Colorado: Things to Do and See

1. Royal Gorge Bridge is a tourist attraction near Cañon City, Colorado, within Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, a 360-acre (150 ha) theme park. The bridge deck crosses the Royal Gorge 955 feet (291 m) above the Arkansas River, and held the record of highest bridge in the world from 1929 until 2001, when it was surpassed by the Liuguanghe Bridge in China. It is a suspension bridge with a main span of 938 feet (286 m). The bridge is 1,260 feet (384 m) long and 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, with a wooden walkway with 1292 planks. The bridge is suspended from towers that are 150 feet (46 m) high. It remains among the ten highest bridges in the world and is the highest in the United States.
2. Pikes Peak Cog Railway: Since 1891, world’s highest cog railway ascends Pikes Peak. With an average grade of 12%, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbs the 14,115 feet to the top of Pikes Peak Mountain on a special track, sometimes hitting a grade of 24% Train winds past waterfalls, through aspen and pine forest.  Open year round. Its views inspired the writing of "America the Beautiful" On a clear day you can see 5 different states from the top.
3. Red Rocks: Red Rocks Park is known for its very large red sandstone outcrops. Many of these rock formations within the park have names, from the mushroom-shaped Seat of Pluto to the inclined Cave of the Seven Ladders. The most visited rocks, around the amphitheatre, are Creation Rock to the north, Ship Rock to the south, and Stage Rock to the east.The red sandstone found throughout Red Rocks Park is geologically identified as belonging to the Fountain Formation
4. Sand Dunes National Park: Sink into the highest mountains of sand in North America. Nestled in a spot where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains buckle inward, the dunes within the borders of Great Sand Dunes National Park have been building and sifting for eons — the result of the San Luis Valley's unique wind patterns.
5. Rocky Mountain National Park span 415 square miles and encompasses and protects spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road – which crests over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds – along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, starry nights, and fun times. In a world of superlatives, Rocky is on top!
6. Denver Zoo: close encounters with many of the world’s creatures become a reality at this zoo. Upon entering the zoo, head straight to the ten-acre Elephant Passage, where Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, and clouded leopards graze and socialize among a natural setting, with pools that total 1,100,000 gallons of water. The zoo knows its audience and has created six pre-planned itineraries for families that include insightful facts and games that can be enjoyed by the whole family. website
7. Mesa Verde National Park: One of the best preserved archaeological sites in the US it offers a glimpse into how ancestral Puebloans lived in cave dwellings from 550 to 1300 AD. The park is home to over 4,700 archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings alone.