Colorado had been high on my travel bucket list for years. Between the towering mountains, scenic drives, charming towns, and endless outdoor adventures, it seemed like the perfect destination for a family getaway.
At the end of May, my family and I spent six days exploring Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Boulder, Golden, and beyond. What started as a trip centered around Rocky Mountain National Park quickly turned into one of my favorite domestic adventures yet. From turquoise alpine lakes and whitewater rafting to wildlife sightings and hidden gems, Colorado delivered far more than I expected.
If you’re planning your own Colorado vacation, here’s exactly how we spent our trip—and what I’d recommend along the way.
Trip Quick Facts
Duration: 6 Days
Best Time to Visit: Late May
Fly Into: Denver International Airport
Main Stops: Denver, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder, Golden
Trip Style: Hiking, Scenic Drives, Wildlife, Adventure
Day 1: Exploring Denver & Catching a Rockies Game
After landing in Denver, we picked up our rental car and headed into the city to explore before making our way toward the mountains.
We spent the afternoon wandering around LoDo (Lower Downtown), one of Denver’s most walkable neighborhoods. Union Station was the perfect starting point, with its historic architecture, restaurants, and lively atmosphere. Nearby Larimer Square and the surrounding streets offered plenty of opportunities to soak in the city’s character.
For lunch, we stopped at Thirsty Lion, conveniently located near Union Station. It was the perfect first meal of the trip and a great place to recharge before more exploring.
That evening, we headed to Coors Field to watch the Colorado Rockies take on the Texas Rangers. Even if you’re not a huge baseball fan, I highly recommend catching a game if you’re visiting Denver during baseball season. The stadium views alone are worth it.
One of the best surprises? The rooftop area inside the stadium. If you arrive early enough before first pitch, you can enjoy incredible city and mountain views while taking advantage of some of the stadium’s famously cheap drink specials. Finding $2 beers at a major league ballpark felt almost impossible to believe.
After the game, we made the drive to Estes Park, which would serve as our home base for the next few days of exploring Rocky Mountain National Park.
Day 2: The Four Lakes Loop & Rocky Mountain National Park
The highlight of our entire trip came on our first full day in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Before entering the park, we stopped at Coffee on the Rocks, which may very well be one of the cutest coffee shops I’ve ever visited. Nestled beside a pond and river, the outdoor seating area was filled with ducks and geese wandering nearby. Between the mountain views, peaceful atmosphere, and breakfast options, it was the perfect way to start the day.
From there, we headed into Rocky Mountain National Park and made our way to the Bear Lake area.
Our main hike was what many visitors call the Four Lakes Loop, a route that combines several of the park’s most beautiful lakes into one unforgettable experience. Along the trail, we visited:
- Bear Lake
- Nymph Lake
- Dream Lake
- Lake Haiyaha
Each lake felt more impressive than the last.
Dream Lake quickly became one of my favorites, framed by dramatic mountain peaks that still held patches of snow. But the true star of the hike was Lake Haiyaha.
After navigating a section of massive granite boulders, we arrived at one of the most stunning lakes I’ve ever seen. Thanks to glacial rock sediment suspended in the water, the lake glowed a vibrant turquoise color that almost looked unreal.
If you’re planning a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park and only have time for one hike, this would absolutely be my recommendation.
One popular stop we didn’t manage to fit into our route was Alberta Falls. If you have extra time, it’s another highly recommended trail in the Bear Lake corridor and can easily be added to your day.
That evening, we celebrated an incredible day in the park with dinner at Bird & Jim, which completely lived up to the hype. The food was fantastic and easily one of the best meals we had during the trip.
Day 3: Trail Ridge Road, Wildlife, & Estes Park
One of the biggest questions when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in late May is whether Trail Ridge Road will be open.
Fortunately, we got lucky.
We started our morning at Lily Lake, a peaceful and incredibly accessible trail just outside the park. The calm water reflected the surrounding mountains and provided a much quieter experience than some of the busier areas of the park.
Afterward, we headed to Trail Ridge Road. Despite lingering spring snow, portions of the road had opened, allowing us to experience some of the park’s most spectacular mountain views.
The drive itself became the adventure. Every overlook seemed more impressive than the last, with snow-covered peaks stretching toward the horizon.
On our return journey, we took Fall River Road and stopped in several wildlife-viewing areas, including Horseshoe Park and Sheep Lakes. These areas are known for frequent moose and bighorn sheep sightings, and even if the animals don’t cooperate, the scenery alone makes the detour worthwhile.
That evening, we explored downtown Estes Park, browsing local shops and enjoying the mountain-town atmosphere.
One of my favorite parts of the afternoon was simply wandering Elkhorn Avenue and popping into the unique local stores.
Dinner at Claire’s Restaurant was the perfect way to end another incredible day in the Rockies.
Day 4: Boulder’s Flatirons & Pearl Street
After checking out of Estes Park, we made our way south toward Boulder.
If you’ve never visited Boulder before, put it on your list.
The city somehow manages to feel energetic, outdoorsy, and relaxed all at the same time.
Our first stop was Chautauqua Park, where we enjoyed stunning views of the iconic Flatirons. These dramatic rock formations tower over the city and provide one of the most recognizable landscapes in Colorado.
From there, we spent the afternoon exploring Pearl Street.
Filled with local shops, restaurants, street performers, and outdoor patios, Pearl Street quickly became one of my favorite downtown areas of the trip.
One store in particular completely stole my heart: Peppercorn.
If you enjoy browsing unique gifts, kitchen gadgets, home décor, and specialty items, give yourself extra time here. I could have spent hours wandering through every section of the store.
After exploring Boulder, we headed to our next accommodation near Golden.
Day 5: Red Rocks & Whitewater Rafting
This was undoubtedly our most adventurous day.
Before our rafting trip, we grabbed breakfast from Big Daddy Bagels and made a stop at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Even without a concert taking place, Red Rocks is worth visiting. The combination of massive red rock formations and sweeping mountain views makes it one of the most unique venues in the world.
From there, we headed to our whitewater rafting excursion.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it ended up being one of the highlights of the entire vacation.
Our guides were fantastic, keeping the experience fun while helping everyone feel comfortable on the water. Over the course of our seven-mile journey, we navigated exciting rapids, enjoyed beautiful canyon scenery, and shared plenty of laughs along the way.
It was the perfect mix of adventure and accessibility for a family trip.
After rafting, our guides recommended Tommyknocker Brewery for a late lunch, and we’re so glad we listened. The food was excellent and exactly what we needed after an afternoon on the river.
On the way back, we spent some time exploring Golden before ending the day at Flats Beer Garden.
Between the laid-back atmosphere, mountain views, and great food and drinks, it was one of my favorite places we visited during the entire trip.
Day 6: Eldorado Canyon & One Final Colorado Surprise
Before our evening flight home, we squeezed in one final Colorado adventure.
We spent the morning exploring Eldorado Canyon State Park, a destination that doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as Rocky Mountain National Park but absolutely deserves a visit.
The towering canyon walls create dramatic scenery, and one of the coolest parts of the experience was watching rock climbers scale the cliffs above us.
It’s easy to see why Eldorado is considered one of the premier climbing destinations in the country.
On our way back toward the airport, we made one final stop at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
I wasn’t expecting much, but it ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip.
Driving through the refuge felt like entering an entirely different side of Colorado. We spotted prairie dogs, bison, and beautiful open landscapes that felt worlds away from the mountain scenery we’d spent the week exploring.
It was the perfect final chapter to an unforgettable trip.
Final Thoughts
When I first planned this trip, Rocky Mountain National Park was the main attraction.
And while the park absolutely lived up to the hype, some of my favorite memories came from the unexpected moments along the way—sipping coffee beside a pond in Estes Park, discovering hidden gems on Pearl Street, floating through Colorado canyons on a rafting trip, and spotting bison just hours before our flight home.
Colorado has a way of turning even the drive between destinations into part of the adventure.
If you’re looking for a destination that combines incredible hiking, wildlife, charming mountain towns, scenic drives, and a little bit of adrenaline, this itinerary is hard to beat.
I already know I’ll be back.