Colorado Vacation - Aug. 2011
 

I need some help choosing a Colorado destination for our vacation with the kids (12 and 16) next summer.

We live in central Iowa and are planning on driving. This means 10 hours to Denver. We want to leave our home and arrive at our destination in one day. Same for the return home.

We like adventure. Some of the activities we are interested in are tandem paragliding, rock climbing/ rappelling, whitewater rafting, zip-lining, off-road Segway tours.

A condo rental would be the best accommodation for us. Two bedroom, two bath, full kitchen, and parking. We would like to keep the cost under $325/night.

There are so many places to choose from. Aspen seems to have all the activities, but the accommodations are very expensive, plus it is three hours beyond Denver. My inclination is to cross Aspen off the list.

Is there anyone who has done a similar vacation in Colorado? Specific rental properties and tour/activity companies that you were happy with would be greatly appreciated.

Go to southwest Colorado and see Durango area. Lots to see and do and at prices that won't kill you pocket. There's lot on here, put Durango into the search box to see them.

This is old, but will give you some ideas:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...suggestion.cfm

Mesa Verde National Park, the narrow gauge rail, ziplines, rafting.... and lots more.

Here is something about the segway tours. The area around Glenwood springs and Snowmass might well have a lot of the things you want, and in August, it might be a fairly reasonable season. Many people use VRBO.
http://www.segwayguidedtours.com/seg...DO&Country=USA

SW Colorado and Durango is not a one day drive from Iowa. Another six hours beyond Denver.

You might focus around Frisco/Breckenridge. Only an extra hour and half from heart of Denver. And you could day trip. White water rafting by August is marginal - low water flow. Could find some float trips. Frisco is the hub of the paved mountain bike trails from Vail to Keystone. In the area is also unlimited hiking, gold mines to visit, some narrow gauge railroad, alpine slides, hot air balloons, etc. Goggle Summit County. You could find very reasonable rate in Frisco at that time of year.

DebitNM, Durango sounds great but I agree with fmpden, it would not be a one day drive from Iowa.

Gretchen I did look into Aspen/Snowmass area and found all the activities we were looking for. My greatest concern was the cost for the condo rentals were very high, plus it was an additional 3 hour drive from Denver. I was hoping to find comparable activities, less costly condo rentals and closer to Denver.

fmpden - didn't think about low water flow in August, so yeah, white water rafting may be off the list. Breckenridge was on my list of places to consider, but I'm not finding as much info about this area as I did for Aspen/Snowmass.

Thanks for all the comments. Will continue to check back.

Sorry, missed the one day drive requirement. :o)

It has been awhile since I paid much attention to Aspen but am surprised you find more activity there than Breckenridge. All of Aspen is high simply because it is Aspen. Not many modest priced restaurants in Aspen either. I just think that for the age of the kids, Breckenridge/Frisco would be better choice.

You might look at Winter Park. It doesn't get much closer to Denver than that. Googling for Segway tours, it really seems that most of the areas have some.
Frisco and that area also, as has been said. Great places to visit.

You could also consider Winter Park, CO. Gorgeous country.

As for the 10-hour drive, I think that's an underestimate of how long the drive is, from Iowa to Denver. I thought it took that long just to Kansas City from here. We must drive slowly!

Have you considered Rocky Mt National Park?? Google Maps says it is 11 hours from DesMoins to Estes Park where you could find lodging to explore the park.