Welcome to Our Overview of Our Fun Family Colorado Rockies Roadtrip.
Here we will share 20+ Family Fun Things to see and do in and around the Colorado Rockies!
We enjoyed each of these experiences and hope you get a chance to enjoy them as well.
*Disclosure – Parts of this trip were sponsored but all of our experiences and opinions are our own.
In this article we share an overview of where we went, what we saw, and what we ate.
We had so much family fun in Colorado we are excited to share all of our experiences with you to help you plan your own Colorado Vacation.
I will be updating this article with additional links and videos that will be fully detailed and in-depth about each specific area we explored.
What’s Special about exploring Colorado?
Colorado isn’t your average state. Especially in the snow. It’s filled with a unique collection of attractions, stores, restaurants, and more. We enjoyed a blend of nature and city on our family road trip.
We saw what we could within a week we were there but there is still so much to see and do. Continue reading to see all the family fun we had on our Colorado Family Adventure!
Our Road to Colorado – Tulsa, Oklahoma, through Kansas to Loveland Colorado
The drive was not too bad. We didn’t find many places to stop on the way and we were on a mission to get to Loveland.
We did find Spangles – a fun local restaurant chain in Kansas. It was a good stop on our drive. If you want to find out more about the restaurant check out our foodie review article here.
If you know any fun places to stop between Oklahoma and Colorado please let us know.
Here’s our list of 20+ things to do around the Colorado Rocky Mountains
1. Enjoy the views of the Mountains.
After hours of driving we finally reached the beautiful mountains. It has vastly different scenery than we usually see in Oklahoma. Once you are around the rocky mountains you will have beautiful views all over. Be sure to drive slow so you can stop at the viewpoints for photos.
Loveland
2. Stay at Townplace Suites by Marriott in Loveland, Colorado.
We arrived at the Hotel around 9pm. We were very impressed with it.
360 VR Video of Hotel Coming Soon! Check us out on YouTube!
Additional info on hotel:
They had a breakfast to go and you could even use the pool and gym despite COVID. (You could schedule a time to use the pool and gym and have it all to yourself.
Check out an article all about the hotel. Coming soon.
Find out more about the hotel here.
3. Dine at Vatos Tacos and Tequila.
After checking in and getting unloaded we headed out for a bite to eat at Vatos Tacos. It was a fun restaurant with good food and a great atmosphere. Due to Covid it was only pickup and outside dining but they had plenty of heating lamps to keep us warm.
Find out all about it in a Foodie Review Article.
Estes Park
4. Shop Estes Park
The next morning we had a fun day exploring Estes Park. We shopped and enjoyed some snow.
Check out our Vlog for our time at Estes Park.
Article about our favorite shops in Estes Park (Coming Soon)
5. Check out the Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel is a must see! I must admit I was more excited to see it because it’s where they filmed Dumb and Dumber. But it’s more popular for being the inspiration for the Shining book and movie.
6. Eat at Grubsteak
After shopping Estes we built up an appetite. We ate at Grubsteak. Since it was Covid times we ate outside on a patio. They had tent walls and heaters to keep us warm.
I enjoyed an Elk burger it was delicious.
Find out all about it in our upcoming Grubsteak foodie review article. (Coming Soon)
7. Enjoy scenic vistas
Many of the highways around the Colorado Rocky Mountains have scenic viewpoints. We stopped many times to take in the landscapes and snap some photos.
8. Hike Devils Backbone
Devils Backbone was an awesome hiking trail. We passed it on our drive and decided to stop for a quick hike.
We hiked only part way because it started getting dark. But we got to the key hole which was a great view!
9. Winter Wonderlights
10. Gear up at Estes Park Mountain shop
Estes Park Mountain Shop has all the gear you could need for a Rocky Mountain Adventure.
We were able to get sleds and snowshoes for our day at the Rocky Mountain National Park!
We would have had no room if we brought any snow gear with all the clothes and camera equipment we had. Having rentals available was amazing.
Be sure to see our full article about Estes Park Mountain Shop.
11. Explore the Rocky Mountains
12. Sled Hidden Valley
It’s the place to go sledding, skiing and snowboarding in the Rocky Mountain National Park.
13. Keep an eye out for wildlife
You can see all kinds of wildlife in the Rockies and even the surrounding area.
We saw a few elk in the park but saw a full herd just outside of the park, near Lake Estes.
14. Check out Lake Estes
Lake Estes is very close to Estes Park Mountain shop. We stopped there before dropping off our gear for some more snow fun.
We built a snowman and enjoyed the snowy landscape by the lake.
15. Eat at Justines Pizza
After a day out in the snow we were hungry for some food.
We opted to try Justines Pizza! It was delicious! Check out our foodie review article all about it coming soon!
Denver
16. Red Rocks Park Amphitheater
After leaving Loveland we went to Denver.
The Amphitheater would be a great place to see a concert but its also a fun place to explore.
17. Red Rocks Park Hiking Trails
The weather wasn’t too bad so we headed to Red Rocks Park to do some hiking.
It was a great hiking trail we loved the views and red rocks. We even saw a family of deer.
18. Denver Museum of Science and Nature.
After our hike we went to the Denver Museum of Science and Nature!
We saw dinosaurs, animals, mummies, space exhibits and a wide selection of rocks and gems.
There was even more to see but we didn’t have the time.
Check out our article all about the Denver Museum of Science and Nature. (Coming Soon)
19. Denver Zoo Lights
After the museum we went to the see the Denver Zoo Lights Display.
We loved the lights and were surprised how many animals we were able to see during our visit.
Breckinridge
20. Ride the Lift in Breckinridge
You’ll see many beautiful views and it takes you to a few different areas.
21. Ski and Snowboard ( Or watch the skiers or snowboarders) in Breckinridge.
Breckinridge is known for skiing and snowboarding. Its a must see or do while in the area!
22. Warm up with some food and drinks at Pour House in Breckinridge
We ate in an Igloo during our visit to Breckinridge. The food and drinks at Pour House were delicious! The meals were portioned in large quantities so you may want to bring your appetite or share food if you eat here.
23. Shop Breckinridge
Breckinridge has tons of stores to shop at. We each found unique souvenirs during our time shopping in Breckinridge, Colorado.
Dillon, Colorado
24. Explore the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colorado.
The Ice Castles was one of the many highlights of our trip. It was the most unique thing we have experienced to date.
Find out all about the Ice Castle in our Article covering 10 Things to know before visiting the Ice Castles.
25. Warm up at Cameez for some Crepes and Hot Chocolates.
After exploring the Ice Castles we warmed up with some delicious food and drinks at Cameez.
Stay tuned for a Foodie Travel Article all about Cameez. (Coming Soon)
Boulder, Colorado
26. Take a hike on one of the many hiking trails in Boulder, Colorado.
We were so glad we swung by Boulder Colorado for a hike. It was a beautiful area with many trails ranging in difficulty.
We hiked the Chautauqua Trail.
27. Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanical Gardens
Depending on the Season you visit you might have a chance to experience the Blossoms of Light. It was one of the best light shows we have ever seen.
If you can’t make it during Blossoms of Light, the Gardens themselves are beautiful.
28. Downtown Denver Light Displays
Downtown Denver has many architecture and art displays but during winter they set up the Mile High tree and many amazing lights.
Also be sure you follow us on Social Media because we will also be sharing our favorite photos from our Colorado Family Road Trip on our Instagram Page and Facebook Page along with videos on our YouTube Channel.
Check out our New Years Even in Denver Colorado in the video below.
Where to stay around Colorado? We stayed in Loveland and Denver and drove everywhere in between.
Check out the map below to see nearby hotels.
The Rockies cover a great area of Colorado. Check it out on the map below.
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Have you visited Denver and the surrounding area? Did you visit any of these places? What were your thoughts? What would you like to visit in the Denver area?
Please let us know in the comment section below. Also, If you have any questions or thoughts about Colorado Family Fun, or anything at all don’t hesitate to ask. We’d love to hear from you.
Thanks again for your sharing and support!