I have posted here a couple times about our family taking a vacation "out west", well,out west is a pretty big area! LOL,we have decided on The Badlands/Mt.Rushmore,then Rocky Mountain National Park. Are there any "must see" places in Colorado? Is Pikes Peak worth checking out? Any information is appreciated.

Colorado is the new California. I would highly suggest Wyoming as an alternative. Very close to Mt Rushmore as well. Anywhere you go in Colorado, you'll be bumping elbows with other people.

Make sure you check the forest closures weekly. I know southern Colorado has a couple closures aND fires

What Gary said. I stay away from the crap hole, now. Last time I was west of Denver in the moutains, trying to go east on I-70, it tookfive hours to get from the tunnel to Denver. Three lanes of stop and go on a Sunday afternoon, every dope smoker in Co had been getting a rocky mountain high! My grandkids live in Denver, and both have been messin with pot. The one staying here right now has been getting his ear bent, prolly won't do a bit of good, once he goes back to the crapper!

I got a lot of family out there. Went out for Thanksgiving last year and family hoo fa raw. enjoyed my family except when my dad and uncle corralled me and started telling me it was time to sell my house here and move back. I feel like somebody shot my best hound when I think about what CO has become. Go to WY.

I highly recommend Hwy ALT 14 between Sheridan and Cody WYO. Great drive and most likely see moose and elk. The Buffalo Bill museum at Cody is worth seeing. Then you're just outside Jellystone. Jellystone is a beautiful place to see but again, 4+million visitors per year. Fill your gas tank before you enter the park!

I am in Pagosa Springs now with three grandkids. Went down to Taos, Santa Fe, and Los Alamos in NM. Road the Cumbres & Toltec narrow gauge RR today and going to Messa Verde tomorrow, returning through Durango. Might see Telluride the next day and take a mining tour in Creed. Plenty to do for two weeks without moving too far from Pagosa Springs.

ICE CREAM EVERY NIGHT WITH THE GRANDKIDS.

I like the old mining grave sites at 10,000 and above
cool pikes peak site in the spings
4 corners was cool in the 70s but have not been there in 2018

oh yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and bobs pot shop on main,,,,,,.................

Why spend your $$$ in a state that has banned trapping? Colorado has become L.A. in the Rockies. Bad traffic, full of Liberals that don't like YOU, and stoners with their mouths hanging open doing 30 in 65 mph zone. Wyoming is much more friendly.

Glad you're having fun. The hot springs in Pagosa are always nice. In the visitors center at Mesa Verde is the statue of my dad. How was the smoke in Los Alamos? The fire in the Valles Caldera started this past weekend. It's beautiful and a coveted hunt here. Really nice elk and deer there.

Be on alert for bears in Durango.

Apparently we have a reputation...

My Favorites in Colorado as follows:

1. Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
2. Dinosaur National Monument.
3. Mesa Verde
4. Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Pool with a stay at Hotel Colorado (Spring, fall & winter) or Hotel Denver (Summer).
5. Ouray Hot Springs (not the nudie one), the public one, staying in Ouray.
6. Durango to Silverton train (closed down due to the fire).
7. Steamboat Springs Hot Springs then camping north of Town.
9. Flat Tops wilderness Camping/Fishing Around Trappers Lake.
10. Independence Monument the mountain biking in Fruita.
11. People Watching in Aspen followed by camping/hiking/climbing on independence pass.
12. 4 wheeling over Cottonwood pass/taylor reservoir area.
13. Fishing Arkansas and Frying Pan rivers.
14. 4 wheel drive road over Haggerman Pass from Leadville to Basalt, camping in the wilderness in between.
15. Various Mine Tours through the mineral belt.
16. Rent 4 wheelers and ride lead king basin and schofield pass Marble, CO. Marble Quarry tour & eat BBQ at Slow Groovin.
17. Hike 14er, Castle Peak is fairly easy or Elbert the highest mountain in CO but boring. Need to acclimatize.
18. Brew pub tour, highest per capita craft brewery's in the country.
19. Wine Tasting in Palisade
20. Picking fresh fruit depending on season in Paonia or Palisade.

Some ideas.

My wife and I spent a week in the Custer area of SD last fall. We like SD way better than Colorado. While in the Rushmore area hit up Custer State park just south of Rushmore. I loved the badlands. After SD I would go into Wyoming to Yellowstone.