Traveling to Colorado, what should I do?

[rgramjet]

The family and I are going to Colorado for a week in April.  We will be close to Pikes Peak.  I've never been and would like suggestions on great places to see, places to eat and maybe meet some cool DMF-ers!

Let the suggestions fly!

[Randimus Maximus]

Pikes Peak is down by Colorado Springs, so you may want to post in the SoCo board for specifics on that area: http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=59.0

That being said, Pikes Peak is a nice drive (definitely bring warm clothes for the top of the hill).

Garden of the Gods in CoSprings is a fun hiking/exploring area.

There are a few old mining towns around the area.

What kind of activities are you looking to do?  Hiking, biking, sightseeing, etc.?

It's probably too early in the season for whitewater rafting, however.

Denver is only an hour or so north, and there is a ton of stuff to do here.  Museums, the zoo, shops, great restaurants, etc.

[Scotzman]

Cave of the Winds is also in CO springs. There's a train that you can take to the top. That's all I got. If you need anything for the Golden/Evergreen area, let me know. 

[rgramjet]

Cool, thanks for the tips!  We will be in Golden for a bit for a Coors brewery tour.  Any standout bars/places to eat?   

[Manny]

There's a great pizza place on the main drag in Golden, but I can't remember the name now. Cool place, though.

There is also a cool train museum in Golden for the kids. They've got almost 200 train engines and cars, all outdoors, including a roundhouse. It's called Colorado Train museum. Several times a year they steam up one of the old locomotives and you can ride it around their track. The schedule is on their website.

Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey on Alameda and Kalamath in Denver has a great tour. 

Pike's Peak may still be inaccessible due to weather. I don't know how well they maintain that road in the winter.

Garden of the Gods in Co Springs is supposed to be super cool.

Just a few hours away are the Great Sand Dunes. Take an old snowboard or skateboard without trucks and let the kids try it. 

The 16th street mall in Denver is always good for a little fun and oddity if you're new to the area. They've got about a mile of shops, free buses, lots of cool buildings and parks, The Tattered Cover bookstore (yes, I'm a nerd), Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs (caribou, rattlesnake, alligator, elk, etc), a few fun homeless folks, and numerous microbreweries/restaurants. 

Enjoy your trip!

[Scotzman]

"The Fort" is in Golden or Morrison and it serves rattlesnake, alligator, and rocky mountain oysters. There's also some fossils in or near Golden. Red Rocks park is a few minutes away too.

[Bick]

Have you warned the SoCO Dogs?

I don't think many of them wander into these parts.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=59.0

[Speedbag]

Go rent snowmobiles and hit the mountains! 

[fastwin]

Big + for Garden of the Gods! Got some great pics of the wifey unit and junior there... and I'm not a camera person. In fact it was her camera. Just some cool rock oriented scenery. Took the train up Pikes Peak. Pretty neat. It was cold as shit at the top even in mid-summer. Low to mid 40s and real windy. Be prepared for anything up there. The view was worth it all. Can't really remember any places to eat that stand out.

[Stella]

All great suggestions.
Looks like the Cog Railway to the top of the Pike will be open:  http://www.cograilway.com/ratestimes.htm
Manitou Springs is where you can find the train ride up as well as the Cave of the Winds.  Cool little town.

Pizza in Golden is called Woody's (pretty sure that's the place Manny was referring to). 

Definitely tour the Broadmor hotel (they're ultra friendly to all guests whether they're staying on premises or not) AND feast on their Sunday brunch:  http://www.broadmoor.com/lake-terrace-dining-room.php?utm_source=google_brunch_textad&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_brunch_textad

   

Depending on how old your kids are:  http://www.thewildlifeexperience.org/

I'm not a big fan of the 16th St. pedestrian mall in Denver (quite a bit of crime lately and a lot of chain stores), however, if you don't have access to pedestrian malls where you're from, it has a cool factor.

A few blocks away is a shopping district called LoDo (lower downtown). 

And a GREAT way to get around the city of Denver:  http://denverbikesharing.org/denver_bcycle.php

I've got lots of ideas and suggestions like everyone else so if you have more specifics (age of your kids, activities you want to do), let us know! 

Hopefully we can see you!