Fall Family ROADTRI PS
•Look for free fall fun: Scenic drives, hiking trails, downtowns, farmers markets, festivals, playgrounds, and overlooks. Don’t overestimate the fun of a new playground! •Check community calendars: Small-town fall festivals often provide hours of entertainment for free. (You can also ask ChatGPT to come up with a list of local events happening in the area!) •Let the scenery be the attraction: Especially in places with great fall foliage, nature can become the main event. (And hello, Colorado is like one big gorgeous—and mountainous—view!) •Give the kids a souvenir budget: $5–10 each keeps the gift-shop begging under control. (It’s okay to say no! They probably don’t need another squishy…) •Fill up before you leave: Particularly if your destination is rural or touristy… usually gas is cheaper where you live. WHERE TO GO: AFFORDABLE FALL TRIPS NEAR YOU State Parks One of the most cost-efficient options you’ll find out there is a trip to the state park. If you’re planning to stay the night, you can camp, bring the RV, or stay in a cabin or the lodge, most of which are relatively inexpensive. As for the state parks themselves, many are even free to enter, while others have small entrance fees. There’s almost endless things to do: hit the trails for a scenic hike (keep an eye out for waterfalls!), swim in the lakes, shoot at the archery range, star- gaze, ride horses, play disc golf, fish, hunt, or bike, to name a few. At some parks, you can even rent equipment like kayaks, paddleboards, or pontoon boats, or go rock climbing! If you’re not looking to be physically active, picnicking is always a great option too. There are really so many fantastic parks, it’s really too hard to narrow it down… but if you’re heading out from the Denver area, you can visit Brainard Lake in Roosevelt National Forest (~1.5 hours), Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve—aka the tallest dunes in North America! (~3.5 hours), Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park (~1.5 hours), or Eldorado Canyon State Park (45 min). Visit (or Revisit) a Nearby City! Personally, I find every good trip has a mix of city and nature… and when you need to get away, visiting a nearby city can offer fun, exciting activi- ties for the whole family. Sometimes it’s just about changing scenery: You may still end up at a park or the zoo (a gorilla is a gorilla anywhere), but it can make for a special adventure and new mem- ory-making opportunities! If you’re hoping to hit a bunch of touristy attractions, look into if the city has an attraction pass bundle so you can get more bang for your bucks.
ON A BUDGET BY JULIANNA STEEN
YOU DON’T NEED A BIG VACATION BUDGET
much family fun can you fit into one tank of gas? Ask each family member to come up with one priority or thing they would like to do, within reason. If your family prefers the great outdoors, you’ll find yourself planning a very different outing than if you’re all foodies. But don’t worry, you don’t have to camp to make it affordable if that’s not your cup of tea! (Although that’s certainly a good option.) TIPS TO MAKE YOUR BUDGET STRETCH •Stay close: Pick somewhere 1–3 hours away so you spend the day exploring instead of driving. (More on that in a bit!) •Make it a day trip: Eliminating the hotel is probably the single easiest way to slash the price. If you’re wanting to stay overnight, you can also… •Travel with another family: Splitting a cabin or rental can often beat the price (and vibes) of two hotel rooms. (Although hotel breakfast is always ideal.) •Pack breakfast, snacks, and/or lunch: Then choose one fun local restaurant, bakery, or ice cream shop as your splurge. (Anyone with hangry kids knows snacks are always a must…)
There’s something about the temperature finally falling under 90º that invites you to explore the big, beautiful world outside your window. Maybe it’s the leaves changing color and falling into perfect piles meant to be stomped on. Maybe it’s the local festivals promising apple- and pumpkin- flavored goodies, or the prospect of a gorgeous view at the end of a popular hike. Regardless of what type of adventure you’re seek- ing out this fall, rest assured: You don’t need a big vacation budget to have a grand time. A day trip— or one inexpensive overnight—can still feel like a vacation. Here are a few budget-friendly destina- tions worth piling into the car for this fall. HOW TO PLAN A FALL ROAD TRIP ON A BUDGET We live in a practical world, so first let’s start with logistics. Unless you have a surreal number of credit card and hotel points in the wings, waiting to be spent, it’s unlikely that you’re flying anywhere far. (However, I never discourage anyone from looking: If you get a good deal on a flight… you can often figure out the rest.)
Here’s a few things to do in whatever city you visit:
•Explore downtown: Walk the main streets, browse local shops, and try to find murals! •Visit a museum (especially the children’s museum or science center).
Challenge yourself to think about it like this: How
16 COLORADO PARENT NOVEMBER 2026
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