Visit Colorado
 

I am planning on a vacation to Colorado with 5 teenage boys in June for their Senior graduation. We have never been to CO and know nothing about the Sate. The boys have to be active and entertained each day. They love the outdoors and will do just about anything. We have plenty of time (no limit on no. of days) but I am planning on about 8 -10 days with their parents. We can fly in or out of any city. Can someone please route me a trip starting and ending point with majestic mountains and plenty to do for teenage boys? We can stay anywhere for any number of nights. Thank you so much!!

Fly into Denver.
Spend a day there, eating one dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange.
Drive up to Boulder and base yourself either in that city or nearer to Rocky Mountain National Park. The day trips in that area to places "with majestic mountains" are pretty much unlimited, and Boulder itself is a pretty neat place for young people.

Obviously, it is hard to fly into any place other than Denver. The Buckhorn Exchange is about the last place I would take a bunch of teenage boys.

Spending a day or two in Denver is fine with the different museums, could consider a Rockies game if they are in town.

I would consider basing in Frisco or Breckenridge. For there you have a number of day trip options - Mineral Trail in Leadville, several gold mines, bike trails, Alpine slide in Breck, on to Glenwood Springs and the trail along the Colorado river, lots of hiking options, hot springs in Glenwood Spring.

You have a lot of options so it is hard to define a specific trip for you. Might check out a couple of guide books for Colorado to better understand your options.

I have 2 teenage boys. I agree with the Breckinridge suggestion. RMNP is an alternative if your group is really into hiking. Breckinridge and the surrounding area will have a wider variety of things to do. Buckhorn Exchange is my sons' favorite Denver restaurant, but it is for serious carnivores. If you have any vegans in the group, go elsewhere.

fmpden,
I've flown into many placed in Colorado without it being hard?
Durango, Grand Junction, Co. Springs, Eagle County, and even Cortez. If you are flying American Airlines,it would be just as easy to fly into most of the above as it is Denver. If you are flying United, then you would have to connect. If you are going to have to connect in Houston, again no difference than flying into Denver. Plus, Denver airport has the highest car rental rates that i've ever encountered. So, if you pay a bit more to fly somewhere else, you might make up the difference on a car, is my point.

I fly into COS all the time too, it's a breeze, and much easier to get into/out (from a land side perspective) because it's a fraction the size of DIA. Cheaper car rentals are a bonus.

The boys might like the cog railway up to Pikes Peak (or you can drive), hiking in Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Winds, the Olympic Training Center, the Air Force Academy, loads to do.

A dude ranch might be fun too. Afterall, they're dudes:)

If I remember correctly - one thing teenage boys like is seeing cute girls - and Boulder (45? minutes from the airport) is a good place for that - plus college towns are also fun for teenagers - who are probably thinking about when they go to college.

And while I/we love Frisco - and Breckinridge and the "Summit" area (a couple hour drive from Denver) - Aspen (a couple hours further drive) - has a certain lore that might also appeal to the lads - and even the parents? http://www.aspenchamber.org/

Also - on the way - going for a soak in the big outdoor "pool" at Glenwood Springs is a fun stop. http://www.hotspringspool.com/

Also like the Colorado Springs area - having spent time there while at the AF Academy - and either driving up Pikes Peak - or as noted - taking the railway is a fun day. FYI - assuming you don't hit traffic - you can drive from Denver to the C. Springs area in an hour.

Nearby Manitou Springs (where you catch the Pikes Peak cogway) - has some cute B & B's and is fun to explore - as is the Garden of the Gods. http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/

I'd give Boulder a miss; not much for teenage boys there (plus college is in session only for summer classes), and it's not really convenient to anything. (I live there, and I know.)
I agree that Colorado Springs might be a good option; lots of attractions, and it's a gateway for the mountains. Staying in a ski mountain condo (reduced rates off season) might be a great option for you; many mountains have attractions of their own (ride the lift up, bike/hike down, do alpine slides, etc.) You could also go to the Glenwood area for the largest hot springs pool (and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park http://glenwoodcaverns.com/glenwood-...ave-tours.html, or hike to Hanging Lake); a short ride away there's the Crystal River and Marble (sadly, they've closed off the hike to the quarry), or even Aspen and the Maroon Bells.

Visit a brewery - Coors in Golden, Bud in Ft. Collins. Even though they are underage, I think they will like it - my kids did at that age.

So Sylvia: I gather you are not a teenaged lad :) - and don't a number of lasses attend summer school?

Boulder is also home to Triathletes/bicyclists and has a number of recreational activities: http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/things-to-do/

There could be some white water rafting at that time of year. Hiking and mountain biking come to mind as well.

I also recommend Aspen. It is gorgeous there, has lots of history and 'urban legends' like Hunter S Thompson) There is so much to do there, the boys and their parents will be happy.

Look at lodging at The Gant, which is easy walking distance into Aspen town and also has a free shuttle.

And what do you suggest these teenage boys do with these older college girls who are busy studying? Let's not be so sexist. Besides, they can look at girls anywhere. That's hardly a reason to stay somewhere.

"Boulder is also home to Triathletes/bicyclists"
I live 5 houses away from an Olympic runner, and a couple other Olympians live nearby; so what? You can bike the Boulder Creek path, or hike, or attend the CU opera; I just don't think it's the best place to stay for a gaggle of teen boys.
IMO, Colorado Springs or the mountains would be better choices.

You might also want to consider Telluride. We spent a week there this summer (prices are GREAT during non festival times) and never exhausted our activity options. Great little town! Fly into Montrose or Grand Junction.

We had our last Regis reunion - based in Boulder and loved it. We have also started the Reunion in Aspen - but we lost a couple guys up there. :)

Most people I know love Denver.

Shame that you live there and are so blase about it.

Flying into CO Springs or Telluride would be my choice - and no, tom I'm not a teenage boy any more than you are.

(Ignore it sylvia3. He can't help himself.)

From Denver you could connect to any of those other cities easily. If you think about Telluride, you will want to avoid the third weekend which is the Bluegrass Festival.

I know alot of the activity companies in the area and the kids would have a blast between the rock climbing (there's a Via Ferrata in Telluride), river rafting, fly fishing, hiking, biking, jeeping, etc. Also, there are some casual restaurants like Brown Dog Pizza so it's easy to grab a quick bite.

Condos are plentiful and having a kitchen would be so much easier.

For other options, you could fly from Denver to Durango for a night or two, to take the train ride to Silverton, or go to a cowboy chuck wagon dinner. This puts you in easy reach of Mesa Verde National Park for a full day of hiking and ancient Pueblo Indian sites. Then, you could go up to Telluride for the rest of your time and fly back to Denver from there.

Yes, Telluride and the San Juan mountain range are beautiful - and loved the area - but it's just a bit of a "commute" from the other attractions in Colorado :)

BTW - never confused either Janis or sylvia with being teen age boys - or understanding how such lads think.

Tom, the 1950s are calling you; they want their sexist mindset back.