Colorado spring vacation with baby
Planning a vacation with baby, toddler or preschooler can seem overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be! Whether you’re looking for winter activities in Colorado or things to do in Colorado during the summer, this guide will help you find just what you’re looking for.
It is difficult to enjoy your vacation when you are with an infant. In order to visit Colorado, you need to know the destination must be child friendly and what could be better in the whole world?
Colorado is a fantastic state for a spring vacation with your baby. The weather is usually mild, and the mountains are a great place to explore.
If you’re traveling with an infant or toddler, Colorado Springs is a great destination. It’s a large city, but it has plenty of outdoor activities for kids of all ages.
The Broadmoor Resort & Spa is one of the most luxurious resorts in Colorado Springs. It has several restaurants, including a buffet and a full-service restaurant with live music every night. If you want to go out on the town after dinner, there are many bars and clubs within walking distance from the resort.
The children’s program at The Broadmoor includes arts and crafts classes, story time and even pony rides! They also offer sports activities like swimming lessons and soccer clinics for kids ages 3-9 years old.
1. Garden of The Gods
With 1,300 acres of sandstone formations, the Garden of the Gods is one awesome city park (technically it should be in the favorite park section of this post). Surprisingly it’s free .. forever. We have visited with toddlers and big kids and can say you will not be disappointed by this must-see National Natural Landmark in Colorado Springs.
You can take in the view for free from your car, take a short (or long) hike, scramble around on the rocks and picnic at one of the 2 areas.
Playing on the rocks was the favorite activity in our family. (Yes, unlike Arches National Park, you can climb on the rocks.)
At the visitor center, you can learn more about how the rocks were formed, and also take some time to shop for souvenirs or eat at the cafe.
This is likely the best park for toddlers in Colorado Springs. I included it here though because it is so much more than a city park. I wrote an in-depth review of our visit to the Garden of the Gods here.
You can’t actually camp in Garden of the Gods but you can stay close at the Garden of the Gods Club and resort, with 2 pools and family rooms. Check prices and make reservations here.
- Website
- Location:1805 North 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
- Hours of Operation: The Park is open 5 am-10 pm. The visitor center is open from 9 am-5 pm.
- Price: Free entry to the park and the visitor center.
2. Rock Ledge Ranch
Rock Ledge Ranch is a living history farm and museum with guides wearing period-appropriate costumes. It is located on 230 acres at the Garden of the Gods. The period of history that the ranch focuses on is the Native Americans of late 1700s; 1860s Galloway Homestead; 1880s Chambers Home and Ranch; and 1907 Edwardian Country Estate.
Kids will enjoy the working blacksmith shop, horse stables, chicken coop and more.
- Website
- Location: 3105 Gateway Rd, Colorado Springs, CO
- Hours: open summers 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Price: Adults $8, Seniors $5, Youth $4, Children 5 and under Free
- Discounts: group rates for 10 or more
3. Summit Pikes Peak
Colorado is famous for its fourteeners and many people want to make it to the top of a 14ner. (Peak bagging is a popular activity in Colorado.) Pikes Peak is one way to take small kids up to the top of the world without a lengthy and difficult hike.
You can drive or take the cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak. The Cog railway is an hour and a half to the summit. You will have fantastic views on the way up but toddlers may have a difficult time sitting still.
The option we chose is to drive to the top of Pikes Peak. You can still view the scenery but you can have more options for stopping. Driving to the top is a good option is you are worried about your baby’s comfort or health.
Pro Tip: be careful of the altitude with infants and small children. As an adult, I have felt a little dizzy at the top. Discuss with your Pediatrician, especially if you are from a lower altitude or have any medical issues. The City of Colorado springs recommends not taking babies under 6 months.
All kids are different – babies are born at altitude in Leadville, Vail, and Aspen all the time. I have had a few babies born at very high altitude (above 8,000 feet)
- Website
- Location: 5089 Pikes Peak Highway Cascade, CO 80809
- Hours of Operation: 9AM -4PM Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
- Price: Adults $10, Children $5, or $35 our car
4. Helen Hunt Falls
Helen Hunt Falls is a 35-foot tall waterfall named after activist and poet Helen Hunt Jackson. This short 1-mile hiking trail in North Cheyenne Cañon Park is good for toddlers (with a little help) with a beautiful waterfall a the end.
You should know that although short there are stone stairs at the top and the altitude is 7,200 feet.
Stop at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center to learn more about the area and the falls. There are exhibits, maps, videos and more. You can also get information on guided hikes and nature walks.
- Website
- Location: 3440 N Cheyenne Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA
- Hours: Open year-round 5AM – 9PM
- Price: Free
5.Cripple Creek Railroad
At the Cripple Creek Railroad, you will experience a forty-five minute trip on an authentic locomotive train. The ride is narrated and stops occasionally so you can get in a few photos of the breathtaking scenery.
You will also ride past important historic mining sites, and stop at a mining camp. This is another great way to learn more about the history of the area, and see some of the natural beauty offered by the city.
- Website
- Location: 520 East Carr Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80813
- Hours of Operation: The site runs from 10 am till 5 pm. Trains come by every forty-five minutes.
- Price: $15 for adults, $10 for children 3-12. Seniors pay $14.
- Discounts: Kids under 3 are free. Active military and vets receive $1 offhttps://f74816c099c7ad9116f65d98be1276a5.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
6. Manitou Cliff Dwellings
This historical site has authentic Anasazi ruins from 1,000 years ago. The original dwellings were located in the southwest corner of Colorado near Mesa Verde. In 1904 the dwellings were moved to the current location in Manitou Springs.
Inside the Pueblo, you can learn more about the Anasazi way of life in the museum with a variety of dioramas, exhibits, tools, and weapons. This museum is a great option for families who want to learn more about the southwest tribes but are not able to make the trip to Mesa Verde.
- Website
- Location:10 Cliff Dwelling Road, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
- Admission: $10 adults, $7.50 for children, and Seniors $8.50.
- Discounts: Children under three get in free.
7. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Kids and family members who love animals should definitely visit this local zoo. At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, there are over eight-hundred species of animals.
This unique zoo also has the highest elevation of any zoo in America. It is located over 6,800 feet above sea level. So while you stop to watch the animals (and catch your breath), you’ll also have a great view of the city.
Kids who love animals will have fun interacting with the animals. We fed the giraffes and they got to touch a baby kangaroo
The whole zoo is on a hill so save energy to make it back up to the entrance. I would highly recommend taking the $2 golf cart shuttle to the top of the zoo and walking down, though.
- Website
- Location: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
- Hours of Operation: Open seven days a week, 9 am till 3 pm.
- Price: Costs $19.75 for adults, $14.75 for children, $17.75 for seniors.
- Discounts: 75 cents for kids 2 and under. If you are military you can get 3 dollars off your ticket.
8. The North Pole
If you want a taste of Christmas, this fun little theme park will be sure to enchant you and your family. Here you can take a picture with some elves, visit Santa Clause, and ride some fun Christmas-themed rides. There are plenty of fun shops, entertaining shows, and tons of amusement attractions!
In the winter, you will have to wait for Santa to visit your house at Christmas because this little theme park is closed in the winter. But you should add it to your things-to-do list for summer.
- Website
- Hours of Operation: 10 am to 5 pm the park is open.
- Price: $25 dollars for each person.
- Discounts: Military personnel gets a $5 off ticket. Those under 2 and seniors are free to enter
9. Dinosaur Resource Center
At the Dinosaur Resource Center, you can explore ancient fossils with your kids. The museum is full of fascinating creatures that populated the earth and the skies in prehistoric times. There is also a fossil lab for kids interested in the process of excavating bones.
With its detailed exhibitions, the museum is a trip well worth it. It is rated as the number two dinosaur museum in the country.
- Website
- Location: 201 S Fairview St, Woodland Park, CO 80863
- Hours of Operation: Open 9 am to 6 pm 6 days a week. Sundays 10 am to 5 pm.
- Price: $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors, and $7.50 for kids aged 5-12.
- Discounts: $1 discount for veterans, and free admission for kids 4 and under.
