ccb213

Hello. I'm hoping you can guide me in the right direction for a first time family trip to the Colorado Springs/Durango area. I've ready many of the past posts and they've been very helpful. We only have one week and will likely be traveling from 8/14 - 8/22 with three kids (twin 8 year old boys, 7 year old girl). I have a tentative itinerary but would love to know if I am planning this correctly, trying to cram too much in, etc. Any and all guidance would be appreciated. Here's what I have so far:

Sat 8/14 - Fly from BWI to Denver - arrive around noon
PM - Colorado Rockies Baseball Game (for my husband)
Sun. 8/15 Drive to Colorado Springs
(Air Force Academy, Ghost Town or Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine)
Mon. 8/16 Pikes Peak and surrounding area
Tue. 8/17 Drive to Durango (or MVNP) via Sand Dunes National Park
Wed. 8/18 Durango – Silverton Railroad (right side seats if possible!)
Th. 8/19 Durango – then drive to MVNP - stay in Far View Loge if possible
Fri. 8/20 Mesa Verde National Park - stay in lodge
Sat. 8/21 Drive to ABQ for 1:30 flight home

We'd like to visit Garden of the Gods but not sure where to fit that in. Any suggestions or what we should change? Once I get the itinerary down, I will probably have more questions or lodging and restaurants. Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Melnq8

Too ambitious IMO.

I assume you know that the Mollie Kathleen is in Cripple Creek, which is close to an hour's drive west from Colorado Springs. The tour takes about an hour, then you'll need more time if you want to explore Cripple Creek. The drive from Denver to Colorado Springs will take 45 minutes to an hour, longer if you're staying further north.

You can fit Garden of the Gods in on 8/16 as it's on the way to the Peak - are you driving or taking the cog wheel train?

The last time I drove from Colorado Springs to Durango it took about six hours with just a few rest stops. The Sand Dunes are 35 miles NE of Alamosa. Personally, I wouldn't attempt both in a day.

BlackandGold

I'm planning the same drive from Co springs to Durango w/ a stop at the great sand dunes. I think a six hour drive with a 1-2 hour stop is very doable. Leave Co Springs no later than nine arrive in Durango around six. We may even squeeze in a stop at Chimney Rock if we feel up for it.

BlackandGold

Oh and don't go all the way to Alamosa. North on 150 will take you directly to the Great Sand Dunes.

Pat_in_Mich

We liked the Mollie Kathleen gold mine, the tour was very interesting. It seems to me that you'd have plenty of time to leave Denver in the morning and drive up to the Mollie Kathleen for the tour. Garden of the Gods is open until 11:00 in the summer so you could go after dinner that day if you felt like it.

Melnq8

<Garden of the Gods is open until 11:00 in the summer so you could go after dinner that day if you felt like it.?

In the dark? The sun sets around 7:45 pm in Colorado in August.

ccb213

Thanks for the feedback so far.
Melnq8 -- I didn't know that the Mollie kathleen gold mine was an hour from colorado springs so maybe we will rethink that. Also, we were planning on taking the cog train to pikes peak as I thought that might be more fun for our kids. If anyone thinks differently - let me know.
Black and Gold - thanks for the help with the driving route.
Are there things we should change or cut out?
Thanks again.

tovarich

Stay in Manitou springs,close to garden of the gods, Pike's peak...

Waldo

In Colorado Springs, eat at Zio's. It's a great atmosphere with good Italian food, and large portions at good prices.