Colorado Tourism Office

05/12/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/12/2021 12:52

Reconnect and Make Unforgettable Family Memories in Colorado This Summer

Wide open spaces and spectacular landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for a fun and safe vacation for the entire family.

Denver, Colo. (May 5, 2021) - After keeping distance for more than a year, families across the U.S. are looking ahead to summer and the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones across generations as vaccination rates increase.

This summer, there's no better place to enjoy a memorable and safe family vacation than in Colorado. With plenty of wide open spaces and unique adventure and activity offerings in all four corners of the state, Colorful Colorado is sure to delight the entire family. From educational road trips, and scenic and historic railways to wildlife viewing, hands-on history and only-in-Colorado adventure, Colorado is the place to return to travel. For more information and trip inspiration, visit www.COLORADO.com.

New Takes on the Classic Family Road Trip:

As travelers continue to embrace the open road during the summer of 2021, Colorado is offering exciting new takes on the classic family road trip. Additional multi-day Colo-Road Trip ideas and itineraries can be found here. And, because no road trip is complete without the perfect playlist, the Colorado Tourism Office's Pandora channel is curated with hits from some of Colorado's top artists along with songs inspired by Colorado's stunning landscapes.

  • Schoolcations Educational Itineraries Invite Learning from the Road: In partnership with the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Tourism Office has launched a new series of Schoolcations educational trip itineraries. The trips are crafted with plenty of hands-on learning, educational adventures and, of course, stops for ice cream. Each was designed with kids from kindergarten to 5th grade in mind, but the activities, outings and accommodations will be enjoyed by children, and adults, of all ages.

  • Mural Trails Itineraries Showcase Art Across the State: In partnership with Colorado Creative Industries, the Colorado Tourism Office is launching a new series of itineraries that tell the story behind noteworthy murals across the state. Mural Trails is an experience that walks visitors through each piece and highlights local restaurants and nearby hotels for a fully-rounded-and turnkey-visitor experience. Currently, the itineraries are offered across the Front Range (here and here) and in Mystic San Luis Valley. Additional itineraries highlighting murals in other regions of Colorado are also under development.

  • Low Impact Road Trips: Low emissions. High equity. Zero worry. Ditch the wheels, but not the adventure, while traveling through Colorado's cityscapes and mountains on a three-day adventure in Denver and Estes Park. Travelers will have the opportunity to support local communities while minimizing their carbon footprint. For more low impact road trips, The state of Colorado is committed to electrifying all 26 of its Scenic and Historic Byways and confirmed that six of the byways have been electrified as of March 2021, with additional byways coming online throughout the year.

  • Colorado Launches Liquid Arts Passport: Grownups in the group will love the Liquid Arts Passport, a statewide marketing campaign that promotes breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries across the state. Created by the Colorado Liquid Arts, which is a collective that includes the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE), Colorado Brewers Guild, Colorado Cider Guild and Colorado Distillers Guild, this unique digital passport provides consumers with discounted tastings and offers from some of the state's best drinking establishments. Make a night of it by staying at boutique lodging offerings and local dining establishments.

All Aboard the Train to Family Fun:

Train travel is trending once again and families can enjoy taking a ride back in time on Colorado's scenic and historic railroads, some of which traverse still-wild terrain that can't be easily experienced by any other form of transit.

  • The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway To Reopen in Spring 2021: The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway will reopen after a multi-year hiatus for repairs in spring 2021. Recognized as the world's highest cog railroad, the Railway is one of Colorado Springs' top attractions and since 1891, has taken thousands of people to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak.

  • The Rocky Mountaineer Debuts its Rockies to the Red Rocks Route, August-November 2021: The Rocky Mountaineer will bring its luxury train journeys to a new route in the Southwest United States in 2021. The Rockies to the Red Rocks route will be a two-day rail journey between Denver and Moab with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs. The company is working with local tourism organizations, hotels and tour operators to curate custom vacation packages that feature tours, activities and stays, so guests can experience even more of the region.

  • The Royal Gorge Route Railroad Offers Spectacular Views of One of Colorado's Natural Wonders: Experience America's most spectacular rail journey aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Since 1879, these tracks have followed the winding, tumbling Arkansas River deep within the soaring, 1,000-foot granite cliffs of one of Colorado's grandest canyons.

  • The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Offers a Train To Adventure: The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive that runs 200 feet above the Animas River. From early May through the end of October, the railroad transports passengers to and from Silverton, a visit that's like stepping back in time to the days of the Wild West - and when gold and silver mining in the area was at its zenith. Backpackers, day hikers and fishermen can get on and off the train mid-route to access the San Juan National Forest and Weminuche Wilderness.

Where the Wild Things Are: Few other places in North America offer such a bounty of wildlife-watching opportunities as Colorado. While out adventuring, eagle-eyed visitors can spot some of Colorado's most majestic residents including bighorn sheep, bald eagles, mountain goats, moose and elk. Families can also take a walk on the wild side with year-round interactive animal experiences that range from a howling good time at a wolf sanctuary to toothy wrestling matches at an alligator park.

  • Meet The Locals: Clear Creek County is home to a large herd of the Colorado state mammal, the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Visitors can often spot this iconic mammal at the Wildlife Viewing Area right off of I-70. Bighorn sheep, native to Colorado, thrive on steep cliffs and rocky terrain and especially prefer south- and west-facing slopes where the sun and wind keep snow clear from grasses.

  • Watch the Wild Mustangs Run: Located outside of Craig in the Northwest corner of Colorado, the Sand Wash Basin is home to one of the few remaining herds of free-roaming wild mustangs in the United States. No one should miss the breathtaking sight of these rugged beauties running free. While the territory is expansive, most visitors can easily spot the grazing horses along the county roads that bisect the land. Just eight miles northeast of Grand Junction, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area encompasses more than 36,000 acres of rugged canyons and plateaus. This is a great place to hike, especially in the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the horses are readily seen.

  • Creepy Legs And Things With Wings: Every summer, a colony of about 250,000 Brazilian Free-tail Bats roost in the historic Orient Mine in the Mystic San Luis Valley region of Colorado. The abandoned mine is free for all visitors to view and enjoy, and the bat outflight occurs around dusk. In the fall, tarantulas appear en masse in La Junta and Southeast Colorado including Comanche National Grassland. Every year, thousands of monarch butterflies migrate from Colorado to Mexico in a 3,000-mile journey, and in late September/early October, they descend on southeastern Colorado, most notably Lamar, a.k.a. Monarch City USA, the only town in Colorado with this designation.

  • A Sanctuary for All: Nearly 500 animals roam large-acreage, natural habitats and make Colorado's Wild Animal Sanctuary outside of Keenesburg a must-see for animal lovers. The sanctuary is the oldest in the country, with over 40 years of experience. The Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary in Deer Trail promotes and preserves the mustang as a revered icon and encourages the value of the equine-human relationship through training, adoptions and sanctuary. Visitors can overnight on-site in eco-cabins, peacefully nestled at the center of the Sanctuary. Mission: Wolf is a peaceful sanctuary for captive wolves and wolf-dog crosses in the mountains of Huerfano County.

The Past Comes to Life in Colorado:

Once roamed by mighty dinosaurs, then formed by native people, westward exploration and the discovery of gold, Colorado's storied past has left behind a treasure trove of historic sites and landmarks that are waiting to be discovered.

  • Walk in The Footsteps of Dinosaurs: From east to west, Colorado was once a Jurassic playground. Families can explore Picketwire Canyon just south of La Junta to see the largest set of dinosaur footprints in North America; Dinosaur Ridge, just west of Denver in Morrison, where imprints and 'outies' - 3-D dinosaur tracks - dot the land; or Florissant Fossil Bed National Monument's prehistoric plant and insect fossils. Paleontologists of all ages will dig the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Dinosaur National Monument and the Museum of the West's Dinosaur Journey Museum (both within driving distance of Grand Junction). The Dinosaur Journey Museum offers Dino Digs where visitors can experience life as a paleontologist for the day at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry.

  • Peek into Ancient History: Located in Southwest Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. Today, the park protects over 52,000 acres and nearly 5,000 known archeological sites. The park was recently designated the 100th International Dark Sky Park, a special honor given that the area's exceptionally dark skies are an important part of the cultural landscape of the park and hold special significance to Mesa Verde's 26 affiliated tribes. The Ute Mountain Tribal Park offers an in-depth experience not to be missed. Tribal members interpret tribal culture, pictographs, cliff dwellings, surface ruins and artifacts. This summer, they are relaunching several tours. Durango outdoor outfitter Rivertrippers recently added a selection of Ancient Ruins Tours to their portfolio of river rafting, 4x4 Tours and Jeep Rentals. Archaeologically trained subject matter experts lead guests to awe-inspiring sites including Lowry Pueblo, Sand Canyon and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Travel the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway, the only America's Byway entirely dedicated to archaeology, to encounter the imprint of Native American, Spanish and European cultures in parks, monuments, cultural centers, museums and gorgeous Southwestern landscapes.

  • Follow Adventure West: Explorers can't help but wonder what it would have been like traveling in the 1800s in search of adventure, fortune and land along the Santa Fe Trail, a route still marked by the wagon ruts of yesteryear. 2021 marks the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail, and to commemorate it, Canyons & Plains, a heritage tourism development organization, will tell stories about life on the trail. The keystone event of the 200-year celebration, the 2021 Santa Fe Trail Bicentennial Symposium, will take place in La Junta, September 22 - 26, 2021. Travelers can visit Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in La Junta, a reconstructed 1840s adobe fur-trading post that served as supply center, rest stop and social outlet for some of the West's most colorful characters, then continue along the trail to the Trinidad History Museum, where the Victorian era still lives. Back in Denver, the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center < /a>tells the story of African Americans' role in the settlement and growth of the western United States. The museum is located in the home of the first licensed African American female physician in the state of Colorado, Dr. Justina L. Ford.

  • Go for the Gold: Families will hit the mother lode of mining history when they stop at North America's highest incorporated city, Leadville. Remnants of its mining days can be found at the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum and the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, where passengers wind through the San Isabel National Forest and high above the Arkansas River along old mining routes. Explore the Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway, which travels the historic route between Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District. The Country Boy Mine in Breckenridge recently launched a Gold Rush Experience. Country Boy Mine earned national fame in the 1800's for producing large quantities of high grade zinc for use in both World Wars. Today, guests travel back into time and into a mountain (literally!) and meet (and play!) some of the characters of Breckenridge's mining roots. In Black Hawk and Central City (which was once considered the 'richest square mile on earth'), travelers can catch a show at the Central City Opera House (Buffalo Bill performed here) or test Lady Luck at one of the area's many casinos, including the newly renovated Monarch Casino. Nearby Nevadaville, which bustled with some 4,000 people in its heyday is now a ghost town with several original buildings and a few gravesites.

Make Memories in the Mountains With These Only in Colorado Experiences:

Colorado was made for memories providing families with an incredible selection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

  • Giddyup to a Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch: Families will discover cowboys (and girls) ready to give any city slicker an ultimate vacation along with a Wild West history lesson. Although horses are at the forefront of any dude ranch experience, even non-equestrian folks will find plenty to sink their spurs into along the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains - fishing, hiking, swimming, campfires, cookouts and more. From working ranches where guests get dirty rounding up cattle to resort-style escapes, expect meals, lodging and daily horse riding to be part of an all-inclusive stay.

  • Hike A Colorado 13er: Colorado is home to 580-plus '13ers,' 13,000 foot high mountains that offer incredible vistas. Located in mountain ranges across the state, these majestic peaks provide families with less crowds, plenty of adventure, time to connect over stories and bragging rights.

  • Explore Colorado's National Parks and Monuments: Families wanting to create lifelong memories need look no further than Colorado's four National Parks and eight National Monuments. Whether family members are interested in fossils, geology, ancient peoples or the lore of the gold rush, the National Parks Service and Bureau of Land Management in Colorado have set aside areas of national interest for everyone. Climb up, then sled down the country's tallest dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, watch elk graze at Rocky Mountain National Park, discover the colorfully striated cliff walls and rock arches at the Colorado National Monument or float through one of the nation's most popular locations for whitewater rafting, Browns Canyon.

  • Soak in A Colorado Hot Spring: Immerse yourself in the ultimate Colorado experience, a soak in a Colorado Hot Spring. With hot springs locations across the state, there is the perfect spot for every family. The newly renovated Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa offers 26 unique thermal mineral water features, 16 natural mineral hot springs soaking pools, 8 private Japanese-inspired cedar soaking tubs, and is the only natural hot springs in the world to infuse nano-meter and micro-meter oxygen bubbles, increasing the health benefits and purity of the natural waters. Families will find the ease and the amenities they need - along with plenty of fun - at Ouray Hot Springs Pool. A diving area, slide, shallow section for younger children and game area for water volleyball will entertain families for hours. Glenwood Hot Springs, the world's largest mineral pool, also caters to big-time fun with a huge swimming pool, diving pool, kiddie pool, therapy pool and waterslides. With a full-service resort on site, travelers can make this a multi-day getaway.

ABOUT COLORADO: Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine and 28 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, 26 scenic and historic byways and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2021 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800 COLORADO.

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