Canyon City is less than 2.5 hours from Denver and has the Royal Gorge Bridge www.royalgorgebridge.com/ plus there are other tourist things to do in Colorado Springs on the way there or back, like Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings www.cliffdwellingsmuseum.com/ or the Pikes Peak Cog Railway www.cograilway.com/.

The other direction is Fort Collins with plenty of tent camping up the Poudre Canyon http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/rooscmp.htm and you that would put you close to RMNP in case you wanted to drive up Trail Ridge Road for as far as it is opened. It really is a must see for anyone visiting Colorado.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...0IatW7FqybsWUO

Link to my pictures of GSD and Royale Gorge area. Memorial Day weekend 2009(i think)

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...80.623.4j2.6.0.

Videos for the road

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Hanging Lake is very popular and parking can be difficult if not impossible on summer weekends. I recommend going early or on a weekday.

The Great Sand Dunes are a blast. I'm hoping to get down there again this spring. If the creek is flowing bring beach toys for you preschooler. Check out the following link for info on Medano Creek. www.nps.gov/grsa/medano-creek.htm

The more iv'e thought about it The Great Sand Dunes if probably the very best park to take a preschooler.