Elitch Gardens
Billed as 2 Parks, 1 Price, Elitch Gardens thrills you with 50 mph coasters like the Mind Eraser which keeps you dangling the whole time, and a breathtaking 20-foot free fall on Tower of Doom. There are plenty of rides available for younger kids, too. The Water Park is open during summers, featuring exciting tube rides, a huge wave pool and relaxing cabanas. A-list Concerts are included with admission. Find Discount Hotels near Elitch Gardens.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Sandboarding and sledding down the Great Sand Dunes makes kids out of everybody! Take a hayride tour to see a bison herd, splash in the unspoiled beauty of Medano Creek, walk along shady forested trails and view wildlife in the San Luis Valley wetlands. Medano Pass 4WD Road is considered especially scenic in the fall. Find Discount Hotels near Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Heritage Square
Ah, the good old days. You can find them now at this complex of fun! Do your best to find your way through the Miner’s Maze, get in shape for a mountain climb on Magic Mountain Mine Shaft or experience the effects of gravity on Gem Spinner Gyro. Authentic replica railcars follow a track around the park’s perimeter, while a chair lift takes you to a mountain top where you can speed back down on a sled. Go karts, mini golf and a ferris wheel provide more family-friendly fun, along with productions at the Music Hall and Dinner Theatre. Find Discount Hotels near Heritage Square.
Pikes Peak
Although not technically a National or State Park, Pikes Peak remains one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the country. This billion-year-old mountain of granite rises 14,115-foot above sea level. Visitors enjoy an incredibly scenic 19-mile drive, and 15,000 of them try to climb the Peak on foot each year! Other activities including bellyboating on Crystal Reservoir and photographing wildlife such as Big Horn Sheep. Find Discount Hotels near Pikes Peak.
Rocky Mountain National Park
0ver 3,000 elk and 800 bighorn sheep attract over 3 million wildlife lovers to this park every year. Elevations range from 8,000 to over 14,000 feet, and you can see sparkling lakes, rushing mountain waters, an ever-changing variety of flowers and tranquil snow-covered peaks – it all depends upon which season brings you to this spectacular preservation of wilderness. Hike, backpack or ride your horse along 350+ miles of trails for a close-up experience. The carefully planned Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous highway in the country. Find Discount Hotels near Rocky Mountain National Park.
Roxborough State Park
Less than 30 miles SW of Denver, Roxborough delights visitors with dramatic rock formations, red sandstone ridges and spires and a host of wildlife. A variety of trails challenge all levels of hikers and cross-country skiers. Like a challenge? Try climbing Carpenter Peak, over 7,000 feet high. Fountain Valley Overlook is easily accessible, just 100 yards from the Visitor Center. Find Discount Hotels near Roxborough State Park.