Denver Family Vacation Itinerary – from leaf peeping to trains to cityscapes!

We packed our bags for Fall Break and took off for a six-day Colorado adventure — destination: Denver! From the moment we landed on Monday, it was nonstop exploring. We wandered Union Station and downtown Denver, took a scenic ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad, and climbed to new heights on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. We spent a day at the Denver Zoo, explored the charm of Boulder and Estes Park, and even hiked up to Gem Lake for some seriously breathtaking views. Our evenings were filled with crisp mountain air, elk bugling in the distance, and plenty of family laughter. Six days, countless memories — Denver, you were incredible! Our prayer is that this Denver Family Vacation Itinerary helps you see beauty in God’s country while making memories that last a lifetime for your family!

FIRST STOP (Day 1): Stanley Marketplace / Downtown Denver / Union Square / 16th Street Mall

Stanley Marketplace
- We spent hours here – it’s an ol’ airplane hanger turned into food lab and local shopping center with toy stores, boutiques, Denver foodie spots, playground, and so much more. They even have an outdoor skating rink, axe-throwing experience, gymnastics for littles and a flower shop!
Union Square
- One of our go-to spots when we head to Denver. Union Square is hard to beat with its historic buildings, trains and food scene. In the summers, the fountains are filled with littles hopping between splashes – the Fall lends itself to a calmer mood where you can sit to watch while you enjoy a local coffee or ice cream from Milkbox! It’s also the “starting spot” to hop on the free Mall ride (train) that takes you through the 16th Street Mall!
16th Street Mall and Denver Pavilions
- The 16th Street Mall connects Union Square with Civic Center and Denver Pavilions. It’s a pedestrian-only street with shops lined up and down. You can hop on the Free Mall Ride to skip a few streets and get there a bit faster – the kids will love the public transportation experience and it just allows you to make the most of your time. It’s a loop so if you miss your stop, it will stop down the next street and also loop back around to pick you back up within 15 minutes or less.

Gelato Boy off 16th Street Mall in Denver

Choosing our adventure via the Free Mall Ride Train

Day 2: University of Colorado – Boulder Tour, Downtown Boulder, Estes Park and Gem Lake

Tour at the University of Colorado – Boulder
- We had plans to go to Estes Park and with a son who is a huge Coach Prime fan, we had to stop and tour the University of Colorado – Boulder campus. It’s gorgeous and the Fall Colors were peeping through! And guess what? We saw Coach Prime – he and his group of coaches were walking past Folsom Field. So cool – we tried to stop to chat, but honestly, he was on a mission and there was no stopping him. We enjoyed walks through campus and the bookstore before we headed to the famous Pearl Street for lunch!
Pearl Street Mall in Boulder
- A darling and historic pedestrian walkway filled with shops and restaurants for multiple blocks. We found The Post Chicken & Beer restaurant right of the mall and enjoyed some gluten free strips, yummy fries, delicious mac and cheese and a small but flavorful salad. You will find yourself wandering at a slow pace, just soaking up the small town vibes. Life is a little bit slower here and we were here for it!
Estes Park
- The elk were bugling, the wild turkeys were gobbling and the mountains and lakes were calling us. We drove in and saw elk instantly. We had plans to experience Fun City Gold Rush Coaster and the Mustang Mountain Coaster but in October, they are only open on the weekends. So, we opted for Gem Lake, and what a beaut. It was is a hard hike – straight up 1.9 miles but the views from the top of the city AND the lake at the top makes it so worth it. We had a 13-year-old, 11-year-old and 7-year-old with us, who were troopers and we all agreed it was a hike we’d do again!
Top Hike in Estes Park = Gem Lake
- Prepare to sweat. Pause often. Bring lots of water. Use the toilet at the top for breathtaking views. Enjoy the city views and lakeside environment.
- It’s a beast but 100% worth it to really capture Fall vibes and cool mountain scenery.

OTHER KID-FRIENDLY ADVENTURES NEAR BOULDER & ESTES PARK WE’D RECOMMEND:

Nobo Library in Boulder with an awesome slide that looks like it’s half inside the building.
Junkyard Social Club for a unique outdoor kids’ playspace
Fun City Gold Rush Coaster for small town fair vibes
Mustang Mountain Coaster for mountain fun!

Pearl Street in Boulder, Co

Views of Estes Park from the top of Gem Lake

Fall Colors at Gem Lake

Restaurant on Pearl Street in Boulder

Estes Park Lake – look for Elk!

DAY THREE: Georgetown Loop Railroad and FlyteCo Dining

Georgetown Loop Railroad
- An hour and half leaf peeping train ride in Georgetown, Colorado. This is a must!
- It’s about 45 minutes up to the Silver Plume Station where you can get off for 15 minutes to explore the old train station and shop, then you hop back on and head back down.
- It’s quick but worth the cost. They have a variety of themed events like Pumpkin Fest and Christmas events.
- Beware of altitude sickness – you go up quickly and one of us really felt the effects of it but as soon as you go back down, you feel better!
FlyteCo Dining
- Traffic control center turned brewery, bar and entertainment center. It was the perfect hang for our family after half a day at the train station.
- Located in Central Park neighborhood of Denver, you find yourself tucked in a quaint area and dream of living and walking to this place regularly.
- Kids loved the arcades, husband loved the yard games and this mama just enjoyed the views, vibes and mini golf course!
- There is fun for everyone! Prepare to spend hours here – we went on a Wednesday and it was fairly empty, but could see it bursting with people on the weekend, so make reservations!

DAY FOUR: Pikes Peak Cograil and Seven Falls at Broodmar

Pikes Peak Cograil
- A three-and-a-half-hour round trip up to over 14,000 feet. It was fascinating and really educational. We saw marmots and looked for a variety of wildlife. The views were breathtaking. You get off the cograil and have about 30-45 minutes to enjoy the visitor center, views and cafe. The coffee, hot cocoa and donuts were a big hit. Who knew that increasing altitude would make you so hungry, but it does!
- Tips: Make a reservation, pack warm clothes (its cold at the top!), pick your seats wisely as it is cramped and views vary.
Seven Falls at Broodmar
- After the train ride, we drove 20 minutes back into town to Seven Falls. Stunning! You walk a mile into a gorgeous park that is well-kept with a creek running through it. At the end is a beautiful and massive tiered waterfall. It takes 224 stairs to climb to the very top and we did it! It wasn’t easy, but great exercise after sitting on a train for 3 hours. There is a restaurant you can eat at as well as plnety of seating areas to enjoy the views. We also snagged the famous Denver Pops after we made it back down and walked back to the shuttle.

SEVEN FALLS AT BROODMAR

DAY FIVE: Denver Zoo and Little Man Ice Cream

Denver Zoo
Little Man Ice Cream

DAY SIX: Lamar Donuts, Paco Sanchez Park, Hammond’s Candy Shop and Arsenal Wildlife

Paco Sanchez Park
- One word…. “wow.” This park may be one of the best parks in Colorado .. maybe even the US. It’s incredible and the kids stayed here for hours. They climbed, swung, slid and ran around this massive park. It’s a beaut and we all really enjoyed it.
Hammond’s Candy Shop
- Who doesn’t love candy… and a candy tour? Say less! Hammond’s is located in Denver and fun to visit. Honestly, way better than what we expected. In Ocotber, when we went, they were making candy canes for Christmas and shared so much about the process of making candy, sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and more! Kids loved it… and the free sample after. We also shopped for some airplane snacks! They have a bulk candy area, an “oops” section which is broken candy that is discounted, plus old nostalgic candy! You won’t be there for more than an hour but it is something neat to go to!
Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge
- Just minutes north of Denver sits the largest urban wildlife refuge.. right next to a neighborhood and Dick’s Sporting Goods field. It’s incredible how you just drive a few miles north, enter into a park and you are riding past bison, deer, birds and more. It’s a 11-mile loop, and you can tune into a podcast, that is eerily accurate, to learn about the area and wildlife living there.