I once had a romanticized perception that foreign countries were more exotic and alive with culture than the United States, but while road-tripping through the southwest with my husband many years ago, my perspective shifted. I realized that there are some incredible places in my own homeland that rival countries across the pond.
I developed a passion to explore more of our country and teach my kids to do the same, and thus a goal was born: Take our children to all 50 states before they graduate from high school.
Lucky for those of us living in Colorado, there are 15 states within a 10 hr drive of the Denver Tech Center. Here are those 15 states (in order of drive time) along with some family-friendly suggestions for once you arrive.
Wyoming
Cheyenne (1 hr, 50 min)
- Explore the Paul Smith Children's Village at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (FREE!!)
- Visit the Wyoming State Museum (FREE!!)
- Devils Tower National Monument (6 hr, 15 min)
- Join a ranger program to explore one of Wyoming's most iconic landmarks.
New Mexico
Santa Fe (5 hrs, 30 mins)
- Get a taste of authentic green chile at The Pantry Restaurant.
- Enjoy interactive art at Meow Wolf, Santa Fe.
Utah
- Moab (5 hrs, 30 mins)
- Take a hike at Arches, Canyonlands, & Dead Horse Point State Park.
- Hummer and ATV Tours via Moab Adventure Center.
- Garden City (7 hrs, 30 mins)
- Glamp at Conestoga Ranch.
- Ride a surrey through town and pick up a famous raspberry milkshake.
South Dakota
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (6 hrs)
- Admire the wildlife and take a drive through Bear Country USA.
- Expand your imagination at Storybook Island.
Texas
Amarillo (6 hrs, 20 mins)
- Let your inner thrill-seeker loose at Wonderland Amusement Park.
- Discover something new at the Don Harrington Discovery Center
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park (6 hrs, 40 mins)
- Camp at this second-largest canyon in the United States.
Kansas
- Wichita (7 hrs, 15 mins)
- Visit the Keeper of the Plains (FREE!!) and watch the Ring of Fire show.
- Swim with the penguins at Tanganyika Wildlife Park
CO, UT, AZ, & NM (at the same time!)
Four Corners Monument (7 hrs, 35 mins)
- Visit four states in one stop: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
- Bring cash to shop at the local vendor markets along the way.
Nebraska
- Alliance (4 hrs, 15 mins)
- Take a photo op at the pop-culture icon, Carhenge.
- Take a photo op at the pop-culture icon, Carhenge.
- Omaha (7 hrs, 45 mins)
- Get soaked at the Platte River State Park's two-tiered spray park.
- Use your imagination at the Omaha Children's Museum.
Montana
- Billings (8 hrs, 15 mins)
- Travel back in time by exploring 2000-year old rock art at Pictograph Cave State Park.
- Cultivate your creativity with hands-on fun at Wise Wonders Children's Museum.
Missouri
- Kansas City, Missouri (8 hrs, 30 mins)
- Stretch your creativity at Kaleidoscope. (FREE!!)
- Learn something new at Kansas City Science Center.
Idaho
- Bear Lake (7 hrs, 30 mins)
- Swim across the Utah-Idaho state line.
- Swim across the Utah-Idaho state line.
- Pocatello (9 hrs, 19 mins)
- Get your wiggles out at O.K. Ward Park / Brooklyn's Playground.
- Learn about all-things-clean at the Museum of Clean - it's way more fun than it sounds!
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City (9 hrs, 30 mins)
- Cheer on the Oklahoma City Dodgers baseball at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
- Enjoy mini-golf, mining, laser tag, arcades, and more at Brickopolis.
North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota (9 hrs, 37 mins)
- Camp the night away at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
- Go on a Jr. Ranger Adventure at the Old East Entrance Trailhead.
Iowa
- Des Moines, Iowa (9 hrs, 41 mins)
- Ride the carousel at Heritage Carousel of Des Moines.
- Do as the locals do and wade in the splash pool at Ashby Park.
Nevada
- Great Basin National Park, Nevada (9 hrs, 50 mins)
- Study up on geology and hike through a cave with Lehman Caves Tours.
- Pitch a tent or sleep under the stars at one of five Great Basin National Park campgrounds.
This land we live on is full of breathtaking sights, culture, cuisine, foreign languages, and inspiration. Get out and explore!
Macaroni Kid is national. Before you head out on any vacation, visit national.macaronikid.com and use the drop-down menu to see if there is one for your destination. It's a great way to plan your vacation and save money too since many events listed by Macaroni Kid sites are free or low-cost.
