Looking for a vacation that will please everyone in the family? Colorado is the ideal family travel destination, offering 300-plus days of annual sunshine and a wide variety of family activities, from camping and active experiences to special attractions including zoos, national and state parks and more.

Uncover the Past Through Colorado's National Parks and Monuments: Go Jurassic at the Dinosaur National Monument in Dinosaur, where families can explore the lands dinosaurs once roamed. Or visit Cortez and take a step back in time at Mesa Verde National Park to glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloan people who made this area their home. At the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, visitors sink their feet into the highest sand dunes in North America. All of Colorado's national parks offer exceptional wildlife watching opportunities, including bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons and golden eagles.

Travel by Train: Travel on one of Colorado's historic railroads. The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad offers steam engine excursions from Alamosa and La Veta on hundreds of miles of historic rail. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbs over 14,000 feet to the top of Pikes Peak and The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is the highest and longest narrow gauge railway in the United States. The Georgetown Loop provides views of the Devil's Gate High Bridge and the rough rapids of Cripple Creek.

Unparallel Adventure Awaits: Colorado is bursting with exciting activities that cater to an array of interests. Families can explore the natural beauty of the state in a variety of ways: whitewater rafting or kayaking on one of many rippling rivers, boating across a beautiful lake or reservoir, horseback riding through the trails of the Old West, enjoying the sunrise during a hot-air balloon ride, fishing on sparkling streams, biking along wildflower lined trails and more. Or relax and soak in a natural hot spring, many of which feature waterslides, including Glenwood Springs Hot Springs, the world's largest improved hot spring.

Old West Expeditions: Stay at one of 26 dude and guest ranches in Colorado and experience the cowboy way of life. Enjoy trail rides, lasso lessons and cowboy sing-a-longs. Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave in Genesee or head to Buckskin Joe Frontier Town near Cañon City. Stop by the Argo Mine & Mill in Idaho Springs and celebrate Colorado's mining past. Or tour the forts and trading posts of the pioneer days, such as Bent's Old Fort in La Junta, where American Indians and settlers met to exchange goods.

Museums and More: Colorado offers a wide variety of museums and exhibits for the whole family to enjoy. With more than 4,000 animals, the Denver Zoo is considered one of the most impressive in the country and the Butterfly Pavilion & Insect Center in Westminster is a hit with the kids. While in Denver, cheer for the home team and enjoy a ballpark hot dog while watching the Colorado Rockies take on their next opponent at Coors Field, then stop by Elitch Gardens and ride the roller-coasters. Head to Burlington and ride the Kit Carson County Carousel, one of the oldest merry-go-rounds in the nation.

These are just some of the activities families can experience while visiting Colorado. For more ideas, visit www.COLORADO.com

Find Yourself in Colorado Springs

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Spend the evening nestled deep inside Arapaho National Forest, sleep to the sounds of rapids on the Colorado River or watch the stars above the wide-open prairie. No matter where your vacation takes you, Colorado is a camper's paradise.

Pitch a Tent: From car to deep-woods campsites, Colorado has myriad campgrounds for those looking to pitch a tent. Try the Comanche National Grasslands for a night filled with twinkling stars on the open prairie. Rocky Mountain National Park is excellent for wildlife viewing and with five drive-in campgrounds, the park also provides a variety of camping experiences. Backpackers may choose from more than 200 backcountry campsites when they apply for their backcountry camping permits. The San Juan National Forest has two great campsites that can be reserved for families and the 51 campsites at the Mosca Campgrounds in the San Luis State Park feature a panoramic view of the lake, the surrounding mountains and the Great Sand Dunes.

Hut-to-Hut Exploring: Huts lie somewhere between a cabin and a lodge, only they are inaccessible by car. Located deep in remote mountain areas and interconnected through trail systems, huts are a favorite of mountain bikers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. The most famous hut system in Colorado is the 10th Mountain Division Hut System where visitors can retrace the tracks of the World War II heroes who trained here. Other systems to try include the Alfred A. Braun Hut System and the Summit Huts.

"Yurts" Not in Mongolia Anymore: Yurts are fashioned after nomadic Mongolian dwellings. These out-of-the-ordinary structures combine the comforts of a lodge with the back-to-nature solitude of camping. Check out the Yurts at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Mancos State Park or State Forest State Park.

RVs 'R' Us: It's comforting to know that you can see nearly all of Colorado from behind the wheel of an RV. There are ample RV-compatible sites spread across the state at scenic locations such as the Bonny Lake State Park, John Martin Reservoir State Park and Mesa Verde National Park.

For more information on camping in Colorado, visit www.colorado.com

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Mesa Verde Country® Indian Arts & Culture Festival (Cortez):

May is archaeology month in Colorado and there is no better place to celebrate than Mesa Verde Country®, the archaeological center of America. An excursion to Mesa Verde Country offers visitors a deeper understanding of the archaeology, American Indian culture and Old West history that have made Colorado's Southwest region a trading center and melting pot for many cultures during the past 2,000 years. Experience the Mesa Verde Country® Indian Arts & Culture Festival, May 23–June 2, 2008 and enjoy shopping for finely crafted American Indian wares including art, textiles and other authentic goods. Visitors can also experience archaeological tours, live concerts, plays and American Indian dances that will entertain and educate. www.mesaverdecountry.com

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Free reusable bag with purchase of 2 adult afternoon half-day tours of Mesa Verde's ancient sites & cliff dwellings.

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Telluride Jazz Festival (Telluride) June 5-8, 2008: Three days and nights of outstanding jazz high in the spectacular San Juan Mountains. This event combines outdoor stages during the day with theater and club shows at night. www.telluridejazz.com

Summerfest on the Rio (Alamosa) June 6-8, 2008: Alamosa welcomes summer to Colorado with the annual weekend-long Summerfest on the Rio celebration! This event features arts, crafts, live entertainment, mouthwatering foods and family activities all along the Rio Grande River. www.alamosa.org

Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival (Manitou Springs) June 7, 2008: Kick off summer with tasting and sales by 20 Colorado wineries. This event features live entertainment plus a sampling of local spring waters in picturesque, streamside Soda Springs Park. www.manitousprings.com

The 8th Annual Boats, Blues & BBQ Festival (Pueblo) June 6-7, 2008: Boats, Blues and BBQ is the premiere summer event on the Riverwalk in downtown Pueblo. With great food, live music and a festival-type atmosphere, this is one experience your family is sure to enjoy. Participate in the ice-cream eating contest, junior cook-off competition for the kids and a Kansas-City- BBQ- Society-sanctioned cook-off competition that is sure to please the seasoned BBQ connoisseur and first-time taste tester alike! www.puebloharp.com

Crawford Pioneer Days (Crawford) June 12-14, 2008: The 30th Annual Pioneer Days celebration of Crawford's Western heritage will include a parade, old-fashioned melodrama, an elk-calling contest, great food and fun music. www.crawfordcountry.org

60th Annual Blue Paddle FIBArk Whitewater Festival (Salida) June 12-15, 2008: Enjoy live bands, a parade, world-renowned kayak/raft rodeo and races, and the carnage-filled Hooligan Homemade Boat Race, plus the insane Crazy River Dog Fetch. There is a "Kidz Zone" too! www.fibark.com

Dandelion Daze and Rod Run (Holyoke) June 13-15, 2008: Enjoy car shows featuring classics, street rods and choppers, plus parades, live entertainment, sidewalk sales and more.  www.holyokechamber.org

Colorado Renaissance Festival (Larkspur) June 14-August 3: Flash back to the 16th Century and journey through a medieval city. Enjoy full-armor jousting, tasty turkey legs, music and a marketplace featuring more than 200 artisans. www.coloradorenaissance.com

Aspen Music Festival and School (Aspen) June 19-August 17, 2008: America's premier music festival and training ground for young musicians. Led by David Zinman, the Aspen Music Festival and School draws star performers, renowned artist/faculty, and top students for a nine-week summer of glorious music. www.aspenmusic.org

Greek Festival (Denver) June 20-22, 2008: Indulge in Greek culture featuring traditional Greek dishes, an art exhibit and sale, live music and dancing and a children's carnival. www.denver.org

Country Jam USA Music Festival (Grand Junction) June 26-29, 2008: This four-day event features some of country music's top musicians including Tim McGraw, Sugarland and Rodney Atkins. www.countryjam.com

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival (Estes Park) June 28-29, 2008: A magical Scandinavian weekend welcoming the summer solstice with song, dance and musical performances. www.estesmidsummer.com

All events are weather permitting and subject to change. For a listing of additional Colorado events and travel information, log on to http://www.colorado.com/ or call 1-800-COLORADO. You can also order a free copy of the Official State Visitors Guide by calling 1-800-COLORADO or visiting http://www.colorado.com/.

Photo Credits:
"Mesa Verde Indian Arts & Culture Festival" - Photo courtesy Mesa Verde Country®