Colorado Springs and Denver in March
Visiting the two amazing cities of Colorado Springs and Denver in one week.
It’s no secret that my family loves beach town vacations, but for spring break this year, I really wanted to try something different. It’s not like we never go hiking or through the mountains, but we rarely ever make it out West; that’s how we decided on visiting Colorado Springs and Denver this year!
You can easily spend one full week [or more!] in just one of these cities, but I really wanted to make the best of our trip out West and decided to fit as much as we could into our 7 day vacation!
My weeklong itinerary includes:
National landmarks and mountain parks
Nature centers and educational centers
Museums and zoos
Overlooks and tours
A hot springs resort
Day trips
Food recommendations
And so much more!
Take some, leave some, spread it out over more days, or look up other attractions that I may have missed! Either way, you’re guaranteed to have a fun and adventurous vacation with your kids.
Colorado Springs
Photo of Colorado Springs owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Upon Arrival
Both Denver and Colorado Springs have major airports; we opted to fly into Denver and drive straight to Colorado Springs for the first leg of our trip, but you can really do it any way that works best for you and your family! We did experience an hour delay on the plane departing Chicago and then spent 30-45 mins waiting for our shuttle to bring us to where our rental car was at the Denver airport, so by the time we drove the 1.5 hrs to Colorado Springs from Denver, it was pretty late. Luckily, my kids held on fairly well, in spite of how long of a day it ended up being, but you will definitely want to take into account any travel SNAFUs you may encounter on your trip!
The Airplane Restaurant
It was 715p by the time we arrived in Colorado Springs and we were all STARVING. My plan was always to stop at The Airplane Restaurant, but we were also more than an hour past our intended arrival time. We decided to check it out to see if they can take us right away, and boy, am I glad we did!
The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs will be enjoyed by any plane lover! You can opt to eat inside an actual airplane that has been converted to a dining room with booths! There is very limited seating in the plane, so if you aren’t able to snag a seat in there, they do also have a full dining restaurant that is festively decorated with an aviation theme.
But my kids’ favorite thing here was the cockpit you can go into and push all the buttons you want! In fact, my son was having a little bit of a meltdown while waiting for our food, but as soon as he went into the cockpit, his mood turned right around!
Day 1: Colorado Springs
Now starts our official Day 1 of our vacation! There are so many amazing attractions in the area and I really wish we could have hit much more, but unfortunately, we felt our kids were just too young for some of the amazing things Colorado Springs has to offer. But below are some wonderful places we were able to experience!
Garden of the Gods
What an absolutely breathtaking place! There are so many ways you can explore the Garden of the Gods — take hikes, drive through and make stops through the park, run or bike it, a segway tour, horseback riding, or you can even rock climb it! But with 4 young kids, we decided a trolley tour would be best for us.
The 1909 Trolley Tours are run by Adventures out West. Their open air trolley can seat 14 guests and the tour takes about 45 minutes. My kids really enjoyed this and it was the perfect amount of time to hold their interest and see the beautiful scenery. Our guide Summit was so good and we really appreciated how passionate, excited and engaging he was. Adventures out West also offers a jeep tour of the Garden of the Gods.
Garden of the Gods Trading Post
We learned about the Garden of the Gods Trading Post on our trolley tour. It’s the oldest and largest gift shop in Colorado, selling souvenirs and showcasing an art gallery of Native American jewelry, pottery, crafts and other artisan specialties. The Trading Post also has gem mining and a cafe with wraps, salads, sandwiches and their world-famous Ultimate Buffalo Burger.
But the main reason we stopped here is because our tour guide on our trolley tour, said they make “the creamiest fudge you will ever have”. Ok, let me tell you, I don’t like fudge. I’ve never been a big fan. But my husband loves it, and any time there is a fudge shop wherever we vacation, he has to stop and buy some. So, of course when he heard that the Trading Post had fudge, we had to make a pit stop over there.
Guys. This fudge is 100% the creamiest fudge you will ever have! I can’t believe how good it is. I’m pretty sure we will be going back tomorrow to get more!
Lunch at the Denver Biscuit Company
Photo of The Tomahawk biscuit sandwich owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
The Denver Biscuit Company came highly recommended by many people. There are quite a few locations in Denver, but I just couldn’t find a time to fit it in in my planned itinerary while we’re there. So when I saw that they also have a location in Colorado Springs, I knew we had to try it!
We’ve heard that this place gets really crowded, but they do have the online waitlist that you can sign in for. I ended up doing that just in case, but when we got there, it definitely wasn’t needed. I was surprised that it was not busy at all for lunch on a Saturday.
But that doesn’t matter, the food here was still very delicious and I’m glad we made time for it! I ordered The Tomahawk biscuit sandwich and could not believe how massive it was. Even the food off of the kids menu was quite large - you can definitely have your kids share their meals! I thought my biscuit sandwich was really good, but I actually really liked the french toast that my son got. I’m pretty sure it was one of their biscuits, cooked as french toast. And there was this mouthwatering butter melted all over it. YUMMM!
Pit Stop at North Cheyenne Cañon Park
After lunch, we had about an hour to kill before our admission tickets to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We drove around looking for a playground, but instead came across the North Cheyenne Cañon Park.
At first we only noticed the hiking trails that went through the park; one of them I saw also leads to waterfalls. But when we started walking away to find a bathroom, we stumbled upon the nature center. Wow, what a pleasant surprise and hidden gem this place is! It was the perfect stop for our kids to explore. There were lots of educational exhibits and hands-on activities that kept my kids entertained. They actually didn’t even want to leave when it was time for us to go.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
After experiencing the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, it’s no wonder that it’s ranked #5 for the best zoos in North America. This zoo is really quite the attraction and not just because you can feed the giraffes. Sure, that experience is truly unique, but the entire zoo itself is very entertaining and there’s so much to see. Not to mention the entire backdrop of the zoo is gorgeous.
We spent almost 3 hours here; if my kids weren’t completely exhausted, we definitely could have stayed even longer. We did blow past a few exhibits just to keep our kids moving, and some areas get way too crowded for my liking, but I would still highly recommend visiting this zoo. Just beware that the zoo is on top of a mountain and the elevation level is 6,714 ft. Stay hydrated and take breaks if you need to!
Day 2: Soak up in hot springs.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Before heading to the hot springs, take a quick stop at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, a very interesting site that is composed of ancestral Puebloan ruins, dating back to 800-1000 years old. It first opened to the public in 1907, and still stands today as a self-guided tour through the dwellings. You don’t need more than an hour here, but your kids will have a great time exploring through the architecture. You can’t climb the walls of course, but there are many little passage ways that you can climb in and out of.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
The #1 thing I wanted to do on our vacation was to visit some sort of hot springs. It really only needed to check off two things for me: 1) Close enough to drive to from where we were staying and 2) Had to be kid-friendly. I was so ecstatic to come across Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort, which covered both my requirements! It’s about 1.5-2 hrs away, but if you can spare the time and make the drive out, I would highly recommend!
I wish I could have taken more photos and video of the place, because the media I got does not do it justice. There are over 3 hot pools, the creekside hot springs and a water slide open in the summer. If you stay as overnight guests or have kids older 16, there are even more amenities at your disposable, such as more hot springs options, the spa, a fitness center and so much more.
When we went, the weather was 40 degrees and snowing…. which was a PERFECT and gorgeous setting for soaking in the hot pools and in the creek; most importantly, the kids absolutely loved it!
Other Colorado Springs recommendations.
Leaving Colorado Springs was very difficult, because we felt that we didn’t get to see even half of what it has to offer! Part of it was because we were only in town for a couple of days, but the other part of it was because we didn’t think our kids would be able to enjoy everything at its fullest because of how young they are. But we will definitely be returning when they are older, and will plan to spend longer than just a couple of days in this beautiful town!
Here are some other places that come highly recommended:
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
515 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs CO 80829
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
100 Cave of the Winds Rd, Manitou Springs CO 80829
The Broadmoor Seven Falls
1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd, Colorado Springs CO 80905
Flying W Ranch Chuckwagon Suppers and Original Western Stage Show
3330 Chuckwagon Rd, Colorado Springs CO 80919
Royal Gorge Bridge
4218 Co Rd 3A, Cañon City CO 81212
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
401 Water St, Cañon City CO 81212
Denver
Photo of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre owend by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Day 3: Denver
Less than a 1.5hr drive from Colorado Springs, we headed back to Denver in the morning and did plenty of sightseeing before going to our airbnb. There is so much to see and do here!
Stanley Marketplace
Photo of Stanley Marketplace owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Stanley Marketplace is a staple of Denver, that can’t be missed. There are over 50 independently owned local businesses, ranging from restaurants, bars, coffee shops, ice cream shops, retail stores, workout places, play places and more! It’s also such a unique setting, because it used to be Stanley Aviation, which opened as a 75,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in 1954, and eventually expanded to the 140,000 sq ft facility you see today.
The marketplace is open all day, but all the businesses have their own specific hours. We were advised to go earlier in the day because it is less busy, but we were a little disappointed that many of the restaurants and stores were closed until the afternoon. Unfortunately, we did not have any time to go back during our trip.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
I was so surprised about the Denver Museum of Nature & Science; it really is top notch here. I didn’t know what to expect, and I probably had the Field Museum more in mind, which don’t me wrong, is also an amazing museum, but the Denver Museum of Nature & Science takes it to a whole new level.
THREE whole levels to be exact! That’s right, there are three floors filled with nature & science exhibits! Every time we turned a corner, it opened up to even more educational displays, and the displays themselves were so realistic and well done. You feel like you’ll get lost in a maze too, because each room leads into twists and turns into more exhibits. We spent 3 hours here and still didn’t quite see everything!
My favorite part, which I thought was so amazing, is the onsite paleontology lab where you can watch them at work!
Day 4: Denver continued…
Hammond’s Candy Factory
The Hammond’s Candy Factory is a neat little stop to get a FREE and fun little tour. It’s pretty amazing because they still make all their candy BY HAND, dating back to 1920! They even give out huge candy canes after the tour, and then you can shop for a few more sweets in their store.
CSU Spur
It’s astonishing how unknown CSU Spur is in Denver! This very educational learning center is part of Colorado State University and is such a hidden gem. The campus is open and FREE for the public to come visit their educational and hands on exhibits and art installations. It’s perfect for all ages… even for adults who don’t have kids.
There are 3 buildings, each with multiple floors to explore: Vida [animal & human health], Hydro [water] and Terra [food & agriculture].
Some of the amazing activities include, equine therapy, a rooftop greenhouse, a water stream table, and soooo much more. We even watched a live amputation of a dog’s tail [for medical health reasons, of course!!!]!
If we lived in Denver, I’m pretty sure we would be here at least 1x/wk!
I don’t even know where to start with the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus - it’s a 2-floor building with so much to see and do! There are so many different stations of interactive activities; every time you turn a corner, there’s a surprise exhibit.
From imaginative play like firefighting and the veterinarian office, to hands on creativity like building with a hammer & nails, arts, crafts & clay building, and even cooking classes! My kids especially loved the motion balls, rocket launching and of course, water play.
There’s even an outdoor play area, but we didn’t get to explore it because it was a bit chilly the day we went.
Lots more to see here:
Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf is definitely in the top 3 of my favorite attractions we experienced in Denver. The best way to describe this place is, it’s like you’re trippin’ in the upside down for 1.5 years…. But it was really only 1.5hrs….!
I thought this place was SO COOL. I would love to go back because I’m convinced there were some nooks and crannies we missed! It’s hard to explain exactly what it is, but you basically wander through many different rooms and spaces, getting lost both physically and mentally amongst all the visual immersive art.
To see more of the Meow Wolf experience, check out my
Day 5: Day trip to Boulder.
On Day 4 of our vacation, we had actually planned to drive out to Estes Park, but we had put the kids through the ringer quite a bit with all the sightseeing we’d been doing, that we decided to skip it and save it for next time!
Instead, we opted to go just less than an hour away to Boulder CO. Because of how close it is, it is a very easy day trip, however, after visiting Boulder, I realized that I could have easily stayed for much longer! I completely fell in love with this town and we will definitely plan to spend more time here, next time we vacation in Colorado.
National Center for Atmospheric Research
We found another little hidden gem at the National Center for Atmospheric Research at the Center for Science Education. Much like CSU Spur [but much, much smaller], NCAR has a section that is open and FREE to the public, with interactive exhibits and displays that educate about the atmosphere and related Earth and geospace systems. It takes less than an hour to go through, so it’s a great little stop on your way in or out of Boulder.
Pearl Street
Boulder CO has a main strip called Pearl Street, which is also completely blocked off from any traffic. It is an absolutely beautiful street to stroll down, with lots of shops and restaurants. There are also a few areas where you can stop and let the kids climb and play on the structures.
Photo of Pearl St owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Restaurant Recommendation: Salt
Salt came highly recommended by my friend who used to live in the area and it definitely did not disappoint. They are open for brunch, lunch and dinner, so visit them whenever works for you during the day! Their menus consist of locally sourced food and you can really taste how fresh and delicious it is.
Panorama Point
Photo of Panorama Point at Flagstaff Mountain owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Not to be confused with Panorama Point Trail in Evergreen CO, Panorama Point Overlook is located at Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder. It’s another great quick stop that offers breathtaking views of exactly what its name implies: a panoramic view of the Boulder Valley. If you do want to stay longer, Panorama Point also offers climbing and hiking trails.
The Flatirons
We were very disappointed because when we reached the start of The Flatirons trail, it turned out the trails were closed! This would have been a beautiful hike to do with the kids, so definitely try and experience it when you’re in Boulder.
Historic Downtown Golden [near Denver]
Back in the outskirts of Denver is the historic downtown of Golden CO. You can really fit this town visit in anytime during your trip, but it was such a beautiful day, we decided to go on our way back from Boulder. Another cute little town to walk through, we didn’t end up stopping into any shops or restaurants, but just enjoyed our stroll down the main strip. On the north end of town, there is a large grassy field that is perfect for the kids to run around and let out some energy. There is also a small section with a cute two level park with a slide and another area that has rocks to climb on.
Other Boulder recommendations.
I really wish we could have stayed longer in Boulder; it is truly such a cute town with so many attractions and sights. Here are more places that come recommended by others:
Museum of Boulder
2205 Broadway, Boulder CO 80302
Fiske Planetarium
2414 Regent Dr, Boulder CO 80309
Tebo Train
Pearl Street Mall
1242 Pearl St, Boulder CO 80302
Day 6: More in Denver!
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
A trip to Denver would not be complete without a visit to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. Even better if you are able to experience a concert here! But these are some of the most stunning and breathtaking views you will ever experience.
Here are some fun facts about Red Rocks, from the Denver Post:
Elevation of stage: 6,300 feet
Elevation of top plaza: 6,435 feet
Running all 69 rows, back and forth, to the top: 2.7 miles
Number of steps on the stairs from the stage to the top: 145
Number of steps, east stairway from Trading Post Road up to stage level: 194
But please don’t let this all scare you! The climb up the stairs to the top is totally worth it!! Let’s put it this way, if my out-of-shape butt can do it with 4 young kids, then you can too! My husband and I were saying that it actually isn’t that bad of a hike, because you can easily take breaks on your way up, and the stairs are so wide that you don’t feel pressured that you’re holding up everyone else behind you.
Dinosaur Ridge
We almost skipped this attraction, but I’m glad we opted to go last minute! There are a couple of different ways you can experience Dinosaur Ridge: you can take a guided walking tour or you can do a FREE self-guided tour on your own. We opted for the latter and had a wonderful hike, looking for dinosaur fossils and tracks. There are 2 different trails: the more advanced one being the Triceratops Trail, or the more easily navigable one that we took, Dinosaur Ridge Trail. Dinosaur Ridge Trail is a fully paved road that is closed to motorized traffic. There are some very cool fossils and tracks to see along this trail and each are marked by signage, so you can’t miss it!
At the Dinosaur Ridge visitor center, you can also opt to spring for the exhibit hall, a bus tour and even add on a visit to the Morrison Natural History Museum.
Buffalo Herd Nature Preserve and Overlook
It’s time to find some buffalo! Right off of I-70, at exit 254, there is an area where you can pull over and see 2-3 dozen buffalo roaming the grasslands. It is quite the sight to see! We saw plenty when we went, but it’s been suggested that if you are not so lucky to catch them right off the road, you can take one of the hikes through Genesee Park to search for one. Either way, please be very respectful of them and their habitat.
Argo Mill and Tunnel
A little bit outside of Denver in Idaho Springs, is a historic gold mine and tunnel called ARGO Mill and Tunnel. I will say, it’s a take it or leave it attraction… if you have time for it, great! But don’t sweat it, if it’s too out of the way and there are other things you want to do. But it is a nice informative and historical little tour with lots to see, including their historic museum. The kids especially loved it at the end, when they got to pan for gold!
The Inventing Room Dessert Shop
The Inventing Room Dessert Shop is such an intriguing and unique place, where you learn the science behind some very yummy desserts! I found it so interesting, and all the sweet creations that the owner comes up with, are really amazing to watch them come to fruition… and they of course taste just as good!
They do not take walk-ins and tickets are released about a month beforehand, so be sure to stay on top of it and plan this one ahead!
Day 7: Last day in Denver.
Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum is heaven for all you art lovers out there. The collections are astounding and the installations are really well put together. The entire layout flows together nicely and there is just so much to take in.
Older kids who like art will really enjoy it as well. For younger kids like mine, they liked seeing some of the exhibits, but of course just didn’t appreciate it as much as they should have! But no fret, there is so much hands on activities that little ones can enjoy as well. From arts & crafts to sensory bins, the Denver Art Museum can be enjoyed by all ages
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a little nature center with activities and educational activities. There are also trails to take around the area.
But if you want to see some live bison and other wildlife, take the 30-45 mins drive through the refuge. There’s even an audio tour that you can listen to while you make the drive. We saw some bison, mule deer and prairie dogs.
To be honest, this was another take it or leave it place for us. We needed to kill some time before our flight later in the evening, so it was the perfect place to do just that; but I don’t think I’d go out of my way to come here. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of wildlife we saw. In fact, we for sure saw more bison at the Buffalo Herd Nature Preserve than we did here. The audio tour was interesting to listen to, but it didn’t match up very well with the drive, and when there’s really nothing to look at, the audio tour is kind of boring.
My kids did like the little nature center inside the visitor’s center though. There was a few interactive exhibits and also a separate educational play room that was fun for them.
A punny sign.
Photo of Indian Hills Community Center & Sign owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
I was so excited when I heard there was a punny sign near the place we were staying in Denver! Located right off of Hwy 285 on Parmalee Gulch Rd, the Indian Hills Community Center has a fun sign that they seem to change out every few days. In fact, during the 5 days we were in Denver, I saw 3 different signs up!
You can always follow their Facebook page too, for every punny sign they display!
The Indian Hills Community Center and Sign
5381 Parmalee Gulch Rd
Indian Hills CO 80454
Other Denver recommendations.
Even after all that we did on our vacation, can you believe there is still so much more that we missed that Denver has to offer?? Here are more places that come highly recommended by others:
Denver Trolley
1400 Water Street, Denver CO 80202
Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St, Denver CO 80205
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Rd, Golden CO 80401
Downtown Aquarium
700 Water St, Denver CO 80211
WOW! Children's Museum
110 N Harrison Ave, Lafayette CO 80026
Butterfly Pavilion
6252 W 104th Ave, Westminster CO 80020
Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York St, Denver CO 80206
United States [Denver] Mint
1450 Cherokee St, Denver CO 80204
Denver Firefighters Museum
1326 Tremont Pl, Denver CO 80204
Colorado Railroad Museum
17155 W 44th Ave, Golden CO 80403
Tiny Town & Railroad
6249 S Turkey Creek Rd, Morrison CO 80465
Waterton Canyon Trailhead
12437-12489 Waterton Canyon, Littleton CO 80127
Arapahoe Bar Gold Panning Park
Golden CO 80403
Soda Lake Beach
Morrison CO 80465
Places to eat in Denver.
Photo of Little Man Ice Cream owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow
Denver Biscuit Co.
Multiple locations
Blackbird Cafe
25940 CO-74, Evergreen CO 80439
La Fillette Bakery
6217 E 14th Ave, Denver, CO 80220
Bakery Four
4150 Tennyson St, Denver CO 80212
Rosenberg’s Bagels
Multiple locations
Leven Deli Co.
123 W 12th Ave, Denver CO 80204
Chi Lin Asian Eatery
Stanley Marketplace
2501 Dallas St, Ste 104, Aurora CO 80010
Maria Empanada
Multiple locations
Lucile's Creole Cafe
275 S Logan St. Denver CO 80209
Rooted Craft Kitchen
3940 W 32nd Ave, Denver CO 80212
Linger
2030 W 30th Ave, Denver CO 80211
Joy Hill Denver
1229 S Broadway, Denver CO 80210
Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina
1294 S Broadway, Denver CO 80210
Little Man Ice Cream
Original location at: 2620 16th St., Denver CO 80211
For more vacation itineraries or travel tips, be sure to check out my travel page.
All photos in this post are owned by Kristel at On the Go with 4 Kids in Tow.
*All opinions in this blog post are my own and I’ve received no incentives*
It’s so easy to plan a staycation when you live in or so close to such an amazing city as Chicago. Between the world-class museums, popular tourist attractions, outdoor parks and beaches, broadway theater and so much more, you will never come up short of ideas for the perfect staycation!