I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip for my 14 year old son & I. I love to travel but he would usually rather stay home riding bikes and whatnot. Needless to say, the trip needs to keep his attention

A little bit about us -- we both like to hike (I could do a trip consisting of just hiking everyday but I know that wouldn't be a fit for him), mountain bike, raft, camp & love the outdoors in general. We have been on a trip out west a couple years ago and did Zion, Bryce, GC & Mesa Verde. We had a great time. If I were to do it again, I'd take more time. It was a lot for a 10 day trip. A lot of driving.....I think more flexibility would be good for both of us.

I'm thinking Denver because neither of us have been there and flights from Indianapolis are pretty affordable ($250/rt). I am also considering San Francisco but feel like the cost will be quite a bit more and I'm trying to do this as budget friendly as possible. (approx $1500-2000)

Time frame is last week of October 2017. Fall break. 5-6 days.

I'm unsure where our base camp should be. I had assumed Denver but after doing some research, I'm unsure if that's a good move. Thoughts? Breckenridge? Glenwood Springs for a few days possibly? I haven't looked into cost for these areas so it may be out of my range. I also like the idea of doing a backpacking/camping trip for a night or 2. Not a necessity but it'd be a good mix, well rounded trip IMO.

Garden of the Gods is on my radar, Pike's Peak. Be cool to experience hot springs at some point, I think he'd like that. A little bit of history is ok but he's not big on museums. The mint might be cool and I found an indoor skatepark in Denver that he would love! So I'd like to work that in as well.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

A couple of options out of Denver: When it is on time (sometimes) the Amtrak California Zephyr leaves shortly after 8AM westbound to Glenwood Springs. The Glenwood Canyon east of Glenwood is one of the best daytime scenery spots on all Amtrak routes.
There is a bike path out of Glenwood along the Colorado River.
There is a gondola ride up to Glenwood Cavern.
Near the big old hotels is the worlds largest hot spring fed swimming pool. Hike up to the top of the hill to see the marker for Doc Holliday in the cemetery. It is an interesting story of how and when he was buried.
Glenwood also has a good bus service up to Aspen and the Maroon Bells.
The Colorado Dept. of Transportation has also started a bus service that goes from Denver to Glenwood Springs also leaving at about 8AM.
Another option would be to fly to SLC and go see the other parks in the "Big 5". Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands are great National Parks

If you are coming to Denver and the mountains in the last week of October you are looking at winter. Any overnight camping in the mountain would require winter gear. The skis resorts will be opening at that time and the possibility of encountering snow in the high country is decent. Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mt National Park may or may not be open. Tends close around mid-Nov but or earlier if the snow is heavy. It was this year. Anything in the mountains will be very weather dependent.

The narrow gauge railroad out of Georgetown should be running at least on the weekends. That and the silver mine tour in the middle is pretty interesting. The Mineral Belt trail out of Leadville is a great 12 mile loop (bike or hiking). The back road into Aspen via Independence Pass out of Leadville is a great drive IF the road is still open at that time.

Breckenridge would be a decent base as the prices are more reasonable as the area struggles to open for the ski season.

The Cog railroad to Pike's Peak from Colorado Springs will be running but bring you winter coat for the time on top.

Need more info on what would appeal beyond a skate park - however, several in Denver.

October weather is a wild card in Colorado. It's not always winter-like.

I had guests in Winter Park in mid-October, and our weather was spectacularly blue and clear, in the 60s.

But, it could also snow. Hope for the best; prepare for the worst. I wouldn't recommend overnight camping, but there should be plenty of backpacking and hiking.

Lodging should be less expensive, as the majority of ski areas won't be open till November.

I always recommend Devil's Thumb Ranch, near Winter Park. It has all the activities you and your son would enjoy, in a gorgeous ranch setting.
http://www.devilsthumbranch.com

Lodging is very well-done, in an authentic Western style, a la Ralph Lauren. There are several price points for lodging. Cabins being most expensive, then the High Lonesome Lodge, then the main Lodge, then their Bunkhouse.

They also own Vasquez Creek Inn and the Trailhead Inn, more modest lodging in Winter Park, which give you access to the Ranch amenities, and use of their shuttle service to/from the Ranch.

Take him to REI and do the climbing wall. There are others around town also if that is interesting.
You might go hang around Boulder and he might even find the Celestial Seasoning tea "factory" there interesting--especially the mint room.
I would think you would not want to miss Rocky mountain National Park--far more than Garden of the Gods, etc. If there isn't snow you could go there, spend a day or so, drive on through the Park on Trail Ridge Road and then on to Glenwood Springs and on west. (If this was already said, forgive the echo).

I don't know if it would fit in your time frame but maybe:
Fly to SLC and rent a car. See at least 2 of the "Big 5" that you have not seen (Arches & Canyonlands) from Moab.
Moab also has a lot of bicycle stuff as well.
Return the car in SLC and get on the eastbound California Zephyr early in the morning all the way to Glenwood Springs a little after noon. Ruby Canyon is a beautiful section of the California Zephyr route.
Spend a day or maybe 2 in Glenwood Springs before getting back on the California Zephyr to Denver.
The view of Denver while coming down from Winter Park from the train is fantastic. The best things I remember about Denver are a tour of the state capitol and the US mint.
The newly remodeled Amtrak station is very close to Mile High Stadium. The train backs into the station right past the stadium.
The light rail system out to the Denver airport from the Intermodal (including Amtrak) station is now complete.

Tom, no one in Denver refers to it as the Intermodal station. RTD one time referred to it as that but to everyone else it is Union Station in keep with the sign on the front. Always has been and always will be. And technically speaking it is not light rail to the airport. It is heavy rail with very different designed cars than the light rail system through out the rest of Denver.

I think you mean that Union station is close to Coors Field (baseball). Mile High Stadium is football and several miles distance from Union Station. And the station is far more than remodeled. It was totally redeveloped into restaurants and a hotel.

October in San Francisco is the best time of year. As much as I love CO and Denver, I'd go to SF. Maybe stay a few less days to save $

Check out The Mosser. Clean, great location. Get a room with shared bath, which are kept spot lessly clean.

themosser.com

I agree with DebitNM. I live in Denver and I'd pick SF. October in my favorite month in Colorado, but I don't think you can count on any of the activities you want to do because of potential weather - especially in late October. I think backpacking/camping that time of year is a terrible idea unless you have lots of experience with winter camping.

Triple ditto: absolutely no way you want to plan a camping / backpacking trip to Colorado in late October.

I'd go to San Francisco as well, but if you come to Colorado for budgetary or other reasons, then split your time between Denver and a nearby mountain town like Breck or Estes.

If you want the ocean but not the city of San Francisco, fly to PDX and then rent a car and go to the Oregon coastal region. There are many Oregon State parks that have yurts in the campgrounds.