Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations

Make your stay in Estes Park one full of memories, laughter, and enchantment. Rams Horn is located at the main entrance of the biggest playground in the West, Rocky Mountain National Park. Soak in the natural beauty and wonder that surrounds you while enjoying quality family bonding. The Rams Horn Village Resort has 46 upscale two-bedroom, two-bath vacation homes that feature full kitchens, gas fireplaces, decks, and grills. You’ll be amazed at the wildlife that will come right up to your door. At the resort, you'll find they offer many great amenities, including a heated outdoor pool, three hot tubs, and a children's playground. With 265,770 spectacular acres of pristine Colorado wilderness surrounding you, your family will have the time of their lives exploring and discovering all of the trails, lakes, streams, and mountain peaks. No matter what your family enjoys doing, you’ll find it all here at The Rams Horn Village Resort. Spend your summer days hiking, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting. Come during the winter and experience a breathtaking winter wonderland. Ski, snowshoe, or simply relax by the crackling fire in your luxury vacation home. So come experience this magnificent mountain destination for yourself and discover why Rams Horn Village Resort is our No. 1 choice for Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations.

Address

You can find Rams Horn Village Resort at: 1565 Colorado Highway 66, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Related Onsite Offerings

At Rams Horn Village Resort, you have the option of becoming a fractional owner of one of their upscale, luxury Colorado vacation homes. Rams Horn is a RCI Gold Crown resort.

Number of runs/trails/roads/etc.

In Rocky Mountain National Park you'll find 359 miles of trails, 150 lakes, 450 miles of streams, and over 60 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet.

When you stay at Marys Lake Lodge and Resort you and your family will enjoy a true Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park vacation. Revel in breathtaking views of the Continental Divide from your suite or private condo. Modern amenities, an expert staff, and timeless mountain luxury combine to provide you with a memorable stay that will keep you coming back year after year. Unwind in the outdoor hot tub as your kids splash in the newly restored heated outdoor pool. Marys Lake Lodge and Resort also offers fine dining in their two distinct restaurants and live music every night. End your day in the resort’s luxurious accommodations. Both the guest suites and the private condos are fitted with modern amenities and have a splendid mountain ambience. No trip to this Colorado destination is complete without an adventure into the great outdoors. With so many opportunities, you’ll have a hard time deciding what to do first. Maybe your family will want to try their hand at fly fishing, mountain biking, or whitewater rafting. Or perhaps your day involves a scenic drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re staying in the winter months, the area provides a perfect setting for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Whatever the season, Marys Lake Lodge and Resort gives you the mountain vacation you desire, making it our No. 2 choice of Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations.

Address

You can find Marys Lake Lodge and Resort at 2625 Marys Lake Road, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Related Onsite Offerings

Marys Lake Lodge and Resort can accommodate group events ranging from 4 to 150 people.

Fun facts

Marys Lake Lodge has a proud history and first opened as The Rockdale Hotel on Friday, September 13, 1913.

As a guest of The Stanley Hotel, you can choose to stay in their main building, which offers Classic, Deluxe, Superior, Historic, and Haunted Rooms as well as suites. If you’re looking for a quiet setting, The Lodge at Stanley provides spacious rooms and suites. For the ultimate Estes Park vacation, stay in the hotel’s gorgeous Presidential Cottage. Great for vacationing families, parents can indulge in a relaxing treatment at the hotel’s onsite spa while the kids enjoy swimming in the immaculate outdoor pool. If you’re interested in the Stanley’s haunted history, be sure to book a spot on a spine tingling Ghost Tour or Ghost Hunt! The Stanley Hotel is only six miles from Rocky Mountain National Park where your family can enjoy world-class fishing, hiking, and climbing. You could easily spend all day taking in the beautiful surroundings and watching the abundance of wildlife. Estes Park is home to great shopping, dining, and many unique galleries. The Stanley Hotel will be your luxurious home away from home in the Colorado Rockies, which is why it lands the No. 3 spot on our list of Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations.

Address

333 Wonderview Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517

Fun facts

The Stanley Hotel is part of The Historic Hotels of America National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Highlights

The Stanley Hotel has been featured as one of America's most haunted hotels and guests frequently report "strange occurrences." But not to worry, only happy ghosts reside at The Stanley Hotel!

If you’re looking for a vacation destination that the whole family will love, look no further! Valhalla Resort’s convenient location to Estes Park makes it the perfect basecamp from which you can enjoy all of the Rocky Mountain National Park activities. Breathe the fresh mountain air as you hike, bike, fish, or explore the area on horseback. No matter the season, adventures abound here in the West’s biggest playground! If you choose to stay back at the resort, you’ll find amenities and activities the whole family will love. Challenge each other to a round of mini-golf, a pickup game of basketball, or a leisurely game of shuffleboard. Take a dip in the outdoor pool on a hot summer day, or cozy up by the fire in your comfortable and spacious cabin. Valhalla has one, two, three, and four-bedroom cabins– all of which are equipped with full kitchens, private decks, and fireplaces. Valhalla Resort’s affordability, privacy, location, and amenities land it the No. 4 spot on our list of Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations.

Address

2185 Eagle Cliff Road, Estes Park, CO 80517

Related Onsite Offerings

Valhalla Resort offers great packages and specials!

Dates and Prices

Prices of Valhalla Resort's cabins range from $90 to $575 depending on the season.

Fill your days and nights with a variety of fun activities offered at this fabulous YMCA location. Estes Park Center will give you and your kids an opportunity to experience excitement and adventure found nowhere else in the area. Zip line across the beautiful Wind River Valley or challenge the rest of your family to a round of disc golf on the 18-hole course. If you’re traveling with young children, spend your day at the Mootz Family Craft and Design Center. The list of things to do goes on and on and will keep you coming back year after year! Along with tons of great activities, Estes Park Center also has a variety of lodging options available. There are 2-4 bedroom cabins with equipped kitchens that are perfect for families. If you have a large family, the Vacation Homes have multiple bathrooms and 3-4 bedrooms. Or choose to stay in a guest room at one of the Central Lodges. All accommodations are near Estes Park Center activities and Rocky Mountain National Park, making this YMCA location No. 5 on our list of Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations.

Address

Estes Park Center is located at 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park, CO 80511

Highlights

YMCA of the Rockies' Estes Park Center provides more activities than any other other destination. Enjoy their zip line, climbing wall, and archery range– just to name a few!

Fun facts

YMCA of the Rockies has three physical locations in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.

Soak in the natural beauty and splendor of the Colorado Rockies during your stay on Lake Estes. The Marina next door has everything you’ll need to enjoy some time out on the water including boat, canoe, kayak, and fishing equipment rentals. And The Estes Park Resort is only one mile east of Rocky Mountain National Park where you can hike or bike miles of trails, find challenging climbs, or tour the park on horseback. After a day trekking through the Colorado wilderness, return to the resort and enjoy your comfortable, lush accommodations and a long list of onsite amenities the whole family will love. Adults can relax and unwind after a long day with a spa treatment while your kids have fun splashing in the indoor swimming pool. The resort also offers a fitness center, sauna, and great dining at the Waterfront Grille. Luxury, convenience, and fun combine to make The Estes Park Resort our No. 6 choice on our list of Top 10 Estes Park Family Vacations.

Address

1700 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517

Highlights

The Spa at The Estes Park Resort offers treatments in the privacy of your own room so you won't have to leave to find total relaxation.

The Historic Crags Lodge is only minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park on the north side of Prospect Mountain. From your comfortable hotel room, you’ll enjoy spectacular, breathtaking views of the mountains. Rooms at the lodge are studio units, 1-bedroom units, or 2-bedroom units. All rooms have kitchenettes and some have an additional bathroom. Sit down for a exceptional family meal at the lodge's restaurant, The View. Your family will feel at home and part of the history that surrounds you. With a location so close to Rocky Mountain National Park, you and your family will love waking up to explore the grandeur that surrounds you. Choose to go on a hiking or climbing adventure. Or maybe you want to spend time bonding as you fish in the nearby streams and view the wildlife that wanders across your path. Stay at the Historic Crags Lodge and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Address

300 Riverside Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517

Fun facts

The Historic Crags Lodge gets its name from the "craggy" like rocks that make up the side of the mountain.

When you stay at the Rocky Mountain Park Inn, you’ll be close to shopping and dining in the charming mountain town of Estes Park along with being only minutes away from Rocky Mountain National Park. This hotel has great amenities your whole family will love including an indoor heated pool and whirlpool. Kids will enjoy the Game Room and parents can keep up with their workout routine in the Fitness Center. Sit down as a family for a satisfying meal at LongZ – A Mountain Grill & Lounge. Be inspired by nature as you set off and explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Discover sparkling lakes, towering peaks, and an abundance of wildlife. Spend the day hiking, biking, or simply wandering through the pristine wilderness. Make sure to bring your camera in hopes of capturing a shot of a big horn sheep, elk, or marmot. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of an aloof black bear or mountain lion! Above all, enjoy the time you spend together on this great family vacation.

Address

101 South Saint Vrain Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517

Related Onsite Offerings

Rocky Mountain Park Inn is a pet friendly hotel.

Entrance fees

Rocky Mountain National Park does not charge an entrance fee, but a seven-day automobile pass costs $20 and a one-week pass for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles is $10.

Experience Rocky Mountain splendor like never before. Aspen Winds offers guests wonderfully comfortable one or two-bedroom suites and luxurious spa suites. Each suite has a full kitchen or a kitchenette, making this destination great for vacationing families. From every room you’ll be able to view the grandeur of the Colorado Rockies and watch wildlife from your private balcony or deck. Being so close to Rocky Mountain National Park means that you’ll have easy access to all of the area attractions and activities. Suit up your family and set out into the great outdoors for the adventure of a lifetime! Choose to explore the park however you wish, whether it’s hiking on foot, by boat, or on horseback. You’ll discover towering peaks, rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking fields of wildflowers- not to mention the abundance of wildlife that resides in the park. With so much to see and do, you’ll find that one vacation to this beautiful location is not enough. Return year after year and make Aspen Winds on Fall River your home away from home.

Address

1051 Fall River Court, Estes Park, Colorado 80517

Highlights

Elk and other wildlife wander freely through the park, frequently ending up on the grounds of Aspen Winds, where you can view them up close from your patio or balcony.

Related Onsite Offerings

Aspen Winds offers many different packages and specials.

Imagine you and your family relaxing in a stunning, rustic mountain home and taking in breathtaking views of the majestic Colorado Rockies. You’re probably imagining a stay like the one you’ll find at Paradise on the River. The cabins at this destination are all located on the edge of the Big Thompson River, only a mile from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Inside your cabin you’ll find a full kitchen, private bath, and all the conveniences of home. If your family is traveling by RV, pull into one of Paradise’s riverfront RV sites and enjoy clean restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Experience the Colorado Rockies way of life and spend your days outside breathing in the fresh mountain air. As the West’s biggest playground, Rocky Mountain National Park has recreational opportunities for all ages. Toss in a line and fish for trout in nearby streams or strap on your helmet and go mountain biking on over 350 miles of trails. Your family will love every minute they spend exploring the beautiful wilderness. Come for a weekend or stay for a week- you’ll have everything you need for the Estes Park vacation of a lifetime at Paradise on the River.

Address

1836 Highway 66, Estes Park, Colorado 80517

Season

Paradise on the River opens the first weekend in May and closes mid-October.

Highlights

Paradise on the River is a pet friendly establishment.