Outdoor adventures like the Garden of the Gods, kid-friendly museums, new accessible playgrounds, and a top-notch food scene are all on deck for your Colorado Springs visit
On the east side of the Rocky Mountains, you’ll find the gorgeous mountain town of Colorado Springs. Families looking for outdoor adventures will love the hiking, biking, and river rafting opportunities. Those who want to take in the scenery at a more leisurely pace will find driving through the Garden of the Gods a peak experience. The history in this area runs deep with goldmine tours available to give you the full experience. Colorado Springs offers a little bit of everything; we know your family is going to want to visit!
Things to Do in Colorado Springs
You'll want to plan to spend longer than a weekend in Colorado Springs to really get a taste of all the activities the city offers for families. Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly options:
- If the temps are high during your visit and the kids want a little adrenaline boost, book some river time with Arkansas River Tours. They offer all levels of river rafting from beginner to expert.
- Cave of the Winds Mountain Park is a must-visit for gorgeous views and activities like a challenge course, cave tour, climbing wall, and more.
- Families with little ones will love visiting the animals at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, especially the hippos!
- Learn about Native American culture at the Mantou Cliff Dwellings.
- Colorado Springs in known for its Olympic history and you can learn all about it at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum.
Related: Go Wild in Colorado Springs
Where to Go Hiking in Colorado Springs
With so much gorgeous scenery to explore, our top picks for Colorado Springs activities definitely start with outdoor adventures. Five of the most popular places to hike in Colorado Springs include
- Garden of the Gods Park, which offers paved and gravel trails that take your family through soaring red rock formations where they can catch stunning views of Pikes Peak.
- Red Rock Canyon Open Space is home to a variety of trails that guide visitors along the red rock canyons and ridges. This area also provides astounding glimpses of Garden of the Gods.
- The nearby Cheyenne Mountain State Park is home to 2,700 prairie-to-peak ecosystems on 20 miles of hiking and biking trails that will keep you in awe for hours on end.
- For views of the city from the top of a mesa, Palmer Park is a 737-acre wildlife preserve with plenty of trails.
- Austin Bluffs Open Space offers easy-to-moderate hikes through fantastic red rock towers.
Best Family Resorts in Colorado Springs
There are so many great lodging options for families visiting Colorado Springs.
- The Mining Exchange is a Wyndham property located right downtown with a quaint, boutique feel and all the amenities you want like suites for families and a spa.
- If you want a little more room to spread out, check out the Garden of the Gods Resort where there are casitas and cottages available, along with a Kids' Club and large pool complex.
- There's also a Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs if you're looking for a little indoor water park fun to go with your outdoor adventures.
Related: 7 Reasons Breckenridge Is Your Ideal Fall Family Destination
Best Family Ski Resorts near Colorado Springs
Just 2-3 hours away from Colorado Springs is some of the best skiing the area has to offer. Here are the top ski resorts for families near Colorado Springs:
- Monarch Mountain: We love this as an option for a ski vacation because it's smaller and easier to manage than spots like Breckenridge. Bonus: lift tickets are cheaper here as well. 126 miles from Colorado Springs
- Summit County: The top-notch ski towns of Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Dillon, Frisco, Keystone, and Silverthorne make up the Summit County ski area that you hit just ask you pass through the Continental Divide from Denver. 3 hours from Colorado Springs
- Ski Cooper: Cooper brags about having no lift lines and that makes it a great option for families. 147 miles from Colorado Springs
Related: 7 Ski Resorts That Make It Super Easy for Families
New Parks in Colorado Springs
The biggest renovation to hit the Colorado Springs park scene was the renovation of Panorama Park. It now has an accessible play structure, splash pad, bike park, skatepark, and sand pit. Little ones love "the purple park" or Nancy Lewis Park & Playground for its padded ground and smaller play structures. Helen Hunt School Playground has some fun features for kids like those adorable yellow ducky seesaws. For more tips on playgrounds in Colorado Springs, follow @coloradospringskids on Instagram.
New Restaurants in Colorado Springs (to have lunch with the family)
The Colorado Springs food scene has a lot of exciting options from breweries to pizza joints to even British pub food. Diners were excited with the addition of The Well earlier in 2022 and families will love this food hall for all of the options it provides like burgers, contemporary Asian, and Mexican cuisine. For a dining experience the kids will flip for, head to The Airplane Restaurant where you can dine in a Boeing KC-97 tanker. Phantom Canyon has the burgers and fried chicken everyone craves after a day of hiking.
Other Things to Do with Kids in Colorado Springs
For more ideas of things to do with kids when you visit Colorado Springs, head to their tourism board's website and check out the Trip Planner. Enter your interests, dates, and family members and it will spit out some great suggestions to make your Colorado Springs visit even better than you could imagine.
