Colorado has a lot to offer during all times of the year, but during the summer you lose the skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and other winter activities that this beautiful state is famous for. So what are you supposed to do, now? Well, with 42 state parks, 12 national parks and monuments, 13 national forests and grasslands, and 58 "14ers" (peaks that rise more than 14,000 feet), as well as vibrant cities, there is an endless supply of things to see and do in Colorado.
In the mountains
Pike's Peak
Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern part of the Rocky Mountains at 14,115 feet. You can choose how to get to the fun attractions or the summit of this mountain by car, the Pikes Peak Railway, or hiking the trails. The most popular hike is Barr Trail which approaches the summit from the east and is about 13 miles from the top.
Rocky Mountain National Park
At 415 square miles of beauty, it boasts 300 miles of hiking trails, superb camping, and a lot of wildlife to explore! Trail Ridge Road also runs through the park and at its highest reaches 12,183 feet in elevation. For those less inclined to hike, it is the perfect way to see the incredible Colorado wildlife and views.
Hanging Lake
This beautiful lake sits at the top of a mile long hike near Glenwood Springs. You can see waterfalls that supply the lake (with water so clear you can see the bottom), extraordinary wildlife, and take in the beauty of this area that attracts over 100,000 visitors a year. While you're in Glenwood, don't forget to drive into town and visit the historic Hotel Colorado (home to both gangsters and presidents) and the Glenwood Hot Springs.
In the City
Coors Field
Coors Field, the home of the Rockies, is the perfect place to take in a baseball game. With tickets available at many different prices, it is an affordable and exciting summertime event. If you are lucky enough to be there at night, the sunset makes even loosing games worth it.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
This museum has been thriving for over 100 years and holds millions of artifacts from around the world. Along with their permanent exhibits, they have amazing traveling exhibits that come and go from the museum. For this summer, they have a Robot Revolution attraction that features robots from all around the world that visitors can interact with.
16th Street Mall
This mile long street runs through the heart of Denver and is the perfect place to people watch. It has shopping, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and street performers to entertain you for hours.
In between
Garden of the Gods
This amazing collection of natural wonders truly lives up to its name. The rock formations here are millions of years old and provide a peak into the history of Colorado, from dinosaurs to early tribes that called it home.
Mesa Verde National Park
This area holds the best preserved Ancestral Puebloan archeological sites in the United States. Even after over 1000 years, these cliff dwellings let visitors experience the rich history and culture of those who carved these pieces of historical art long ago.
Royal Gorge
This canyon is home to the Arkansas River and has attractions for everyone. You can take the Royal Gorge Railroad through the canyon, visit the amusement park, and for those not faint of heart- cross the Royal Gorge Bridge suspended almost 1,000 ft over the rushing water below or zip line across.
Whether you are a native to Colorado, a transplant, or a visitor, there are so many things to do in this beautiful state throughout the summer. Welcome to Colorado.
