Last Updated on January 11, 2023
Colorado is one of the most amazing states in the US – a state you should visit with your heart open and with your mindset on memorizing all the amazing things you will do and see here.
What are the very best things to do in Colorado? What are the most fun things to do in Colorado? We have some tips for you – so read on and find out more.
#1. The Rocky Mountain National Park
By far one of the most famous national parks in all of the United States, the Rocky Mountain National Park stretches across 265,461 acres of beautiful, natural splendor. There is a very good reason this park is so popular: it really does offer everyone what they need.
From adventures to hiking, to rafting and to family fun, there is something for pretty much everyone here – and this is specifically why so many people love this place so much.
The Rocky Mountain National Park can be reached by car, or by train (up to Denver or Granby) and then by bus (there are regular buses coming to the park).
Keep in mind that you will also have to pay for a pass ($25, valid for one day, for automobiles and motorcycles). If you are a pedestrian, the pass will be $20 (same in the case of bicycles). You can also get an annual Rocky Mountain National Park Pass for $70 if you plan on visiting for multiple days or on multiple occasions.
#2. The Mesa Verde National Park
From the outrageously green beauty of the Rocky Mountain to Mesa Verde, there seems to be an entire world of distance to set apart the two locations. Yet, both of them are in Colorado – and they are definitely among the best things to do in Colorado.
Established as a national park in 1906, Mesa Verde is famous particularly for its Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings – a view that is as unique as it is unforgettable.
To get to Mesa Verde, you should follow highway 160 (as you go from Mancos to Cortez). The park is also located about 35 miles of Durango as well. Once you step in the park, you will see the first cliff dwelling about 21 miles away from the entrance.
In general, you can visit almost the entire Mesa Verde park without being guided by anyone. However, certain areas are only accessible if you get a ranger-guided tour. It costs $5 and it covers the Cliff Palace, the Long House, and the Balcony House.
#3. The Denver Art Museum
If you are a big fan of arts and want to visit a museum that stretches across no less than 7 stories (and whose building is, in itself, a work of art in the fullest sense of the word), the Denver Art Museum is where you should stop in Colorado.
You can get there (100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204, USA) by car or by public transportation (Bus 0 83D, ES, FF4, Free Metroride, or Train A).
The museum is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm and tickets cost $13 for all adult out of state visitors. How much the visit will take depends on a lot of factors, including which exhibitions you want to see (for example, they will hold a Monet exhibition soon!).
#4. The Shambhala Mountain Center
If you are into spirituality and want to experience a place of full peace and relaxation, visit the Shambhala Mountain Center. A core of converted Buddhists, this place will make you feel out of this world relaxing. The center was founded in the early 70s and still stands – proof that they really do offer what they promise!
Of course, this is not the kind of place you visit for one day and then leave – you will have to allow yourself multiple days, or even weeks to fully sense the vibes here.
The Shambhala Mountain Center is not an actual tourist attraction – not one you can include on your itinerary just like that. But it can very much become one of the very best places you can visit in Colorado, especially if you need a retreat!
#5. Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is, without doubt, one of the very best things to see in Colorado. Regardless of whether you are visiting with your kids here or not, you will definitely find this place to be a real charmer!
If you’re in Denver and want to use public transportation to get to this children’s museum, you can take bus 10, train A, or Light Rails C, E, or W.
The museum is open on Sunday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm, and on Wednesdays from 9 am to 7 pm. Tickets for everyone over two years of age (including adults) cost $14 and the time required to visit the museum will vary according to a lot of factors.
#6. The Colorado Railroad Museum
Wondering what to do in Colorado? Well, how about visiting the Colorado Railroad Museum? Established in 1959, this small museum, surrounded by picturesque views, is a real charmer – the kind that will steal your heart forever.
You will find the Colorado Railroad Museum on 17155 W 44th Ave, Golden, CO 80403, USA. The museum is open year-round, from 9 am to 5 pm (with the last admission at 4:30 pm), with the exception of a couple of days every year (when the Polar Express ride moves through this place, on Easter Sunday, and on Thanksgiving Eve). Admission tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children.
#7. Telluride
If you are going to visit the Rocky Mountains (as we suggested at the beginning of this article), then be sure you don’t miss out on Telluride. This small former mining town is a trip back in time and a really unique experience in its own right!
The town itself is not a ghost town, bear in mind. It’s full of life and activities every single person will enjoy. Color, festivals, resort activities – they are all there.
You even have a gondola that will take you on a 13-minute trip across the superb natural beauties surrounding the area. And guess what? The gondola ride is completely free of charge!
Visiting Telluride itself will not take more than a few hours – but you should stay here for at least two or three days to allow the experience to fully sink in your body and embrace your soul.
Colorado is a state full of wonders. A state with multiple national parks that will stick to your memory and embrace your heart with its natural and man-made beauties alike, Colorado is a must-see destination, the perfect state for long hiking trips and road trips for the entire family.
Of course, what we presented in this article is just part of what this amazing state has to offer – there is much, much, much more to it (so much that you will not even have time to visit everything in a couple of weeks).
Have fun, stay safe, and stay wondrous – Colorado will be memorable!
