From Boulder/Denver with two small children -- where to go?

I%26#39;m trying to plan our early September vacation -- our twins will be almost 3 at that time, and my parents will be with us too. Last year we rented a house in Estes Park, but we%26#39;d like to try something a little different this year, yet without too much time in the car.

Having lived here more than 5 years, I%26#39;m ashamed to admit that I know nothing about Wyoming. Is there an area we could reach within 2-3 hours from Boulder that is scenic and outdoorsy, near kid-friendly trails and within easy reach of a grocery store?

From Boulder/Denver with two small children -- where to go?

Laramie is close, I took some classes at the University of Wyoming one year, and enjoyed living there. www.laramie-tourism.org

Trails, mountains, fishing etc and plenty of restaurants and shops. It is not in the mountains, but near mountains. West of Laramie are the Snowy Mountains. East of Laramie is Vedauwoo, cool rock climbing etc

From Boulder/Denver with two small children -- where to go?

Perhaps you have done this, but you could circumscribe a circle within, say, 200 miles, choose the communities that fall within this circle, and go to TA Forums and select ';Things to Do'; in the left hand column. That will provide you with some ideas of what%26#39;s available. Then you could inquire about the towns which seem most appealing to your family.

I%26#39;d recommend the Veedauwoo Recreation Area between Laramie and Wyoming. It is a great place for family picnics, bike rides, and hiking. Of course, serious rock climbers enjoy the area as well. Curt Gowdy State Park is just north of Veedauwoo and offers a nice place for camping and boating in the mountains.

Veedauwoo is located just north of I-80 between the two towns. The closest grocery store is probably in Laramie about 15-20 miles away.

Enjoy.

In early September, I recommend Centennial, Wyoming, a small town at the base of the Snowy Range 30 miles west of Laramie. Pick up your groceries in Laramie on the way. Plenty of hiking and fishing in the Snowies and great scenery.

There really isn%26#39;t lodging available at Vedawoo, so unless your family wants to camp, it%26#39;s just a nice day trip from Laramie, Cheyenne or Ft. Collins.

I agree Centennial is a good location. Another nice area is Saratoga, which also has hot springs. Although it%26#39;s not in Wyoming, you should also check out Steamboat Springs -- it may fit your bill better right now, than a Wyoming location until your children are a bit older.

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