6 Favorite Family-friendly Activities in Estes Park, Colorado

by Janis on December 7, 2012

Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by The_Brit_2

This is a guest post by Rachel Foxwell, a student at Iowa State University majoring in Hospitality Management, emphasizing on Travel and Tourism.

Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by The_Brit_2

Estes Park is one of Colorado’s hidden gems, located in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park. Though it attracts thousands of tourists every summer, Estes continues to seem a quaint and peaceful destination.

With the view of the mountains everywhere you look, you cannot help but to fall in love with the city. Growing up, this destination was a common vacation spot for my family.

Here’s a list of my 6 Favorite Family Friendly Things to Do and See in Estes Park, Colorado:

1. Go hiking. There is no shortage of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the views are worth the work. Pick up a guide book to compare the short, gentle paths to the long and strenuous so you find the right trail for you.

Elk are common wildlife in Estes Park. Other frequent animals include marmots, pica, mountain goats, and black bears. Photo by ic-pics.

2. Drive along Trail Ridge Road. Rocky Mountain National Park boasts the highest continuous paved highway in North America, and it is a must-do if you’re in the park. The road totals 11 miles and reaches 12,000 feet at the summit. Once at the top, visitors can walk along the alpine tundra and grab a cup of hot chocolate at the visitor’s center.

A view of Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by ibkalla.

3. Go shopping downtown. Downtown Estes Park surprisingly offers much to do for shoppers. Furniture, leather, clothing, hardware, and kitchen stores line the streets of Estes, along with others. My personal favorites are the candy shops, especially the homemade salt water taffy!

4. Relive your childhood at Tiny Town Mini Golf. In my personal experience, this mini golf course is a highlight and a tradition. Though it’s far from glamorous, the owners are the nicest people you’ll ever meet and it’s a cheap and enjoyable way to get away from all of the tourists. No matter how old, every person is guaranteed to laugh the night away.

A tour of the historic and supposedly haunted Stanley Hotel is a must-do for visitors. Photo by wallyg.

5. Tour the haunted Stanley Hotel. If you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying the “creepy” nature of the Stanley Hotel. One of the most famous hotels in the United States, the Stanley has been the setting for several movies and celebrities in the past. Fortunately, it is open to the public for meals, and they offer haunted tours on a daily basis. If ghosts aren’t your thing, still sign up for a tour of one of the most historic and gorgeous hotels in the country.

An early morning hike through Rocky Mountain National Park at Sprague Lake. Photo by MaxGag.

An early morning hike through Rocky Mountain National Park provides scenes like this one at Sprague Lake. Photo by MaxGag.

6. Take an adventure. Whether you prefer white water rafting, horseback riding, extreme hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, or more, Estes Park and the surrounding area has something for you.

Have you been to Estes Park? If so, what was your favorite family-friendly activity?

If you want to learn more about Estes Park, Colorado, you may want to read one of these books:
Mr. Stanley of Estes Park
The Mystery in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide

Rachel Foxwell – a native of Monona, Iowa – has just completed a social media internship for VentureTime Travel.

Read more about her travel adventures – including her summer study in Europe – in her Rachel’s Realities blog.

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