1 week itinerary for early August in Colorado
 

Flying into Denver with husband and 2 boys (15 and 19) in early August. Enjoy hiking, biking, white water rafting, ziplining, and sight seeing. What are must see spots for our 7 day trip? We want to go, see, and DO as much as possible.

My first recommendation is to find a good guide book. It is a huge state with a wide range of things to see and do. Seven days will barely scratch. White water rafting is out - no water, too late in the season. I would consider parking in Breckenridge for three or four days and then Glenwood Springs for another 3 days. However, do not plan on returning to the Denver area on a Sunday PM - traffic is impossible on a Sunday evening out of the mountains. Frisco is the heart of the paved, bike trail system in Summit County. And Mineral Trail Loop in Leadville is terrific.

since you only have 7 days, I agree with fmpden's suggestion--3 days in Breckenridge and 3 in GlenwoodSprings would be a good choice. And since you are into "doing"--here a few suggestions.

Here are some websites about only a few of the activities available around Breck.
zipline near Vail http://tinyurl.com/7na9mqd

bike ride over Vail Pass http://tinyurl.com/6u4dltv

mountain biking in Vail http://tinyurl.com/7r9lfkb

drive Boreas Pass from Breckenridge to South Park http://tinyurl.com/87vmwkm (we've done this drive in a Honda Civic)

bag an easy (relatively) fourteener near Breckenridge—Quandary Peak http://tinyurl.com/7asl8bp

visit a ghost town and stop at the hot springs at Mt. Princeton http://st-elmo-colorado.com/ http://www.mtprinceton.com/

Here are only a few of the activities/attractions closer to Glenwood Springs (of course the pool there is wonderful http://tinyurl.com/7ta7ger)

visit Aspen and the Maroon Bells about 1 hour away http://tinyurl.com/7yes44k

visit Marble http://marbletourismassociation.org/

Take a jeep tour to Crystal http://www.smithfamilycolorado.com/CRJT/

Surely leaving the Denver area or returning a loop through RMNP would be a possibility--even a drive through?

I am going white water rafting in CO in August and it will be warmer weather and water and the rapids will be lower but we think it will still be a great time. http://www.rafting-colorado.net/ is a site to locate your closest rapids near where you will be in CO, and if you need places to stay, VacationRoost has places in most main cities http://www.vacationroost.com/destinations/colorado

I think you are probably doing a float trip. In someways rafting is more dangerous in August because the water is lower and more rocks are exposed. But a float trip is always more relaxing.

I have been on a few ziplines. Did one this past weekend in Gatlinburg,as a matter of fact.

The absolute mother of all zipline operations is
www.soaringcolorado.com in Durango
You will not find a better operation than this place. Very very expensive, but you get what you pay for. Consider that it comes with the train ride and lunch, and they absolutely do not allow tipping.

Mesa Verde is close by if you decide to go as far Durango.


Estes Park/ Rocky Mountain National Park is great and many good hiking options there. I like the hike to Sky Pond.

I'd have to guess VRtravel is an ad.

Are you opposed to staying in one place for your visit? You want to DO things, not drive in your car and check in/out of hotels?

I suggest you go to Aspen, and stay there. It is beautiful and has all the activities you'd want. Plus it's a cute mostly-authentic little town.

Check out The Gant, a condo-hotel we like, which is just outside Aspen town, so you can walk in and out easily, or use their shuttle.

Peace's suggestion would be my choice too for what they like. Don't forget trout fishing in the Roaring Fork.

But if going to Aspen, bring more money. Nothing is cheap there. And I think boys would be bored. Far more activity in the Breckenridge/Summit County area.

Not true. Lots to do in Aspen. Everything on your list is available there.

And the teen boys might especially like the cool factor of Aspen. You can see some amazing cars there, at the Little Nell.

I think of Aspen as being 'wild west' Colorado, with its tales of craziness. And Summit County as Denver's bedroom community where everyone flocks to. Not my fav.

I with fmpden on Aspen. Really, cars at The Little Nell for cool factor?

For 7 days, you can certainly try out 2 different locations, maybe 3 if they are close enough together. I wouldn't pick Aspen and just stay there all week. Way too much to see/do in the state besides Aspen.

I'd say start with a couple days in Estes Park/RMNP and then drive up and over Trail Ridge Road to the west side, from there head to Vail/Breckenridge/Glenwood Springs.