MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS

Colorado Springs Vicinity

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and American Cowboy Museum
Even if your kids aren't that familiar with rodeos and cowboy culture, they will have a good time at this well-organized museum. The tour starts with two films, one explaining the history of rodeos and one detailing modern rodeos; together they run about 20 minutes. The displays highlight famous cowboys and the evolution of the cowboy hat, spurs, boots, and saddles. Much of the museum may bore little kids, but they can look forward to seeing a few real animals, including a retired champion bronco and bull. 101 Pro Rodeo Dr., Colorado Springs; (719) 528-4764.

United States Olympic Training Center
Athletes train year-round at this 37-acre complex, where they prepare for the next Summer Olympics in 2004. (Winter Olympic hopefuls are trained in another state.) The one-hour walking tour takes you through gyms, weight-lifting rooms, the aquatics center, and the shooting arena. Your kids may see gymnasts going through their floor exercises or swimmers perfecting their strokes in a water treadmill. Be advised that most of what you see at this place is "look, don't touch," which makes it a bit boring for preschoolers. But it can be an inspiring trip for budding elementary-school athletes. 1750 Boulder St., Colorado Springs; (719) 866-4618.

Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway
Cowboy kitsch reigns supreme in this fully restored Wild West town that has been featured in such movie Westerns as "True Grit" and "Cat Ballou." Much of the town is made up of gift shops filled with Western-themed tourist trinkets like fake Indian headdresses or kid-size pistols. Youngsters can watch staged gunfights and hangings, which may fascinate them even if they horrify you. You'll also want to take the pleasant 15-minute train ride to Royal Gorge. At night, the theme town puts on a chuck-wagon dinner. (For a more authentic, and cheaper, Wild West experience, consider going to South Park City outside Fairplay instead.) Eight miles west of Canon City on Hwy. 50; (719) 275-5149; Buckskin Joes.

Pikes Peak Vicinity

Cave of the Winds
This heavily promoted attraction is a bit corny, but kids love crawling up and down the cave's winding paths and think the laser shows and colored lights focused on the crystal formations are way cool. Be ready to deal with crowds and a few come-ons (for instance, a staff member will take your family photo at the beginning of the tour, then try to sell you a copy at the end). There are several tours offered. The Discovery and Lantern Tours are advised with children. There are also laser light shows during the summer months. Tours last around 45 minutes, but that can seem long to a cranky toddler or preschooler. During the tours, at some point, the lights are cut off, an experience that frightens many kids (and adults). Take I-25 to exit 141; go 6 miles west on Hwy. 24; (719) 685-5444.

Great Sand Dunes National Monument
Consider this place a humongous sandbox--your kids will, and they'll beg to stop and play awhile. The unique geology of the area has trapped the sand in this valley, where wind constantly moves the shifting dunes. Kids love watching their footprints disappear as the winds continually reshape the landscape. Some of the dunes tower 700 feet high, and we noticed on our trip that a few kids had brought plastic sleds and were using them to dash downhill. If you're lucky, you may be able to spot deer, elk, eagles, and other wildlife. Start your trip at the visitors' center, where you'll find exhibits on the geological and natural history of the dunes and a 15-minute film that explains how and why the dunes were--and continue to be--created. The desert landscape is actually held in place by huge amounts of water beneath the surface. Kids can also sign up for the Junior Ranger program and earn a badge for completing a quiz about the dunes. 35 miles northeast of Alamosa off Colorado Hwy. 150 from the south; Colorado Hwy. 17 from the north; (719) 378-2312; Great Sand Dunes.

Pikes Peak
The road up Pikes Peak isn't for the faint of heart (or the unsure of steering wheel). Before you head up the 19 miles of twisting curves, be sure everyone has had their dose of Dramamine. The drive, which requires paying a toll, can take less than two hours round-trip, but don't let it; take it slow and enjoy activities at places such as the Crystal Reservoir visitors' center, which offers boat rides and fishing. You'll also find a picnic area midway up the mountain if you want to pack lunch. Kids can watch the changing landscapes as you climb past the tree line, and they'll appreciate the stunning view from the top, which inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful" in 1893. Be sure to pack a sweatshirt or light jacket, because mountaintop temperatures can be 30 to 40 degrees lower than those in the valley. If you forget, there's a souvenir stand at the top where you can buy Pikes Peak logo sweatshirts and T-shirts that say "Real Men Don't Need Guardrails" for $19.95 and up. There's also a small snack bar, but you may want to forgo a huge meal given the fact that you've got to go back down the mountain. Note: Parents traveling with kids under 5 might want to enjoy the view from the bottom of the mountain. Ten miles west of Colorado Springs off Hwy. 24; Pikes Peak.

Royal Gorge
The 1,053-foot-deep Royal Gorge--often called the Grand Canyon of Colorado--draws 500,000 visitors each year. Carved by the Arkansas River for some three million years, the gorge is spanned by the world's highest suspension bridge. Signs by the bridge note boldly "Who says you can't improve on nature?" The bridge was originally built in 1929 as a tourist attraction, and today the attraction feels like a theme park, with costumed characters--Little John the bear and Stryker Rick the gold miner among them--strolling about in the summer. You can drive or walk across; some daredevils prefer crossing the bridge on windy days, when it sways. You can also ride the aerial tram for a dramatic glide across the canyon on 2,200 feet of cables. Lines for the tram, which only holds 35 people, can get long, so consider walking over and making the return trip on the tram. There is also an incline railway that takes you down to the base of the canyon, where you can walk by the river. To avoid crowds at this popular site, consider coming in the fall or spring on a weekday. If you are traveling in summer, get there early, just after the park opens its gates, at 9:30 a.m. To get to the bridge, take Highway 50 West from Canon City. Note: Take care to avoid the entrance to Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway, unless you want to go there. The theme park has a confusing sign that says Royal Gorge country, which fools some drivers. You should continue driving all the way up the hill to get to Royal Gorge Bridge; (719) 275-7507; Royal Gorge Bridge.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.