We’re considering a car trip from California to Colorado. 3 years ago we did Utah (St. George area and Dinosaur National Park). We like fishing, ghost towns, Western history. The Golden Retriever comes with us. The 2 kids are 15 and 13. We probably won’t be doing any tent camping, so motels or cabins (my wife saw some cabins for rent in the Estes Park area that looked nice). Budget is always a consideration, so we won’t be doing the “$4K for a week Dude Ranch” thing. We may meet my sister in the Denver area for a few days.
Any ideas?
If you take I70, I think Glenwood Springs is a good place to stop along the way, but some activities may be problematic with a dog in tow. The pool is awesome (expensive, but I think it’s worth it). You can see Doc Holliday’s grave, take a tram up to a pretty neat cavern tour, do a raft trip or bike ride along the Colorado, and there’s a cool hike up to see Hanging Lake outside of town.
What’s cool about Hanging Lake? Are there trout in it?
Dogs are not allowed on the Hanging Lake trail. Fishing is not allowed in the lake. There’s ton of stuff to do in the Cortez, Duango, Silverton, Telluride area.
All sorts of trout streams near Glenwood Springs. LMK if you want more particulars but I’ve always liked the Frying Pan river.
Some years ago I did a tourist loop. I saw Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs, and took the side trip to Royal Gorge Bridge. Both were very impressive.
I came home through the high country, past all the ski resorts (though it was summer) and crossed from Utah to Nevada, taking “Skull Rock Pass,” on to Tonopah, and Yosemite via the Tioga Pass. A really great driving vacation! Driving through the great American south-west is a joy…if ya like driving!
I’ve found travelling with a dog not much of an impediment in the past. The larger places, like Carlsberg Caverns, have kennels, and she’s crate trained.
I’ve heard of Telluride, what’s good there? Doc Holliday’s grave, that would be cool. And yeah, I like driving…
We (me, wife, 2 8yo girls) went to Colorado last summer. We stayed in Estes Park a couple days, took Trail Ridge road over the divide, went down through Buena Vista and over to Durango for a few days, then back to Denver via Molas Pass, Gunnison, Buena Vista, etc. A friend of mine’s a fisherman and lives in Durango, so I assume there’s plenty of fishing around there. We did some rafting in Durango, went to Mesa Verde, there’s an old steam train that goes through the mountains to Silverton, mountain biking, the downtown’s great, highly recommended.
Hanging Lake is in Glenwood Canyon, and really seems like it is hanging above the canyon. Even though the trail is only about a mile long, the hike is pretty steep.
The lake is really clear, and the last time I was there, there was a log that had fallen into the lake that you could walk out on and look into the middle of the lake.
Wiki article on the lake. The log is visible in some of the pictures.
Hope that helps.
On the highway northbound that goes up to Cheyenne, Wy., there is a private park-like estate full of sculptures made of scrap metal. It’s open to the public (for an admission fee, I think).
Swetsville Zoo in the vicinity of Ft. Collins.
ETA: Whoops! According to this 2009 article, it’s history now. Done in by urban development! Damn!
Telluride is touristy and expensive, but well worth a visit. It is situated in a spectacular box canyon with Bridal Veil Falls at one end. Lots of historic buildings, including the first bank that Butch Cassidy ever robbed.
There’s a free gondola from town up to the ski resort that offers amazing views. They have music & film festivals there throughout the summer. Lots of hiking trails too.
The whole area has some of the most beautiful scenery you will see anywhere, even by Colorado standards.
What’s there to do in Duango? 
(No, actually, I will be driving past Durango this summer and while I can find things to do in most places along the way I wasn’t aware of any in that area. It’s either Durango or Taos for that night considering I’m trying to slowly acclimate myself for hiking the high peaks. First Guadalupe Mtns in Texas at 5K, then Taos, then Breckenridge, then hopefully I’ll feel fine at 12,000 feet.)
Durango has a very nice downtown area with lots of shops and restaurants. It’s in the Animas River valley (great fly fishing, rafting & canoeing) and surrounded by the San Juan mountains. The Narrow Gauge Railroad is worth a ride. Mesa Verde is just down the road a bit and has some very impressive cliff dwellings.
If you are at all a fan of steam trains, I’d suggest taking at least one while in Colorado.
A few years ago, we did a week long family trip that hit 5 steam trains in Colorado.
If you have a full day, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is interesting. Try to get on the open platform car, and listen to (and ask questions of) the guides/docents. It’s a full day train ride.
Royal Gorge Railroad is a gorgeous ride. It’s a couple of hours ride.
The Durango & Silverton Steam Train Ride is a 3 hour ride through the mountains to Silverton. You either have to ride the train back down, or find some way to get your vehicle to Silverton.
When you go through Grand Junction, you can get off the interstate at 24 Road and let your dog romp off leash at the Canyon View Park dog area. It’s fenced and has two areas: one for smaller/shy dogs, and one for energetic dogs that has a swimming hole.
I love all the suggestions. the Golden will love the swimming hole!
Estes Park and Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall are both very dog friendly.
Dogs are not allowed on the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, 10 minutes from Estes, $20 entrance fee, but it’s a nice drive through it.
There are horse stables for trail rides in Estes and at the west entrance to RMNP. You can rent bicycles in Estes too.
If you like some of the older towns, Georgetown and Silver Plume (off I-70) are older towns with a train running between them.
Also near I-70, Frisco and Breckenridge (I like Frisco better) are neat little towns.
I’d have to agree with all of the above. I’ve lived here for 18 years and I’m not tired of it yet!
The altitude is definitely a consideration, though. Town is at 8750 feet. Many of the hikes are steep.
Could be a good thing, the daughter has been bugging me to take her on my next Mt. Whtiney climb. I’ll see if I can wear her out (but I bet it’ll go the other way…)
On the way there or back, take CO Highway 141 from near Grand Junction south through Gateway, CO… really nice road with little traffic and nice scenery.