain bike trail is perfect for families and beginners. The southwestern Colorado scenery is breathtaking. www.durango.com
The Lower Loop (Crested Butte): The best way to see Crested Butte is by mountain bike. The 10-mile trail is perfect for beginners. www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
Bookcliffs/18 Road (Fruita): This epic singletrack is ideally suited for intermediate mountain bikers. At the trailhead you will see the wondrous Bookcliff Mountains. www.gofruita.com
Peak to Peak Highway (Ft. Collins/Estes Park): The Peak to Peak Highway in the Arapaho National Forrest runs for 55 miles from just outside of Boulder to Estes Park. With outstanding panoramic views, this highway glides through nature as well as historic former mining communities with preserved period architecture. www.coloradoscenicbyways.com
West Colorado Springs Cruise (Colorado Springs): The perfect way to enjoy Colorado Springs. Start in downtown, ride to the Garden of the Gods, cruise through Manitou Springs and pass through the hilly southwest suburbs before looping back to the start. www.visitcos.com
Copper Triangle (Copper Mountain): The Copper Triangle has long been considered one of Colorado's classic alpine road rides. With 78 miles of breathtaking scenery, great roads and three challenging climbs, the Copper Triangle provides the quintessential Colorado Rockies riding experience. www.coppercolorado.com
For more ideas on biking in Colorado, visit www.Colorado.com/BikingAndRiding.aspx.
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FEATURED EVENTS
Aspen Music Festival (Aspen) June 25-August 23, 2009: Set against the majesty of the Colorado Rockies, the Aspen Music Festival is a nine-week summer showcase of more than 350 events - including orchestral concerts, chamber music, opera, contemporary music, master classes, lectures and kids' programs. Each day brings concerts to the Benedict Music Tent, the beautifully restored Victorian Wheeler Opera House, the exceptional Harris Concert Hall, as well as to churches and other halls around Aspen. Many events are free, and other tickets range up to $80. Lawn seating is always free. www.aspenmusic.org
Colorado State Fair (Pueblo) August 28-September 7, 2009: Head to Pueblo and catch the annual Colorado State Fair, nearly two weeks of carnivals, livestock shows, rodeos and concerts. It's a great way to celebrate the state. Enjoy entertainment from musical acts including Rodney Atkins, Sawyer Brown, Foreigner and Darius Rucker, plus a demolition derby and monster truck show. www.coloradostatefair.com
For more information on events and festivals happening across the state, visit http://www.Colorado.com/DoEventsAndFestivals.aspx.
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 TRIP GIVEAWAYS 
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Love Colorado? Join Frontier’s Colorado Club
This summer, Frontier Airlines, Colorado’s only home-grown airline, is rolling out a way to reward its loyal customers with Frontier’s Colorado Club. The first program offering in the Club will reward members whose friends and family fly into Colorado destinations. Enroll in the Club, and every time you refer someone who flies to a Colorado destination, you earn 1,000 frequent flyer miles. (You can enroll/sponsor up to 10 travelers, earning up to 10,000 miles for yourself during the promotion.) The person you refer then earns double miles for that Colorado trip. Frontier’s Colorado Club members will also be privy to special offers and incentives in the future. Participants must register by June 30, 2009. Travel must be to one of Frontier’s Colorado destinations (Aspen, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango or Grand Junction) and must be booked by June 30, 2009 and must be completed by September 30, 2009. FrontierAirlines.com/coloradoclub.
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Survive the Summer in Telluride
The historic New Sheridan Hotel is offering the ultimate guys getaway this summer with the Survivor Man-cation package. Participate in a full-day wilderness survival skills course with San Juan Outdoor School instructors, who have previously been tapped to train US military Special Forces. Guides will transport visitors to the San Juan Mountains and cover techniques that include fire wood selection, building and maintaining a fire without matches or a lighter, shelter-building and cooking on an open flame. The package also includes two nights' accommodations at the New Sheridan Hotel and a $50 dining and beverage credit for each traveler to enjoy at the Chop House and the historic New Sheridan Bar. A two-person package is $630 and a four-person package is $1,160. www.NewSheridan.com
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Stay and Play at Cougar Canyon Golf Links
Enjoy one of Colorado’s most-raved-about new courses, Cougar Canyon Golf Links in Trinidad. Stay in a brand new La Quinta Inn & Suites, play Cougar Canyon Golf Links, enjoy unlimited range time and receive a commemorative yardage book - all for only $99! www.cougarcanyonresort.com
For more outstanding deals and discounts on travel across the state, visit www.hotdealscolorado.com.
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