Colorado is a state full of sights and activities. It offers skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, camping and fishing in the summer and a myriad of options in between. Colorado may be famous for the outdoor activities, but the state also has amusement parks, wineries, art galleries, museums and festivals.
The Denver Art Museum is a non-profit museum with an emphasis on educational programs and a family-friendly atmosphere. The museum has many activities for children, such as a kid's corner, architecture section and a backpack full of games and puzzles to use throughout the museum. Adults can also enjoy the many collections and exhibitions. Adults looking for a kid-free activity can return on the final Friday of every month for a mixed media event that includes special art exhibitions, food and local bands.
Estes Park is a an area of the Rocky Mountain National Park with plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking, river rafting, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting and bird-watching. For a fun twist on your Estes Park vacation, try a horseback ride through the mountains. Several stables offer guided excursions.
For a twist on outdoor activities, visit the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The open-air amphitheatre was geologically formed by a pair of 300-foot rocks, called Ship Rock and Creation Rock, that creates an acoustic sound well worth listening to. The amphitheatre overlooks the Denver skyline and was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. During the summer months, the Denver Film Society hosts Film on the Rocks, a weekly series with a band, local comedian and classic movie.
Vail may be one of Colorado's most famous ski resorts, but Beaver Creek is another excellent choice for those who love winter sports. As an isolated, private resort, Beaver Creek creates a retreat and has many kid-friendly options. The resort has a ski and snowboard school, ice skating, boutique stores and gourmet restaurants. Resort guests can ski in between the villages at the base of the mountain. After a day of skiing, relax at one of three spas. Bachelor Gulch is a private spa for resort guests only, and The Allegria Spa offers special services for girls ages 5 to 12 years old.
Colorado has many wines thanks to the more than 90 wineries in the state. In fact, there are so many wineries that the route through wine country has been nicknamed The Colorado Wine Trail. Wineries are located in Palisade, Grand Junction, the West Elks, Denver, Boulder and several other locations. Many of these wineries offer tours and tastings throughout the year (see Resources for a list of wineries).
