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United States
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We are planning a family vacation first week in August can't decide between estes park or colorado springs. We need help with campgrounds and places to see. We have two kids ages 6 and 10. We enjoy horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and whitewater rafting.
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rhochnadel
Colorado
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Joined: 09/08/2008
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I would recommend Cheyenne Mountain State Park if you stay in the Colorado Springs area (you will need to make reservations soon). Plenty to do in this area with children. Whitewater rafting would require a trip over to Salida or Buena Vista on the Arkansas river. Hope you enjoy your stay!
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Son of Norway
Denver, Colorado
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I would also recommend the Colorado Springs area over Estes Park. There are many more things that are close by for kids to see and do. Some of them are a couple of hours away, but the Springs is more centrally located. Start surfing and you will find plenty of attractions and activities. I would definitely recommend whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River.
Have Fun!
Miles
Miles and Darcey
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Denver, CO
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RAS43
Littleton,CO
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Since you mentioned horseback riding we stayed at Garden of the Gods Campground near Colorado Springs some years ago and took a horseback ride into Garden of the Gods Park. It was a great experience and I am not a great horse person. The stable was within walking distance of the campground, which is fairly nice though to me it is a bit crowded. We now camp at either a state park or Mountaindale Campground when we visit the area. We spent a lot of time in the Colorado Springs area when our kids were young, not much in Estes Park if that helps.
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Two Hands
California's Central Coast
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We really enjoyed our stay at Spruce Lake RV Park in Estes Park, Colorado. Very close to the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park is an extremely nice little town. Have a great trip.
2011 Fleetwood Southwind 32VS
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GizmosMom
Central Texas
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Might I suggest that you also check out the Buena Vista, Leadville, Salida areas?
Fourteenernet
This area has everything that you want...check it out.
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
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Busskipper
Arnold,Md
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GizmosMom wrote:Might I suggest that you also check out the Buena Vista, Leadville, Salida areas?
Fourteenernet
This area has everything that you want...check it out.
That's where I would start, then maybe over to Ouray and Silverton. Estes (RMNP) is a great NP and if the kids are into great hikes they might love it. Colorado Springs is not on my list of Colorado Revisits, but the trails and the 14teen'er's along with the Arkansas River will give you a great vacation, if you make it over to the Collegiate Peaks and Buena Vista.
JMHO,
Busskipper
Maryland/Colorado
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ngreen
Neosho, MO
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We took our kids to both - Mueller state park is near Colorado Springs, with electricity, showers, etc. Moraine park at Rocky Mountain National Park is primitive with no showers or electricity. We only had a popup trailer then so had to drive to town to shower. All part of the fun! Both parks have programs for kids, free and very enjoyable and educational and of course lots of hiking. From Colorado Springs we did drive to Salida for whitewater rafting and to the Royal Gorge. Personally I like RMNP for the hikes and the mountain views the best. Had a book, Family Guide to RMNP.
We now have a generator to use while we are there in the fiver. Which ever you choose - MAKE RESERVATIONS and be prepared for cooler weather, even in the summer
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BobR
Aurora, Illinois
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Make sure to include Dinosaur National Monument during your trip. Kids should love it.
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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Colorado Springs is never high on my list of places to visit, and with the list of activities you have, Estes Park would be far and away my first choice. There are a couple of stables in RMNP where you can ride into some of the high mountain lakes. The hiking above Bear Lake is superb. The scenery at RMNP beats anything Co. Spgs. has to offer. The downside is that CG's with FHU apparently aren't anything great, although we always stay in the park, primarily at Moraine Park CG. Another downside to camping in RMNP this year is that Glacier Basin CG will be closed all year, so camping will be very tight.
As mentioned, the Salida/Buena Vista/Leadville area has a lot more of the activities you listed in a very scenic location. Click on "Advanced Search" above, type in "Salida" and under message author, type in 4runnerguy. You'll find other posts I've done about this area, describing fishing, campgrounds, 4x4, rafting, hot springs pools, and a slew of other activities. This has to be one of the top places in Colorado to take kids for the kinds of adventures they'll remember for years.
Check out their website for lots more ideas of what you can do there. We go to this area virtually every year. In fact we're heading to Salida in a couple of weeks for a ski weekend with the nieces.
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)
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