Things to do / Travel Guide
With the region of the eastern Colorado and Wyoming Rockies so outdoors-oriented, and one mountain grander than the next, it isn't hard at all to find vacation ideas for activities your family will enjoy. This is a great region to introduce your children to the great outdoors, as everything is so much more massive and awesome around here. Those snow-covered and craggy Rockies, like Longs Peak or Pikes Peak, will kindle the imagination of even the most city-minded youths, and there is nothing as inviting as the huge wide-open expanses of lush green and wildflowers above timberline.
Kid-stuff around Denver, Colorado
Within Denver, you can be assured your kids will have a good time at Six Flags at Elitch Gardens, or WaterWorld in Federal Heights. At the Downtown Aquarium, located appropriately on Water Street, your child will undoubtedly have hours of educational fun. The Denver Zoo, located in City Park, is home to many rare and interesting animals of different stripes (and spots). Visiting attractions like these is a perfect alternative for kids who prefer some more urban-style entertainment.
Once in the country, a great way to experience the mountain trails with your family is on horseback. You can find an opportunity for horseback riding at a dude ranch, of which there are many in the region, south of Denver. An alternative is to take a horseback tour. One such outfitter of these equestrian excursions is Wilderness Aware Rafting, which, in addition to horseback riding and, of course, rafting, can also facilitate off-road jeep trips and mine tours.
Mining Tours near Denver, Colorado
When you tell your kids that upwards of $100 million worth of gold was mined in this region, you'll probably have them lassoed for the rest of the day. The mines themselves are often open as museums, and one of the best is probably the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, one mile north of Cripple Creek. You and your family will travel 1,000 feet below ground to experience fascinating tours of all the equipment used in gold-mining over 100 years ago, and to see the quarries themselves. The tour guides are themselves miners. On display in their natural states are gold veins and telluride of gold ore specimens. This mine, like others, is open from April-October. In addition to the Mollie Kathleen, other mines in the region that offer tours are: Argo Gold Mine and Mill in Idaho Springs, Phoenix Gold Mine, also in Idaho Springs, and Hidee Gold Mine in Central City.
The Denver Mint
Speaking of money, tours of the Denver Mint are also available. More coins are produced from these grounds than any other mint in the world. While you need to make reservations, the tours are actually free of charge; they leave on the hour every hour, from 8:00 to 3:00.
Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs
Compared to many of the other rugged outdoor attractions, Colorado Springs' Garden of the Gods is a walk in the park. It's located just outside city limits, and the roads that criss-cross the park are designed for an easy-going excursion. Of course, there are plenty of places to get out and look around, and run around the rock formations.
Kids love fossils, and they love bugs. So a fun afternoon excursion from Colorado Springs is to Florissant, where you can see tiny fossilized insects, fish, rodents, and leaves. There are also impressive fossilized tree stumps for a forest romp. Florissant is located off U.S. Highway 24, west from Colorado Springs.
Family Vacation Ideas in Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Cheyenne Wyoming and the Eastern Rockies
Family-Vacation-Ideas
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