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 fam.

 

Watch our video of a Colorado zipline and aerial park for inspiration, zoom down an alpine slide, check out family attractions for kids 10 and under and thrilling family vacation ideas, and read below for even more ideas.

Elitch Gardens Theme Park in Denver
A giraffe at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs
Lions at the Denver Zoo
Hippo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs
Skiers in Avon
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs
Cross-country skiing near Vail
A corn maze at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Family fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park
Skiing at Vail Mountain
Getting ready to ride at a Colorado Dude Ranch
Hands-on fun at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster
Hiking near Grand Junction
Castle Rock
Soothing muscles in the Ouray Hot Springs Pool
Summer at the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool
Ice skating in Beaver Creek Village
Ice skating on Evergreen Lake
Sledding and ice skating on Keystone Lake
Shopping in the My Market exhibit at the Children's Museum of Denver
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field in Denver
Denver Broncos' pregame festivities at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver
MLS' Colorado Rapids play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park outside Denver
Colorado rating trip in Glenwood Canyon near Glenwood Springs
Colorado rafting trip on the Arkansas River near Cañon City
Colorado rafting trip on Clear Creek near Idaho Springs
Colorado snowboarding at Vail Mountain
Snowshoeing in Beaver Creek
Snowshoeing through fresh powder in Beaver Creek
Snowtubing at Vail Mountain
Heading toward the snow-tubing lift at Vail Mountain
Snow tubing at Copper Mountain
A tour of the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver
Wakeboarding on Boulder Reservoir in Boulder
Skiing in Winter Park
Indoor Skydiving at SkyVenture in Lone Tree, CO
Osiris poses for the camera at the Colorado Gator Reptile Park in Mosca
Family vacations at Winter Park Resort
Adventure Ridge at Vail Mountain
Colorado State Fair in Pueblo
Sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad
Blanca Vista Park in Alamosa
Downtown Alamosa
Great Sand Dunes National Park Near Alamosa
Mountain Rails Live on the Rio Grand Scenic Railroad
Views of Mount Blanca and the Rio Grande River in Alamosa
Mesa Verde National Park, just 35 miles west of Durango
Kayaking at Vallecito Lake near Durango
The Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs
The Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs
Helen Hunt Falls
Helen Hunt Falls
A view of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Park
A view of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Park

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.