Our first stop on our road trip out west is the beautiful state of Colorado. And it’s no surprise that the greeting sign reads “Welcome to Colorful Colorado!” when you cross the border. The snow-capped mountains, the crystal clear lakes and rivers, the gorgeous and vibrant red rocks, and the abundance of desert lands can’t go unnoticed. We drove through several different landscapes, to get here, all beautiful in there own way, but Colorado definitely takes our breath away.

We have been so excited to explore this part of the state for so long (Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region) and now that we are finally here with the whole family, we constantly have to pinch ourselves and think “is this real life?!” With so many places to see and so little time, we went straight to the source to help us plan out our days so we can see and enjoy as much as possible while we are here. We went to Pikes Peak Region Attraction’s website to help us plan our itinerary and followed their sample “5 day family adventure”. They are the best resource for top attractions in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region!

DAY 1

Stop 1: High Tea at Miramont Castle

We started off our day the classiest way possible… high tea at Miramont Castle, of course! We had such a good time! We got to wear fun hats and sample teas along with a fancy (and delicious) four course meal. It was a great relaxing way to start the day before the adrenaline rush to come later. Our favorite tea was the Climbers High Chai with a little milk and sugar added.

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Stop 2: Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

We decided to get the scariest ride over with first…the Terror-dactyl! This ride has a 180 foot drop where we end up going over 100mph! It was one of the craziest things we’ve done together and Chip’s face throughout the video is hilarious. I just couldn’t stop laughing! It is the perfect ride for all of you adrenaline junkies out there! The video is below for your enjoyment.

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Then we did the discovery cave tour with Dustin. It was super cool (in both temperature and information). 😉

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Next, the whole family did the Wind Walker Challenge Course, a 3-story obstacle course with a 600 foot drop! JT started out pretty scared but then he turned into a little ninja flying through all the obstacles and was the only one of our kiddos to make it all the way to the top of Geronimo’s Leap. After that, we finished up by doing the Bat-a-pult–an epic, 1200-foot round-trip aerial attraction high along the wild and beautiful Williams Canyon.

Last but not least, we grabbed a souvenir from the Garden of the Gods Trading Post before having delicious Mexican food at The Loop and ice cream along the downtown strip.

DAY 2

Stop 1: White Water Rafting with Echo Canyon River Expeditions

Rafting with Echo Canyon on the Arkansas River was the perfect introduction into white water rafting for our little ones. Our guide, Karson, was amazing! He was super entertaining while doing double duty rowing us since the kids just got to sit back and opt out of paddling. The rapids were just enough to get your adrenaline going but not too scary for the kids.

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Stop 2: Tour of the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

We finished the day by checking out the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. It’s the highest suspension bridge in America and it is certainly a sight to see. We walked the bridge and just took in the beauty of it all. Then the kids enjoyed the playground and carousel at Tommy Knocker Playland. The gondola ride back across the gorge was icing on the cake!

There is so much to do here like…zip lining, the royal rush skycoaster, gondola rides, the plaza theater, amazing lookout spots for the coolest photo ops, a waterclock, and so much more! We could easily spend hours here and we love the fact that there is something to do for all ages!

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DAY 3

Stop 1: The Broadmoor Seven Falls

We started the day with an amazing private tour of The Broadmoor Seven Falls. It far exceeded my expectations of beauty. It’s a gorgeously landscaped 0.8 mile stroll through a canyon towards the falls. We hiked up the 180 steps to the Eagles Nest to get the best view of the falls and took lots of selfies!

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Stop 2: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was unlike any zoo we’ve ever experienced! The scenery along with the exhibits and animals really makes this place special! The elephants were a hit along with the Amur Leopard…but our favorite were the Mexican Wolves. They were highly active and fun to watch!

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Day 4

Stop 1: Jeep Up/Bike Down Pikes Peak with Challenge Unlimited

This is a total “must-do!” if you are in this region of Colorado and quite possibly my favorite part of our trip so far! We rode in a Jeep all the way up to Pikes Peak Summit and then biked down from 14,000 ft above sea level with Challenge Unlimited. It was an incredible experience with gorgeous views everywhere we looked. And, just when we thought we found the most amazing view, we’d turn the corner and our jaw would drop all over again! The scenery (and temperature) changes were dramatic and beautiful. I won’t lie…it was a little scary to start. The company did a great job making sure that we felt safe and they were so patient with us getting Mac comfortable. And he is so glad he did it! The little two got to ride back down on the Jeep following right behind us.

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Stop 2: Family Zip Lining with Adventures Out West

We ended our amazing day by doing a family zip line followed by a campfire and s’mores. Today is a day we won’t ever forget!

ESSENTIAL GEAR FOR OUR COLORADO ADVENTURES

weBoost Cellular Signal Booster – Whether it’s a road trip or RV adventure, having a quality signal booster ensures dropped calls and slow data speeds are a thing of the past. We love having weBoost because it keeps the kids entertained on long trips and weBoost offers many different versions for homes, vehicles, and RVs! Wondering how this works? It takes the existing signal and amplifies it for multiple devices in your car so you can have faster downloads and fewer dead zones. With road trips becoming the travel method of choice as the pandemic continues, it’s important to have a safe way to stay connected, even in a remote area.

Dakine Seeker 10L Bike Hydration Pack – This backpack has weatherproof storage to take on rides and hikes when the weather is unpredictable. It has all the bike-centric features you expect in a Dakine pack including helmet carry straps, a breathable back panel and dedicated storage for sunglasses. Works great for hiking as well! Our favorite features: comes in two different sizes (10L and 18L), lightweight and weather-tight construction, zippered hipbelt pockets, and internal organizer pockets.

Merrell’s Altalight Mid Waterproof Boot (Men’s, Women’s) – These boots are the lightest pack hiker Merrell offers. They feature a tear-resistant athletic upper with lightweight Stratafuse™ protection. They also have a mountain-grade sole so you’ll stay sure-footed on miles and miles of trail. Our favorite Features: Waterproof Nylon ripstop upper and metal hooks and eyelets for secure lacing.

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Rumpl’s NanoLoft™ Puffy Blanket – recycled, puffy blanket that’s designed for outdoor use (packs down, super warm, super soft, just like a sleeping bag!) Our favorite features: NanoLoft™ Insulation Technology, corner loops, light and packable and machine washable!

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Suunto’s 7 GPS Smartwatch – this is the latest GPS smartwatch. It is the perfect combo of sport watch and smartwatch. It comes with 70+ sport modes and has Google Fit™, Google Assistant™, Google Pay™ and thousands of apps available from Google Play™. What sets this watch apart from the rest is its free offline maps with terrain details, trails and more! Our favorite features: sports experience, wear OS by Google, offline outdoor maps, and the fact that it’s fully shock-proof, water-proof and dirt-proof!

Orvis Drirelease® Collection (Long-Sleeved Crew, Short-Sleeved Crew, Quarter-Zip, – The perfect collection to stay cool and protected from UV rays while on the water or hiking this summer. They are made of a super-soft blend of wicking cotton fibers and fast drying polyester fibers. Our Favorite Feature: drirelease® fabric.

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Norrøna svalbard Lightweight Jacket (Mens, Womens) – This is an all-new summer weight jacket that offers wind and water-resistant features and a clean aesthetic. The recycled and lightweight fabric makes this a comfortable and versatile jacket, perfect for days outdoors. Our Favorite Features: two front zip options for optimal venting, spacious hand warming pockets and Velcro adjustable cuffs.

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Colorado – you definitely did not disappoint us! Up next on our family RV trip out west… Montana!

Trip Planning Resources:

Pikes Peak Region Attractions: instagram | facebook| website

You can follow more of our RV adventure on instagram (@WadeWorksCreative, @ChipWade, #WadesGoWest) and Facebook (@WadeWorksCreative and @ChipWadeDesign)

Don’t forget that you can also watch us LIVE on Fox & Friends on the weekend as we share our experience out west! Our next segment will be on 07/25/2020!

Watch this weeks Fox & Friends segment here (07/12/2020).

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