If You Had 8-10 Days in Colorado in August...
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Anonymous
| and two kids, 10 & 6, and are budget travelers, what would you do? Only one caveat: roughing it is fine (expected), but my husband hates camping, so that's out. Suggestions? |
Anonymous
| What part of Colorado? |
Anonymous
| In and around Denver. |
Anonymous
|
ski resorts are cheap in summer
we did crested butte,not near Denver, but fun |
Anonymous
|
How budget is budget? Lots of 2 bed ski condos available in the sub $150/night range. Cook in condo to save money.
If camping is out but you want to try mountain hiking these look really cool: http://www.huts.org/ |
Anonymous
| Definitely go to Garden of the Gods. It's amazing. |
Anonymous
Well if you are ending her to Colorado Springs see needs to go to Pike's Peak too. |
Anonymous
|
I would do a few nights in Estes Park, the YMCA of the rockies has cheap lodging.
I'd also do a day in Boulder, head to Boulder creek, Chataqua, and Pearl Street Definitely head to the Garden of the Gods, maybe hang out in Manitou Springs after. In Denver there is the museum of Nature and Science which is good for older and younger kids since they opened a huge new discovery zone. The zoo is also very nice but pricey. If you need restaurant recommendations let me know what type of food you like. |
Anonymous
| The Celestial Seasonings tour in Boulder and Hammond's candy factory in Denver are fun for kids. Bring lots of sunblock and pack water. It can be very dry and hot. |
Anonymous
And feed the giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. |
Anonymous
| We did Colorado Springs (Garden of Gods, Pikes Peak), rafting en route to Mt Princeton camping (I know you said no camping but Mt Princeton has a very cool hot springs with a water slide), then breckenridge. We loved it! Hotels and food weren't too expensive but not sure what your budget is. Maybe look into renting a condo for a week? I wouldn't stay in Denver other than a day or two - it's just another big city. And, I'd prioritize the ski towns (breakenridge, Aspen, vail) over Colorado springs. One idea is to base yourself in Frisco in a condo vbro rental since that's near the ski towns but just outside so restaurants would be cheaper. Btw, my kids loved ziplining and rafting but those excursions were $$. Hiking is plentiful and free and beautiful to counterbalance. |
Anonymous
| You can get $4 rockpile tickets for the Rockies games. Great value if you're not afraid of heights |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for all the suggestions! |
Anonymous
|
These are in southern Colorado, so probably won't work for you, but my favorites are Mesa Verde (mentioned above I believe) and the Great Sand Dunes - both truly astounding!
http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm http://www.mesaverde.com/ Depending where you end up going the Black Canyon of the Gunnison might be accessible: http://www.nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/index.htm There is so much to see and do in Colorado - hard to choose! I grew up in Colorado and still haven't done it all! |
Anonymous
| There is a free jazz concert on Sundays at city park, which is adjacent to the zoo and nature and science museum. |