Whether you're looking for a sight-seeing opportunity or a chance to experience a new culture, taking a day trip is a great way to make lasting memories.
There are countless destinations within a 3hr drive of the Denver Tech Center, and Macaroni KID is here to help you choose a mini vacation that is right for your family.
🗺️ Preparing for your Trip
Length of Trip
🎢 Amusement Parks, Water Parks, Pools, & Thrills
- Apex Center, Arvada, CO 🕒
- Bounce Empire, Lafayette, CO 🕒
- Carousel of Happiness, Nederland, CO 🕒🕒
- Elitch Gardens, Denver, CO 🕒
- Fun City, Estes Park, CO 🕒🕒
- Gateway Park Fun Center, Boulder, CO 🕒
- Great Wolf Lodge, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒
- Hot Springs Aquatic Center, Salida, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Kit Carson County Carousel, Burlington, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver, CO 🕒
- Lava Island, Aurora, CO 🕒
- Miller Activity Complex, Castle Rock, CO 🕒
- North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop, Cascade, CO 🕒🕒
- Paradice Island Pool at Pioneer Park, Commerce City, CO 🕒
- Pirates Cove Family Aquatic Center, Englewood, CO 🕒
- Slick City Action Park - Denver West, Lakewood, CO 🕒
- Water World, Federal Heights, CO 🕒
🐷 Animal Attractions
- Broken Shovels Farm, Commerce City, CO 🕒
- Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, CO 🕒
- CALF'S Lowell Ranch, Castle Rock, CO 🕒
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒🕒
- Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide, CO 🕒🕒
- Daniels Park, Sedalia, CO 🕒
- Denver Zoo, Denver, CO 🕒
- Sunflower Farm, Longmont, CO 🕒
- The Wild Animal Sanctuary, Keenesburg, CO 🕒
🏔️ Colorado Must-Sees
- Browns Canyon National Monument, Salida, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Casa Bonita, Lakewood, CO 🕒
- Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒🕒
- Colorado 14ers, Various CO locations
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant, CO 🕒🕒
- Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒🕒
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Manitou Springs, CO 🕒🕒
- Paint Mines Interpretive Park, CO 🕒🕒
- Red Rocks Park, Morrison, CO 🕒
- Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO 🕒🕒🕒
🦕 Dinosaur Adventures
- Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO 🕒
- Dinosaur Ridge, CO 🕒
- Morrison Natural History Museum, Morrison, CO 🕒
- Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO 🕒🕒
- Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, Woodland Park, CO 🕒🕒
🚣 Lakes, Hot Springs, & Other Bodies of Water
- Aurora Reservoir, Aurora, CO 🕒
- Bear Creek Lake, Lakewood, CO 🕒
- Chatfield Reservoir, Littleton, CO 🕒
- Cherry Creek Reservoir, Aurora, CO 🕒
- Glenwood Springs, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Grand Lake, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Jackson Lake State Park, Orchard CO 🕒🕒
- Soda Lakes, Lakewood, CO 🕒
- Steamboat Springs, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Wellington Lake, Bailey, CO 🕒🕒
✈️ Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
- Cussler Museum, Arvada, CO 🕒
- Georgetown Loop Railroad, Georgetown CO 🕒
- Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad Co, Leadville, CO 🕒🕒
- National Museum of World War II Aviation, Colorado Springs 🕒🕒
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Springs, CO 🕒🕒
- Royal Gorge Park and Bridge, Cañon City, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Tiny Town, Morrison, CO 🕒
- United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒
🛍️ Shop Til You Drop
- 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO 🕒
- Colorado Mills, Lakewood, CO 🕒
- Outlets at Castle Rock, Castle Rock, CO 🕒
- Park Meadows Mall, Lone Tree, CO 🕒
- Southlands, Aurora, CO 🕒
- The Streets at SouthGlenn, Centennial, CO 🕒
- The Orchard Town Center, Broomfield, CO 🕒
🌊 Waterfalls
- Alberta Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO 🕒🕒
- Booth Falls, Vail, CO 🕒🕒
- Calypso Cascades, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO 🕒🕒
- Chasm Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO 🕒🕒
- Elk Falls, Staunton State Park, CO 🕒🕒
- Forsythe Falls, Nederland, CO 🕒🕒
- Green Mountain Falls, CO 🕒🕒
- Hanging Lake, CO 🕒🕒🕒
- Helen Hunt Falls, CO 🕒🕒
- Idaho Springs, CO 🕒
- Maxwell Falls, Evergreen, CO 🕒
- Seven Falls, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒🕒
- St. Mary's Falls, Colorado Springs, CO 🕒🕒🕒
🏕️ Mountain Towns & Hiking Spots
Beaver Creek, CO 🕒🕒🕒
Beaver Creek is a charming alpine village renowned for its world-class skiing and luxurious amenities. Visitors can explore the picturesque village with its cobblestone streets lined with boutique shops, art galleries, and gourmet restaurants.
Breckenridge, CO 🕒🕒
Breckenridge is an attractive mountain town renowned for its world-class ski resort, historic Main Street lined with Victorian buildings, and vibrant arts scene. Located in the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge offers stunning views, outdoor activities year-round, and a welcoming community that attracts visitors from all over the globe.
Castlewood Canyon State Park, Franktown CO 🕒
Castlewood Canyon State Park is a serene and picturesque natural area featuring stunning rock formations, lush vegetation, and a peaceful creek running through the canyon. Visitors can enjoy hiking along the various trails, rock climbing, picnicking by the water, and spotting wildlife such as deer and birds.
Copper Mountain, CO 🕒🕒
Copper Mountain is a popular ski resort located in the Rocky Mountains. Known for its diverse terrain and stunning views, Copper Mountain offers a variety of winter sports activities for all skill levels. Visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and even après-ski relaxation in the charming village at the base of the mountain.
Devils Head, CO 🕒🕒
Devil's Head is a prominent rock formation located in the Pike National Forest, known for its unique geological features and stunning panoramic views. Visitors can hike to the summit and enjoy breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains and forests, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Keep an eye out for the iconic Devil's Head Fire Lookout tower perched on the top, providing a historic touch to the scenic landscape.
Eldorado Canyon State Park, Eldorado Springs, CO 🕒
Eldorado Canyon State Park is a picturesque outdoor destination known for its impressive rock formations, challenging rock climbing routes, and scenic hiking trails along the South Boulder Creek. With stunning views of the canyon walls and diverse wildlife, it offers a perfect escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.
Estes Park, CO 🕒🕒
Estes Park is a well-loved mountain town known for its stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, outdoor recreational activities, and proximity to the famous Rocky Mountain National Park. It offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, wildlife, and a quaint downtown area with shops and restaurants to explore.
Lair O' the Bear, Morrison, CO 🕒
Lair O' the Bear is a stunning park that offers incredible hiking trails, serene picnic spots, and beautiful views of Bear Creek. It's a perfect destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape into the tranquility of the Rocky Mountains.
Lookout Mountain Nature Center & Preserve, Morrison, CO 🕒
Lookout Mountain Nature Center & Preserve offers visitors a peaceful retreat to explore the natural beauty of the area through its network of hiking trails and educational programs, providing a perfect opportunity to connect with nature and learn about the local wildlife and ecosystems.
Lyons, CO 🕒🕒
Lyons is a charming town known for its vibrant art scene, outdoor recreational opportunities, and picturesque Main Street lined with local shops and restaurants.
Manitou Incline, Cascade, CO 🕒🕒
The Manitou Incline is a challenging hiking trail consisting of 2,768 steps over a distance of about 0.88 miles, with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet. It offers breathtaking views of Manitou Springs and the surrounding mountains.
Mt. Falcon Park, Morrison, CO 🕒
Mt. Falcon Park offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and Denver skyline, making it a popular destination for hiking and picnicking amidst beautiful scenery. With historic ruins of John Brisben Walker's summer home adding to its charm, this park provides a perfect blend of nature and history for visitors to enjoy.
Roxborough State Park, Littleton, CO 🕒
Roxborough State Park is a stunning natural area known for its towering red sandstone formations, scenic hiking trails, and abundant wildlife, offering visitors a peaceful retreat into the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
Vail Village, Vail, CO 🕒🕒
Vail Village is a charming alpine resort town known for its picturesque cobblestone streets, upscale boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities. It offers a perfect blend of luxury amenities and outdoor adventure, making it a popular destination for visitors seeking a unique mountain experience.
Waterton Canyon, Littleton, CO 🕒🕒
Waterton Canyon in Littleton, Colorado, is a beautiful natural area renowned for its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and popular hiking and biking trails along the South Platte River. It serves as a gateway to the beautiful Colorado wilderness, offering a peaceful retreat for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Winter Park, CO 🕒🕒
Winter Park is a quaint mountain town known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities, stunning alpine views, and a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and snowshoeing.
🏙️ Small Towns & Big Cities
Boulder, CO 🕒
Boulder is a vibrant city known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, thriving arts scene, and progressive culture. With its stunning natural beauty and lively community spirit, Boulder offers a unique blend of adventure and sophistication.
Cheyenne, WY 🕒🕒
Cheyenne, Wyoming, is the capital and largest city of the state, known for its rich Western heritage, including the Cheyenne Frontier Days festival, which is one of the largest outdoor rodeo events in the world.
Downtown Denver, CO 🕒
Downtown Denver is an upbeat urban center filled with skyscrapers, historic buildings, trendy restaurants, and cultural attractions. It's a bustling hub for business, entertainment, and outdoor activities, nestled against the backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains.
Fairplay, CO 🕒🕒
Fairplay is a charming historic town known for its picturesque scenery, outdoor recreational activities, and friendly community vibe. With its quaint shops, local eateries, and proximity to natural wonders like the South Park National Heritage Area, Fairplay offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation for visitors to enjoy.
Fort Collins, CO 🕒🕒
Fort Collins, Colorado, is a lively city located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, known for its outdoor recreation opportunities, craft breweries, and charming Old Town filled with shops and restaurants.
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