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Mountain West & Rockies

peaks, geysers, and dinosaur trails 🏔️🦕

The Mountain West & Rockies is the premier destination for families who love the outdoors and high-altitude adventure. Geographically, the region is dominated by the spine of the Rocky Mountains, offering dramatic peaks, alpine lakes, and deep canyons. The climate varies by altitude; summers are generally warm and dry with cool nights, while winters transform the region into a snowy playground for skiing and snowboarding. The air is thin and dry, so families should plan to stay hydrated and take it easy for the first day to acclimate.

Yellowstone National Park (primarily in Wyoming) is the jewel of the region. It is a geological wonderland where kids can see mud pots bubbling, geysers like Old Faithful erupting, and hot springs in rainbow colors. The wildlife watching is unparalleled; bison jams (traffic stopped by bison on the road) are a common and exciting occurrence. Just south, Grand Teton National Park offers dramatic mountain scenery and calm lakes perfect for kayaking or rafting trips suitable for beginners.

Colorado is a year-round hub. In winter, resorts like Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs offer renowned ski schools for children. In summer, these same towns become bases for hiking, mountain biking, and alpine slides. Denver, the Mile High City, has the excellent Denver Museum of Nature & Science and is close to Red Rocks Park, where families can hike around giant sandstone formations. Utah offers a different kind of landscape with its "Mighty 5" national parks, but also features the Dinosaur National Monument, where families can touch real dinosaur fossils embedded in a wall of rock.

The culture here is rooted in the Old West. Families can visit ghost towns, attend rodeos in towns like Cody, Wyoming, or stay at a dude ranch to learn horse riding. The vast open spaces allow for incredible stargazing. Dining is casual, with game meats like elk and bison burgers often appearing on menus alongside standard American fare. It is a region that encourages physical activity and exploration, creating tired but happy kids by the end of each day.

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Activities & Best Times

Adventure & Nature Excellent

Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism

Home to globally iconic national parks and vast wilderness areas, offering world-class wildlife viewing and hiking. Peak summer months provide the only reliable access to high-altitude trails, while winter brings extreme cold and seasonal closures.

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City & Cultural Very Good

Urban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture

Major hubs like Denver and Salt Lake City offer sophisticated art museums and expansive botanical gardens with significant international appeal. Warm weather from May to September is optimal for exploring vibrant urban districts and outdoor cultural venues.

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Sports & Active Very Good

Sport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation

The region features premier Olympic-grade infrastructure and world-renowned hiking and cycling routes. Summer offers optimal conditions for these outdoor pursuits, while spring and autumn serve as viable transition periods for lower-elevation activities.

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Educational & Exploratory Good

Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education

Contains high-quality natural history museums and aquariums of regional significance that serve as primary educational motivators for families. Facilities are most enjoyable during the warmer months when outdoor park components are also accessible.

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Festivals & Seasonal Good

Events, celebrations, seasonal attractions

Sundance Film Festival is the world's premier independent film festival with massive international cultural impact. This clearly meets the threshold for 'good'.

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Relaxation & Wellness Good

Spa retreats, wellness centers, peaceful getaways

Renowned for historic and natural hot spring complexes that provide a unique restorative experience in a mountain setting. These facilities are at their peak during the winter, where the contrast with cold air temperatures enhances the wellness experience.

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Road Trips & Scenic Good

Scenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel

Features spectacular alpine routes like Going-to-the-Sun Road, which are destination-level drives. Due to heavy snow, these routes have a narrow peak window in mid-summer, with significant closures throughout the rest of the year.

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Ski & Snow Good

Winter sports, ski resorts, snow activities

Hosts internationally recognized ski resorts such as Vail and Jackson Hole with legendary snow quality. Peak powder conditions occur mid-winter, with the classification capped at good due to the specific count of major resorts provided in the dataset.

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Theme Park & Entertainment Good

Amusement parks, family entertainment venues

Boasts high-quality regional amusement and water parks that offer substantial family entertainment. Operations are strictly seasonal, with peak summer months being the only period when all water-based and outdoor attractions are fully operational.

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Attractions (116 total)

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Beach / Coastal Recreation Area

Antelope Island State Park

Syracuse

A unique saltwater beach experience on the Great Salt Lake where the high salinity allows swimmers to float effortlessly.

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Flathead Lake State Park

Bigfork

The largest natural freshwater lake in the western US, offering pebble and sand beaches with stunning views of the Mission Mountains.

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Grand Lake Town Beach

Grand Lake

A picturesque alpine beach located at the edge of Colorado's largest natural lake, serving as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Bear Lake State Park (North Beach)

St. Charles

Known as the 'Caribbean of the Rockies' for its intense turquoise waters and two-mile stretch of sandy beach.

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Sand Hollow State Park

Hurricane

A striking recreation area featuring warm blue waters contrasted against vibrant orange-red sand beaches and rock formations.

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National Park / Nature Reserve

Arches National Park

Moab

A surreal landscape featuring over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous freestanding Delicate Arch.

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Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce

Famous for its unique geological structures called hoodoos, creating a vast natural amphitheater of red and orange stone spires.

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Glacier National Park

West Glacier

Known as the 'Crown of the Continent', this park features spectacular glacier-carved valleys and the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road.

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Grand Teton National Park

Moose

Renowned for its jagged granite peaks and pristine alpine lakes, this park offers breathtaking mountain scenery and world-class hiking.

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Rocky Mountain National Park

Estes Park

High-altitude landscapes with dramatic mountain vistas, alpine tundra, and frequent sightings of elk and bighorn sheep.

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Yellowstone National Park

West Yellowstone

The world's first national park features the iconic Old Faithful geyser, colorful hydrothermal pools, and abundant wildlife like bison and grizzly bears.

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Zion National Park

Springdale

A deep canyon of massive cream, pink, and red sandstone cliffs that offer spectacular hiking through hanging gardens and river narrows.

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Canyonlands National Park

Moab

A wilderness of countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries.

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Great Sand Dunes National Park

Mosca

Home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, nestled against the rugged backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

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Ski Resort / Winter Sports Center

Aspen Snowmass

Snowmass Village

2,473-3,813m elevation, 98 runs, 237km pistes, Nov-Apr season, the largest of the four Aspen areas featuring the most vertical rise in the US.

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Big Sky Resort

Big Sky

2,072-3,403m elevation, 300 runs, 250km pistes, Nov-Apr season, high-alpine terrain including the sharp Lone Mountain peak and 7 terrain parks.

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Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge

2,926-3,962m elevation, 187 runs, 153km pistes, Nov-May season, features the highest chairlift in North America and 4 award-winning terrain parks.

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Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Teton Village

1,924-3,185m elevation, 133 runs, 116km pistes, Nov-Apr season, famous for its iconic Aerial Tram and steep continuous vertical drop.

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Park City Mountain Resort

Park City

2,080-3,048m elevation, 348 runs, 250km pistes, Nov-Apr season, largest lift-served ski area in the United States with 8 terrain parks.

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Vail Ski Resort

Vail

2,476-3,527m elevation, 195 runs, 234km pistes, Nov-Apr season, featuring the legendary Back Bowls and 7 terrain parks.

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Schweitzer

Sandpoint

1,207-1,950m elevation, 92 runs, 95km pistes, Dec-Apr season, overlooking Lake Pend Oreille with extensive tree skiing and bowls.

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Snowbird

Snowbird

2,365-3,353m elevation, 169 runs, 103km pistes, Nov-May season, known for heavy snowfall and the Aerial Tram providing access to technical chutes.

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Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley

1,753-2,789m elevation, 121 runs, 92km pistes, Nov-Apr season, historic resort featuring Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain for beginners.

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Telluride Ski Resort

Telluride

2,659-3,815m elevation, 147 runs, 88km pistes, Nov-Apr season, set in a box canyon with a free gondola connecting the town and Mountain Village.

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Road Trips & Scenic Drives

Beartooth Highway

Red Lodge

68-mile (110km) paved mountain pass (3 hours) reaching elevations of nearly 11,000 feet. Often called the most beautiful drive in America, it passes through alpine tundra, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes.

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Going-to-the-Sun Road

West Glacier

50-mile (80km) paved alpine highway (3-8 hours) crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park. Highlights include Lake McDonald, the Weeping Wall, and Wild Goose Island Overlook.

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San Juan Skyway

Durango

236-mile (380km) paved loop (1-2 days) in Southwest Colorado. Includes the famous 'Million Dollar Highway' section between Ouray and Silverton, featuring steep cliffs, historic mining towns, and massive 14,000-foot peaks.

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Scenic Byway 12

Panguitch

124-mile (200km) paved 'All-American Road' (3-5 hours) traversing Southern Utah's red rock country. Key highlights include the Hogsback ridge, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Grand Staircase-Escalante.

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Trail Ridge Road

Estes Park

48-mile (77km) paved road (2-4 hours) through Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the highest continuous paved road in North America, reaching 12,183 feet, with highlights like the Alpine Visitor Center.

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Sawtooth Scenic Byway

Shoshone

115-mile (185km) paved route (2-3 hours) into the heart of Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. Passing through Sun Valley and over Galena Summit, it offers views of jagged peaks and the Salmon River.

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Water Park / Splash Park / Aquatic Centre

Boulder Beach Water Park

Athol

A top-rated tropical-themed water park within Silverwood Theme Park featuring dual wave pools and high-intensity speed slides.

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Island Kingdom at Elitch Gardens

Denver

A major urban water park included with admission to Denver's historic downtown theme park, featuring high-speed slides and a half-pipe.

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Lagoon A Beach

Farmington

A six-acre tropical-themed water park located inside Lagoon amusement park featuring crystal clear pools and diverse family slides.

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Roaring Springs Waterpark

Meridian

The largest water park in the Northwest offering a massive expansion with a variety of thrill slides, a long lazy river, and a large wave pool.

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Water World

Federal Heights

One of America's largest water parks featuring over 50 attractions including massive wave pools and unique themed water adventures.

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Big Sky Waterpark

Columbia Falls

Montana's largest water park, offering family-friendly slides and activities near the entrance to Glacier National Park.

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Splash Summit Waterpark

Provo

Utah's premier destination for water fun with over 15 slides, a lazy river, and a massive wave pool set against scenic mountain views.

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Historic Town / Village / Cultural Area

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Cody

A massive complex of five world-class museums documenting the history, art, and culture of the American West.

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Old Idaho Penitentiary Site

Boise

A historic prison complex showcasing 100 years of the frontier's judicial history through preserved cell blocks and gallows.

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Silverton Historic District

Silverton

A high-altitude former mining town featuring colorful Victorian architecture and iconic steam engine arrivals from Durango.

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This Is The Place Heritage Park

Salt Lake City

A sprawling living history village where families can interact with pioneers and explore historic homes from Utah's early settlement.

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Virginia City and Nevada City

Virginia City

Step back in time to living 19th-century gold rush towns with perfectly preserved wooden boardwalks and period-accurate buildings.

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Zoo / Wildlife Park / Safari Park

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs

America's only mountainside zoo offers spectacular views and a world-famous giraffe herd that visitors can hand-feed.

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Denver Zoo

Denver

A world-class urban zoo known for its immersive habitats and conservation efforts, featuring over 3,000 animals.

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Utah's Hogle Zoo

Salt Lake City

Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, this zoo features the award-winning Rocky Shores and African Savanna exhibits.

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Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park

Idaho Falls

Known as the 'Best Little Zoo in the West,' this facility offers an intimate experience with exotic animals from five continents.

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ZooMontana

Billings

A 70-acre wildlife park and botanical garden showcasing regional species and cold-climate animals like red pandas and Siberian tigers.

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Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

West Yellowstone

A wildlife park near the entrance of Yellowstone National Park where visitors can safely observe grizzlies and gray wolves in naturalistic settings.

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Yellowstone Bear World

Rexburg

A premier drive-thru safari park where families can see grizzly bears, black bears, and elk from the comfort of their own vehicles.

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Landmark / Monument / Iconic Urban Attraction

Delicate Arch

Moab

The most famous freestanding natural stone arch in the world, serving as a globally recognized symbol of the American West.

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Denver Union Station

Denver

A beautifully restored 1914 Beaux-Arts train station that serves as a vibrant urban hub with dining, shops, and transit.

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Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower

A stunning igneous rock monolith rising 867 feet above the Wyoming landscape, revered by tribes and famous as a hiking destination.

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Old Faithful Geyser

Yellowstone National Park

The world's most famous predictable geyser, erupting regularly to the delight of families within the oldest national park.

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Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

Morrison

A world-famous open-air amphitheater built into massive red sandstone rock formations, offering hiking and music history for families.

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Colorado State Capitol

Denver

A neoclassical building famous for its real gold-leafed dome and a step marked exactly one mile above sea level.

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Art Gallery / Fine Art Museum

Denver Art Museum

Denver

The museum offers world-class collections and interactive creative spaces that make art exploration fun for kids and adults alike.

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National Museum of Wildlife Art

Jackson

Families can explore stunning wildlife paintings and sculptures while overlooking the actual National Elk Refuge in a castle-like building.

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Whitney Western Art Museum

Cody

This gallery showcases the spirit of the American West through massive bronze sculptures and famous paintings that capture frontier life.

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Boise Art Museum

Boise

Located in a beautiful park, this museum features ever-changing contemporary exhibits and a dedicated studio space for children's creativity.

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Yellowstone Art Museum

Billings

Montana's premier art institution offers a look into the region's creative history and features a unique Visible Vault to see how art is stored.

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Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Salt Lake City

As Utah's primary art museum, it features diverse global collections and hands-on family art-making activities.

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Botanical Garden / Formal Gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver

A world-class 24-acre urban oasis featuring diverse plant collections, a stunning conservatory, and themed gardens perfect for family strolls.

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Red Butte Garden

Salt Lake City

Utah's largest botanical garden offers sprawling themed landscapes, hiking trails, and beautiful terraces overlooking the Salt Lake Valley.

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Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

Cheyenne

A beautiful public garden featuring the Grand Conservatory, a children's village, and a variety of hardy high-plains plant species.

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Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point

Lehi

Featuring 55 acres of stately gardens and the largest man-made waterfall in the Western Hemisphere, this is a top destination for family photos.

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Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

Vail

Recognized as the world's highest botanical garden, it showcases a unique collection of high-altitude plants and beautiful alpine rock gardens.

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Idaho Botanical Garden

Boise

Nestled at the base of the Boise Foothills, this garden features a meditation garden, an English garden, and a unique historic setting.

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Science Museum / Natural History Museum / Discovery Centre

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Denver

A premier museum featuring world-class wildlife dioramas, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater perfect for families exploring the natural world.

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Draper Natural History Museum

Cody

Part of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, this museum immerses families in the diverse wildlife and ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

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Museum of the Rockies

Bozeman

Renowned for its extensive collection of dinosaur fossils, including the T. rex, this museum brings ancient history to life for young explorers.

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Natural History Museum of Utah

Salt Lake City

Housed in a stunning architectural landmark, this museum offers interactive exhibits on paleontology, geology, and Utah's native cultures.

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Discovery Center of Idaho

Boise

An interactive science center featuring hands-on exhibits that encourage children and adults to explore physics, engineering, and technology.

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Museum of Ancient Life

Lehi

One of the world's largest displays of mounted dinosaurs, featuring interactive lab stations and immersive prehistoric environments.

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Aquarium / Sea Life Centre

Downtown Aquarium

Denver

A large-scale aquatic complex featuring a shipwreck exhibit, a shark-filled tunnel, and an upscale restaurant with floor-to-ceiling tank views.

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Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Draper

This massive facility features a 300,000-gallon shark habitat and the iconic 'Claw' structure, offering immersive exhibits from the rainforest to the Antarctic.

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Aquarium of Boise

Boise

A community-focused aquarium offering interactive experiences such as stingray feeding and touch pools featuring various marine and reptilian species.

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Theme Park / Amusement Park

Elitch Gardens

Denver

A historic urban theme and water park located in the heart of downtown, offering thrill rides with stunning city skyline views.

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Lagoon Amusement Park

Farmington

The largest amusement park in the Rockies, featuring over 50 rides, historic wooden coasters, and a pioneering steel coaster collection.

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Silverwood Theme Park

Athol

The largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, offering over 70 rides and a full water park in a forest setting.

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Santa's Workshop

Cascade

A vintage Christmas-themed amusement park located at the base of Pikes Peak, delighting families with holiday magic year-round since 1956.

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Farm Park / Petting Zoo / Rural Experience

Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point

Lehi

A large-scale educational farm where visitors can interact with diverse livestock, enjoy pony rides, and watch milking demonstrations.

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Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

Deer Lodge

A preserved 19th-century cattle ranch offering a glimpse into the history of the American West with live animals and historic buildings.

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The Farm at Lee Martinez Park

Fort Collins

A high-quality educational farm offering hands-on experiences with horses, goats, and chickens in an accessible urban park setting.

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Littleton Museum Living History Farms

Littleton

Two working living history farms representing the 1860s and 1890s, featuring period-accurate crops, livestock, and costumed interpreters.

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Wheeler Historic Farm

Salt Lake City

An 1890s living history farm and public park featuring wagon rides, farm animals, and historical demonstrations in a scenic wooded setting.

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Hiking & Cycling Routes

Four Pass Loop

Aspen

42km challenging 3-4 day backpacking trek circumnavigating the Maroon Bells with 2,400m elevation gain. Equipment rental: Ute Mountaineer (utemountaineer.com)

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Highline Trail

West Glacier

19km moderate-to-challenging iconic day hike following the Garden Wall with 250m elevation gain. National Park entry required.

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Teton Crest Trail

Teton Village

64km challenging 4-5 day hike through the heart of the Grand Tetons with 2,400m elevation gain. Equipment rental: Teton Mountaineering (tetonmtn.com)

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The Colorado Trail

Littleton

782km challenging long-distance trail from Denver to Durango, typically taking 4-6 weeks with 27,000m total elevation gain.

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The Whole Enchilada

Moab

55km expert mountain bike route descending from alpine tundra to red rock desert with 2,100m descent. Bike rental: Poison Spider Bicycles (poisonspiderbicycles.com)

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White Rim Trail

Moab

115km challenging multi-day mountain bike or 4x4 route looping below the Island in the Sky mesa with 1,700m elevation gain. Bike rental: Rim Cyclery (rimcyclery.com)

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Alice-Toxaway Loop

Stanley

30km challenging 2-3 day backpacking loop in the Sawtooth Wilderness with 1,000m elevation gain. Features spectacular jagged peaks and alpine lakes.

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Route of the Hiawatha

Mullan

24km easy family-friendly cycling route through 10 tunnels and across 7 high trestles with 300m descent. Bike rental: Lookout Pass (skilookout.com)

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Adventure Park / Outdoor Activity Center

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Glenwood Springs

America's only mountaintop theme park features cave tours, high-altitude thrill rides, and an alpine coaster with spectacular canyon views.

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Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Cañon City

Features one of the world's highest suspension bridges alongside a skycoaster, zipline, and aerial gondola crossing a 1,200-foot deep canyon.

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Utah Olympic Park

Park City

This active 2002 Winter Olympic venue offers summer bobsledding, extreme tubing, and advanced ropes courses for thrill-seeking families.

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Epic Discovery at Vail

Vail

An expansive summer activity center at the top of the gondola featuring forest flyers, tubing hills, and climbing walls amidst alpine peaks.

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Snow King Mountain

Jackson

A year-round mountain activity center in the heart of Jackson Hole offering an alpine slide, mountain coaster, and treetop adventure park.

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Natural Hot Spring / Thermal Bath / Historic Bathhouse

Glenwood Hot Springs Pool

Glenwood Springs

32-40°C naturally heated mineral pools, historic 1888 sandstone bathhouse, world's largest hot springs pool. Contains 15 minerals including sodium chloride, potassium, and calcium.

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Lava Hot Springs Foundation World Famous Hot Pools

Lava Hot Springs

38-44°C odorless mineral water. State-run facility featuring five outdoor pools with natural rock bottoms and gravel floors, high in bicarbonate, sodium, and magnesium.

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Crystal Hot Springs

Honeyville

38-41°C pools. Claims to have the highest mineral content in the world. Features a unique confluence of hot and cold springs with high levels of sodium, chloride, and lithium.

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Mystic Hot Springs

Monroe

37-43°C natural mineral water. Known for vintage clawfoot bathtubs embedded in deep orange travertine terraces and two larger concrete pools in a bohemian setting.

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Norris Hot Springs

Norris

38°C water known as 'Water of the Gods.' A standalone facility with a wood-lined pool that is drained and cleaned nightly, using no chemicals in the mineral-rich water.

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Hot Springs State Park State Bath House

Thermopolis

40°C mineral-rich water provided for free by the state. Part of the world's largest mineral hot springs park, featuring accessible indoor and outdoor pools and travertine terraces.

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Iron Mountain Hot Springs

Glenwood Springs

37-42°C mineral pools. Standalone facility with 16 individual soaking pools containing 14 different minerals, situated on the bank of the Colorado River.

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Strawberry Park Hot Springs

Steamboat Springs

38-42°C natural mineral water in rustic stone-built pools. Set in a secluded forest canyon along Hot Springs Creek, focusing on a natural, low-impact environment.

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Castle / Palace / Historic Site

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Crow Agency

A poignant national monument marking the 1876 battle site, offering families educational walking tours and vast views of the Montana prairie.

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Mesa Verde National Park

Cortez

A UNESCO World Heritage site where families can explore remarkably preserved cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo people over 700 years ago.

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Temple Square

Salt Lake City

A beautifully landscaped 10-acre complex in the heart of Salt Lake City featuring iconic neo-Gothic architecture and interactive historical exhibits.

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Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

La Junta

A meticulously reconstructed 1840s adobe fur trading post where living history demonstrations bring the era of the Santa Fe Trail to life.

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Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Fort Laramie

This legendary fur-trading post and military garrison offers families a chance to explore restored 19th-century buildings essential to Westward expansion history.

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Old Idaho Penitentiary

Boise

A fascinating historic prison site where families can walk through 100 years of Idaho's criminal justice history among stark sandstone buildings.

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Major International Festival / Cultural Event

Sundance Film Festival

Park City

Late January, 11-day event, the largest and most prestigious independent film festival in the United States, approx. 120,000 annual visitors, features global film premieres, panel discussions, and family-friendly 'Sundance Kids' screenings.

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Winter X Games

Aspen

Late January, 3-day extreme sports festival, over 100,000 live spectators and millions of global viewers, features world-class freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions, live music performances, and an interactive 'X Fest' village with youth-oriented activities.

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Natural Feature / Scenic Site

Garden of the Gods

Colorado Springs

A stunning public park featuring massive, vertical red rock formations against the backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak.

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Shoshone Falls

Twin Falls

Often called the 'Niagara of the West,' these massive waterfalls on the Snake River are even taller than Niagara Falls.

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Getting Here (48 airports)

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