Ideas for a family on a roadtrip around Denver and Utah
#1
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Ideas for a family on a roadtrip around Denver and Utah
We are a swedish family with two kids aged 9 and 12 planning a trip in mid or late June. Starting in Denver and then travelling to some of the national parks in Utah and taking in other fun sights/activities along the way. We would welcome suggestions for fun things to do for a family with older kids. We are an active family and plan to do some hiking but would also like suggestions on other interesting and fun things for all the family. We would also appreciate some advice on whether mid to late June is a bad time of year for a holiday? Is it very crowded w tourists? Very hot weather ?
#2
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How much time do you have for the trip?
Are you starting and ending the trip in Denver?
First thing I'd suggest is to get a hold of a map of both Denver and Utah and decide what National Parks you want to visit.
IF you are interested in Zion and Bryce, you are better to use Las Vegas as either an arrival point or departure.
Speaking of that - do you already have your tickets? {SAS is having a big sale now, FYI} The reason I ask is that it is often better to fly into one city and out of another, so that you don't have to backtrack.
Are you starting and ending the trip in Denver?
First thing I'd suggest is to get a hold of a map of both Denver and Utah and decide what National Parks you want to visit.
IF you are interested in Zion and Bryce, you are better to use Las Vegas as either an arrival point or departure.
Speaking of that - do you already have your tickets? {SAS is having a big sale now, FYI} The reason I ask is that it is often better to fly into one city and out of another, so that you don't have to backtrack.
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Dinosaur National Monument is a stop you should make, at least for the headquarters with its museum.
http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/index.htm
There are a couple of train rides in southern Colorado that you might want to consider:
http://cumbrestoltec.com/
http://www.durangotrain.com/
and I would not miss Mesa Verde:
http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/index.htm
There are a couple of train rides in southern Colorado that you might want to consider:
http://cumbrestoltec.com/
http://www.durangotrain.com/
and I would not miss Mesa Verde:
http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/index.htm
#5
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Re the train rides. They take an entire day and honestly, for kids that age, they are pretty boring. I would pass on both of them.
Mesa Verde NP is one of my favorites (I could see it from my former home nearby). It is a long drive from Denver though. IF you were going to do that, I would recommend flying into Albuquerque and then working your way towards Denver.
Mesa Verde NP is one of my favorites (I could see it from my former home nearby). It is a long drive from Denver though. IF you were going to do that, I would recommend flying into Albuquerque and then working your way towards Denver.
#6
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Staying in Colorado, you might look into the Great Sand Dunes park.
You could easily fill up two weeks in Colorado alone. Go fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, zip lining. See a baseball game.
You could easily fill up two weeks in Colorado alone. Go fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, zip lining. See a baseball game.
#7
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This has the potential for being a great trip. In addition to everything else, your family might enjoy spending a night at Glenwood Hot Springs, which is on the way from Denver to Utah. Room rates at the Glenwood Hot Springs Hotel includes admission to the huge swimming pool--a great family pleaser.
It is true you could spend all your time in Colorado, but since you are so near to Utah it would be very much worthwhile to visit Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and the stretch of Highway 128 that follows the Colorado River between Moab and Loma.
I cannot advise about the weather, but I suppose it is better than the weather in Sweden. There will be swarms of tourists at Arches National Park, but for good reason.
HTtY
PS When you work out your itinerary, post it and we can give more specific suggestions.
It is true you could spend all your time in Colorado, but since you are so near to Utah it would be very much worthwhile to visit Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and the stretch of Highway 128 that follows the Colorado River between Moab and Loma.
I cannot advise about the weather, but I suppose it is better than the weather in Sweden. There will be swarms of tourists at Arches National Park, but for good reason.
HTtY
PS When you work out your itinerary, post it and we can give more specific suggestions.
#9
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Please do try to incorporate a bit of dinosaurs into your trip--your kids are a pretty good age, and there is lots of interest.
And Mesa Verde is a true treasure of the world--I think probably unique, as is much of the American west really.
For the Denver portion of your trip, do include the Rocky Mountain National Park.
And as mentioned, as you head west pause at Glenwood Springs and the Glenwood Canyon part of Interstate 40--an engineering marvel. You can bike ride in that area also which might be fun for the family.
And Mesa Verde is a true treasure of the world--I think probably unique, as is much of the American west really.
For the Denver portion of your trip, do include the Rocky Mountain National Park.
And as mentioned, as you head west pause at Glenwood Springs and the Glenwood Canyon part of Interstate 40--an engineering marvel. You can bike ride in that area also which might be fun for the family.
#10
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As for the Utah parks, I wouldn't want to go much farther than Moab, for Arches and Canyonlands.
With kids I'd want to do Dinosaur and Mesa Verde and try to space out some of the drives.
We did a trip a few years ago starting in Denver, then to Dinosaur, then Arches and Canyonlands for a few days then Mesa Verde and back to Denver with a couple of other stops along the way. RMNP would make a great place for a little hiking, or at least a drive through.
If you are thinking of this June, you are a bit late for getting lodging near the NPs, so arrange that ASAP once you have decided what you want to see.
With kids I'd want to do Dinosaur and Mesa Verde and try to space out some of the drives.
We did a trip a few years ago starting in Denver, then to Dinosaur, then Arches and Canyonlands for a few days then Mesa Verde and back to Denver with a couple of other stops along the way. RMNP would make a great place for a little hiking, or at least a drive through.
If you are thinking of this June, you are a bit late for getting lodging near the NPs, so arrange that ASAP once you have decided what you want to see.
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I second the Glenwood Springs idea, which is about two hours from Denver. The whole town seems like a great family vacation spot. Being from Sweden, you might appreciate the natural "vapor caves" that are kind of a combination of being a cave/sauna. You wear your swimsuits in and there is a spa attached. www.yampahspa.com
There are also some caverns and a western-themed amusement park up on the mountain (you have to ride a gondola up.) glenwoodcaverns.com/
If you only do one hike in Colorado, just outside of town is Hanging Lakes Trail. It is a steep climb about a mile to the top, and worth every step. Just amazing. www.visitglenwood.com/hanging-lake.
There are also some caverns and a western-themed amusement park up on the mountain (you have to ride a gondola up.) glenwoodcaverns.com/
If you only do one hike in Colorado, just outside of town is Hanging Lakes Trail. It is a steep climb about a mile to the top, and worth every step. Just amazing. www.visitglenwood.com/hanging-lake.
#13
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Independence Pass, between Leadville and Aspen, is quite spectacular, and I-70 between Denver and Glenwood Springs is an unusually scenic stretch of our interstate highway system.
It is unfortunate that the Marroon Bells are now accessible only by bus (or perhaps on foot) most of the year.
HTtY
It is unfortunate that the Marroon Bells are now accessible only by bus (or perhaps on foot) most of the year.
HTtY
#14
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Unless you want to do a lot of hiking in Arches and Bryce, both of those parks can be covered in one day. July temps can be @ 80's or more during that time. Both are beautiful and well worth the visit!
Take the drive along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park - the highest continuous paved road in the country. Plan on all-day to stop at different vantage points. There's some short trails near or at the top - although with the altitude you will be breathing hard! Alpine Ridge Trail is about a half mile round trip and has spectacular wildflowers:
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...idge-trail.htm
The Tundra Communities Trail has some huge mushroom-shaped rock formations:
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...ties-trail.htm
The town of Estes Park can be crowded in the summer as it is very touristy. Try to plan your visit in to Rocky Mountain National Park during the week, when maybe it won't be so crowded.
Take the drive along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park - the highest continuous paved road in the country. Plan on all-day to stop at different vantage points. There's some short trails near or at the top - although with the altitude you will be breathing hard! Alpine Ridge Trail is about a half mile round trip and has spectacular wildflowers:
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...idge-trail.htm
The Tundra Communities Trail has some huge mushroom-shaped rock formations:
http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails...ties-trail.htm
The town of Estes Park can be crowded in the summer as it is very touristy. Try to plan your visit in to Rocky Mountain National Park during the week, when maybe it won't be so crowded.
#15
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Thank you all for so many great suggestions ! We are still planning our itinerary. Saw that there were still plenty of availability in the NP and the lodges in Bryce and Zion in July but not in June. Is the weather too hot in July to go hiking? Or what is the reason as to why June is so popular and July is not ? When is the main tourist season in the Us? We would like to try and avoid the crowds and also the worst of the heat i the Utah NP
#16
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July/August will range between hot, hotter, and very hot. The main tourist season in the US is about the same as everywhere. June, July, and first half of August. Some school district will start school in the latter half of August so for families of school age children they will be gone. If you really want to avoid crowds and heat it should be May or September/October. But Colorado is big so it can handle lots of crowds.
#18
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All weather is hard to predict. But it can hit the upper 30s or as high 40C in that time period. Humidity is not a problem but it can be hot. And crowded with visitors is a relative term. Weekends for sure, but the middle of the week less so.
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