Colorado Family Vacation: A 4-Day Denver Area Itinerary

Hi! I’m Sarah, a friend of Cindy’s and the News Director at KETV in Omaha, Nebraska. I’m also a busy wife and mom of two. I put in at least 50 hours a week at the station, and once I get home, the chaos doesn’t stop there. I have a daughter, Annabelle, and a son, Hayden. My husband, Josh, is a mechanical engineer.

Our busy day-to-day lives mean it’s essential to use our vacations to relax, unwind, and reconnect as a family.  We have lived in Omaha for six years now, and one of our favorite places to escape for a relaxing, outdoorsy family vacation is beautiful Colorado! 

This is the Colorado family vacation itinerary we used for a four-day Spring Break vacation in and around Denver and Colorado Springs!

First, A Note on Costs

I’ve learned at this juncture that when traveling as a family, the costs can quickly spiral out of control. Road trips are our best option, so we’re not shelling out airfare for everyone. That’s why we opted to pile everyone into our Chevy Traverse and even took our two dogs along for the adventure! 

Next, finding the right VRBO that’s pet-friendly and in a good location is a game-changer in family travel. For one, you don’t have to pay a daily fee for a sitter. For two dogs, that can run anywhere from $50 a day into the hundreds! Think of how much that adds to a 4-day trip!

Also, when you’re looking for a VRBO in the mountains, you need to ensure you’ll be able to navigate the roads in case of a blizzard or rockslide. Most owners who have questionable driveways will require you to have an AWD or 4WD vehicle to book. 

Make sure you read lots of reviews. Guests are usually honest, and you can get a sense of what amenities you can expect. Some VRBO owners go all out with stocked pantries and lots of linens and toiletries; others will require you to bring your own. Our vacation rental was near Red Rocks Amphitheater in the Evergreen/Indian Hills/Morrison area.

Here’s a map of VRBO and hotel options available in the same area!

Arrival Day

We arrived to find snow on the ground. I was shocked at how warm 40 degrees felt in Colorado! It’s so mild! 

We brought a bunch of board games and LEGO sets with us. This trip was all about relaxing. A hotel room would never have worked. We had so much room to sprawl out, eat together, play, and snuggle. We ordered a pizza and just spent the day indoors. 

Day One

Red Rocks Amphitheater

Red Rocks Amphitheater includes a beautiful hiking area, and the best part for a family with small kids is that you can still access great scenery with a stroller!

I bet watching a concert here would be incredible! It was fun to watch people run the steps, too, though.

Be sure to bring sunglasses. There’s plenty of sun in Colorado, which will reflect off the snow and into your eyes!

Lunch in Golden, Colorado

We took the short drive to the town of Golden for lunch. It’s home to the MillerCoors factory, and you can take a tour for a small fee that includes a tasting and a glass.

However, because it’s not stroller-friendly, we didn’t do the tour. Instead, we had lunch at a local craft brewery, Barrels and Bottles, where we tried all sorts of appetizers and played board games.

Golden has excellent views of the Table Mountains – flat, like a table! 

Lookout Mountain

The drive up Lookout Mountain is winding and beautiful. There are several pull-offs along the way up to stop, take photos, and soak up the scenery. The thin mountain air will do wonders for your soul.

Notice neither of my men is wearing a coat! It’s so temperate! I was blown away! Be sure to also pack the sunscreen. You’d be surprised how a day in the snow and sun can leave you red! 

Buffalo Bill’s Grave

Once you get to the top, there is a large parking lot at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. It’s also home to more fantastic photo ops!

The museum does cost a fee, and the kids were getting worn out by this point, so we skipped out on that. We did, however, go into the gift shop and grab some hot cocoa before making our way over to the gravesite.

Tip: I used the Lariat Loop website to help plan my stops. They have a variety of pre-planned trip routes, or you can prepare your own!

Park Meadows Mall

We finished our day with dinner and a trip to the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree.

If you’re a shopaholic, the mall in Lone Tree is excellent! 

Day Two

On day two, we made a big breakfast, played with legos, and then got ready for a day at Dinosaur Ridge.

Dinosaur Ridge

This place is great for adults and kids and is totally worth the money! Plus, it’s a non-profit, so the money goes toward preserving the fossils on-site.

You’ll take a guided bus tour along “dinosaur ridge” where you’ll make various stops. Check out those fossilized dinosaur footprints!

Once the tour is done, you can ride the bus back or hike back. It’s not terribly far, but since we had the baby in tow, we rode the bus back.

There’s a gift shop and a mini-museum that my daughter enjoyed.

Outside, they have a giant sandbox where you can “dig up” fossils. They will let you pick one to take home if you find a bunch.

After that, we drove around the area some more just to take in the mountains. That’s part of the reason this vacation was actually a vacation. We didn’t have to spend much money for a big payoff. The views are free.

Reconnecting with nature brings serenity, and the kids were shockingly peaceful. I’m not sure if it’s because we were more relaxed or the lack of screen time, but they were satisfied just riding and looking out the window! 

Day Three

Day three was the day my husband and I were most excited about! He was looking forward to Garden of the Gods, and I was pumped to ride the Gondolas across the Royal Gorge.

Garden of the Gods

We could not have asked for a better day! Incredible blue skies against the red rock, white snow, and green trees made for breathtaking pictures! 

Speaking of breathtaking… the only time I experienced what I imagine was altitude sickness was here at Garden of the Gods. I got lightheaded, my lungs felt tighter, and I was even a little nauseous. 

Tip: Be sure to stay hydrated on trips into the mountains. I made sure the kids were downing water, Gatorade, and milk the entire trip. I must’ve gotten cocky by day 4 and drank too much coffee instead! 

Garden of the Gods is especially stroller-friendly and handicap accessible. It was amazing how many flat and paved pathways winded through the rocks.

Annabelle whined a little about all the walking, but I think that was more because she was getting hangry. I didn’t want to give up the views, though! 

👉 Next, check out more tips from a local on what to do in the Colorado Springs area!

Royal Gorge

From there, we got back on the road and drove from Colorado Springs to Royal Gorge.

When I got there, I realized this wouldn’t be as “fun” as I thought. I forgot I’m terrified of heights and assume the worst will always happen.

Do you see that red dot? ☝️ That’s the gondola we were about to ride. I was really nervous. 

1,250 feet down is much more terrifying than I expected. I spent the entire ride freaking out and barely opening my eyes. Hayden loved it, though, and as a bonus, the gondola is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly as well!

Once you get to the other side, you can ride the gondola back or walk across the suspension bridge. 

On that side, you’ll also find a variety of activities. In fact, I was shocked at how “amusement park” this place felt. 

(Note: you have to pay admission to get in, and there are fees for different thrill attractions you may want to try.) 

We rode the carousel and played in the massive jungle gym.

Then, we headed back over the bridge. I was once again terrified and power-walked across that puppy. My heart was pounding, and my knuckles were white as I pushed the stroller across. I was a sweaty mess by the end. 

We ended that day with dinner in Colorado Springs and returned to our rental house. We were beat!

Day Four

Our main priority for this trip was reconnecting and unwinding. So, on our final full day, we slept in, ate breakfast, and played board games.

Colorado Mills Mall

That evening, we went to the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood and took the kids to the LEGO store and to Build-a-Bear.

Casa Bonita

Then we went to Casa Bonita for dinner. That was an experience that I could honestly probably have lived without. The line to get in was crazy long; it felt dirty, and you had to carry a tray to your table.

Annabelle loved the live shows, though, and Josh loved being somewhere that was featured on South Park. 

We ate dinner and called it a night.

Departure Day

One thing to remember when staying in a rental house is that leaving it as you found it is common courtesy. So you usually spend your final morning cleaning up. We packed up, checked out by locking up and sending a quick text message, and set off for Nebraska.

My final travel tip: When you’re driving with kids and pets, try to plan ahead. Have snacks and drinks; remember you don’t have to do an 8-hour trip in one day. We cut it in half both ways and got a pet-friendly hotel for the night in North Platte, Nebraska.

It allowed us to savor the final moments of vacation, playing in the pool and eating pizza, instead of pushing everyone too hard to fit travel into one day. We made it home refreshed instead of feeling over-extended.

I may be most proud that I never checked my work email once in Colorado. I truly unplugged. That can be hard when you’re a manager in news, but it’s so important to prevent burnout. 

FAQs

Next are some answers to some of the questions I am often asked about vacationing in Colorado as a family.

Is Colorado Good for Families?

Yes! Colorado’s abundant nature and outdoorsiness are excellent for family vacations! The state has countless hiking and adventure options; you can go as relaxed or intense as you desire!

Is Denver or Colorado Springs Better for Families?

Denver and Colorado Springs are both great destinations for a family vacation. If you want to experience more of a vacation with city life vibes, spend more time in Denver. If you’re looking for a more chill atmosphere, spend more time around Colorado Springs.

Is 3 days in Denver Enough?

There’s so much to do in the surrounding Denver area! Three days can be enough, but I’d go into it with a plan of what your “must sees” are before arriving so you don’t come and become overwhelmed by all the choices of activities!

Family Vacation in Colorado Map

Wrap-Up: Denver and Colorado Springs Area Family Vacation

I hope this trip itinerary inspired you to take a Colorado family vacation!

If you have any questions about traveling as a family on the road, about Colorado as a family destination, or even if you just want to chat about Parenthood, I invite you to visit me on my blog, The Unapologetic Working Mom. 

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👉 Locals Know Best Podcast Ep. 002: Colorado Springs, Colorado
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