Day 1: Arrive in Colorado (Denver to Colorado Springs)

●      Arrive at the Denver airport and rent a car - preferably Full-Size SUV for the family of 4, such as a Jeep, which can handle a range of terrain.

●      Begin your journey driving to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

●      On your way, make a pitstop at a Walmart to pick up a cooler and any last-minute items you may want or need for your road trip.

●      Dinner: Dine near Whole Foods - lots of great options! FelFel Mediterranean, a little café right off the highway on a way to the destination of Colorado Springs has great healthy food, quick ordering, many options for kids, and friendly owners. If you can plan ahead, you can order for curbside pick-up on the app. Very reasonably priced great meals!

●      Hotel Recommendation in Colorado Springs: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Colorado Springs ($240/night nice, clean, new)

Day 3: Sand Dunes and Pagosa Springs (Colorado Springs to Durango)

●      Breakfast at the hotel and then hit the road.

●      Stop by the local nature store for lunch meats, snacks, and food for lunch. Natural Grocers, a health market store where you can also get sandwiches for the road and snacks, is fantastic. We also suggest purchasing several gallons of water for you to refill your water bottles throughout the day and picking up an electrolyte solution for added hydration as you will need them during your long days spent hiking in the desert. Skratch Labs sport hydration mix is one of the best and most palatable ones we have found- no colors, dyes, additives plus optimal mineral content!

●      Drive roughly 2.5 hours to arrive at Sand Dunes National Park - definitely worth the drive. It is a really great experience, especially if you are traveling with kids!

●      Find a spot and have lunch at the park.  It is bountiful with cute picnic spots throughout the park!

●      Following lunch, drive towards Pagosa Springs where there are many beautiful outlooks along the way. You can do short hikes during those stops if you wish.

●      Stop at Fall Creek to hike along the river near Treasure Mountain. It is a very nice short hike. There are two paths to get to the falls, with the more difficult path featuring a nearly 70-degree pitch, perfect for established hikers and thrill seekers.

●      The last stop of the day is Pagosa Springs, which is nicely maintained and the entrance fee is around $120 for 4 people. It is great for detoxing the nervous system after your travels and hiking.

●      If you are looking for a dinner suggestion, Pagosa Springs has lots of locally owned dining spots from pizza shacks to Mexican food. Most of them are located on the main road so it is easy to get back on the road to the destination of Durango, Colorado, and it is fun to explore a town quickly as you drive by.  

Day 5: The Adventure Continues to Montrose (Durango to Montrose)

Day 6: Grand Mesa National Forest (Montrose to Steamboat)

●      Explore Grand Mesa National Forest today which has over 300 lakes, one of the largest flat-top mountains and Alpine Tunnel!

●      If you still want to soak in more nature on your drive to Steamboat, Colorado, stop at Rifle Falls State Park, and go on a short 2-mile hike featuring many caves and a beautiful overview.

●      Jump back on the highway and cruise over to Steamboat, Colorado, where you will be enjoying the next few days.

●      For dinner we recommend Slopeside Grill, which has delicious bits and great energy, or The Paramount, which is a family-owned restaurant and has great breakfast as well and healthy options.

●      Hotel Recommendation: Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas, ~$330/night.

Day 7: Steamboat Colorado & Hot Springs (Steamboat, Colorado)

●      Hope you wake up feeling ready and rested, because this morning is spent on a gorgeous 6-mile hike called Mad Creek Trail featuring old barns and lots of wildlife, which we love!

●      We highly recommend hitting the hot springs after your morning hike at the Strawberry Springs. The springs can reach temperatures of over 110° F, with the larger pools reaching to roughly 80° F.

●      For a lovely dinner, eat at Carl’s Tavern, featuring huge desserts and tasty cocktails, in Steamboat Springs before retiring for the day.

Day 9: Rocky Mountain National Park (Kremmling, Colorado)

●      A reservation to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is required but is a ‘can’t miss’ your road trip. Be sure to stock up on snacks/lunch as you’ll want to spend a lot of time here.

●      Hike the Ute Trail, which was roughly 6 miles and 11,000 ft high in elevation. It is a hiker's dream and commonly acknowledged as one of the best hikes in Colorado.

●      Because of the elevation and varying terrain temperatures can really range so pack a light sweater but also have a backpack that you can stuff it into when it gets warmer. You might even see a moose, or a wild goat on this hike!