Colorado?

Pikes Peak should be at/near the top of your list. We drive up at least once a year and take a picnic lunch with us. We stop at Glen Cove (about halfway up) and take our picnic to an area at the bottom of a 2000ft shear rock cliff. Then at the top, we hike around to many of the small peaks up there. Also, there is Garden of the Gods, and Old Colorado City for western shopping. If you want a serious workout, try climbing the incline in Manitou Springs. The local Olympians find it challenging enough to include it in their training regimen. About 1.5 hours SW of Colorado Springs, you have Royal Gorge. Then you can take the Phantom Canyon Road to Cripple Creek.

Enjoy!

Did anyone mention Pikes Peak, (colorado springs).. I loved that mountain, drove up it many years ago, (before it was all paved!) I worked at the Olympic Training Center, also in Colorado Springs, They have a cool tour that the kids may like.

My answer will be largely dictated by your two daughters and their ages and interests. Kids like to experience more than sightsee from the vehicle.

Our favorite part of Colorado is in the SW corner. Many prefer to stay someplace like Ridgway SP and head into the hills from there. The area around Silverton is spectacular. Rent a 4x4 for a day or two of trips to some amazing scenery and old mining ruins. Check out some of the possible trails here. Lots of pictures there to give you an idea of what you'll see. The best flower season seems to be mid July to mid August (elevation dependent). The girls will love the Ouray Hot Springs Pool and you'll love the view from there. Definitely worth an afternoon followed by a meal in town.

The Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is another don't miss. Get reservations early -- it's popular. Your girls will like the train ride and the western feel of Silverton. Lots of shopping in Silverton, too! For the train, you should be based out of the Durango area. While there, Mesa Verde NP is something else the girls will love. We prefer to camp in the park. FHU's are available in the CG there. Get your tour tickets in the morning to be sure you get to see the ruins you want. It's a full day adventure.

With kids your age, I'd head to the Arkansas River Valley between Leadville and Salida. Soooo much to do and much of it kid friendly. Ton's of 4x4 trails, lots of hiking and 14'ers to climb, ghost towns, river rafting, biking, fishing -- there's something to keep you busy for days. A visit to the ghost town of St. Elmo where the kids can feed the chipmunks is well worth the scenic drive on an easy graded gravel road. If you've rented a 4x4, you can then head south to Hancock Pass. Once over the pass, visit the west end of the Alpine Tunnel (an old RR tunnel way up high). Then head north to Tincup and east past Mirror Lake over Tincup Pass back to St Elmo. Check out Now this is Colorado for lots of ideas in this area. Leadville has lots of interesting historical places related to the mining industry. Cottonwood Lake has a great picnic area. A walk around Salida in the evening will reward you with great little shops and art galleries (not too high end though) and a nice selection of restaurants. We've been taking our nieces (who are about your kids ages) there for several years and they love it. As for camping, there are a variety of private CG's. The NFS CG's don't have HU's, but are nearer to the scenery. There are quite a few around Turquoise Lake and several on the road up to St. Elmo. But do get your reservations NOW.

As for RMNP, you'll probably want to be on the east side. Be warned, Glacier Basin CG will be closed all summer and that is going to put a lot of pressure on the other NPS CG's plus the private CG's in town. We prefer Moraine Park in RMNP, but no hookups. Still close enough to town to enjoy going there in the evenings. Plus, close to Bear Lake and all the trailheads there. Those trails get busy in the summer, but still some of the prettiest hiking in the park.

Several have mentioned the Sand Dunes and kids seem to love it there. Typically, Medano Creek has quit flowing by July, but if you hit the area first, there might still be a little flow. A little water makes it easier to build sand castles rather than just run up and down the dunes.

Someone else mentioned Bishops Castle. It's a little out of the way, but if you're in the area, your girls will love it. When take the nieces down to our cabin in the area, the first thing they want to do is go to Bishops Castle. It may be their favorite "touristy" thing to do in Colorado, and the best part is that it's free!

Other places to consider:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Great gash in the ground and the CG up there is one of the darkest places around -- lots of stars to see.

I must mention the area around Aspen and Glenwood Springs. Many have seen pictures of Maroon Bells, but it's well worth a day to go up there and hike. Mid July is great for wildflowers and a hike up to Crater Lake above Maroon Lake is a nice place to go for a picnic. Of course there's the Hot Springs Pool here in Glenwood Springs. You might consider camping at Redstone NFS CG about midway between Carbondale and Marble. Some sites have electric hookups and there are flush toilet and showers in the CG. A trip to Marble will take you to the town where marble was quarried for buildings and monuments around the country.

So much to see and so little time!

The Gunnison area has a lot to see and do. A lot of scenic drives and places to go. Crested Butte is nearby and worth spending a day visiting. There are some nice RV parks in the area. Nice museum to spend some time in. We went there last year and planned on 2 nights, but ended up staying 2 weeks and would have stayed longer if it hadn't been for one of those infernal Dr. appts back home.

I've been going to Colorado since I was about 5. My parents always went to the Colorado Springs area. Later they moved from Texas to Woodland Park area. Thus we went to that area a lot of years. About 5 years ago we branched out and went to the South Fork Co. area. So many things to do and see. I farmed for about 45 years and had no time to fish. I've learned to fish and this area as well as most of Colorado has many lakes and streams. I would recommend Colorado Springs area since this is the first trip.

I have a great campground to suggest if you decide on the southwestern portion of the state. Priest Gulch It's a beautiful campground.

Busskipper gave you a very good itineary. The only thing I would definitely think your children would like is Mesa Verde Nat'l Park. They'd get to climb ladders into the ruins and it would give them a good history lesson. :) They'd also enjoy a soak in Pagosa Springs - you, too! It would be a relaxing break. If you make it to Durango, be sure to drive up to Silverton. You won't be disappointed. It's awesome. Have a great trip.

Busskipper pretty much summed it up. Only thing I might add would be to check on locations like Buena Vista that offer a variety of activities that your kids would like, such as hiking,biking and rafting. The locations like Ouray that offer the 4-wheel jeep tours into the mtns would be adventurous. Also check out the Grand Junction area. Moab,Utah isn't that far from Grand Junction---lots of biking,hiking & 4-wheeling. Selecting specific base camps like Buena Vista will allow you & family to enjoy several activities and less travel. Have a great trip.

mesa verde n.p is well worth the time.its a great state take your time and enjoy

Yes, Rocky Mtn NP has taken a hit with the pine beetle and some recent fires for sure but it is still great; we were back there again this summer for the 4th time since we moved from there in 2003. Having lived in Estes Park for 8 years - and been back as mentioned - I would disagree with busskipper on his preference for the west side. Nearly all the Park activiites are on the east side; hence, more crowds to be sure. The west side has a very small visitor center and a couple isolated hiking trails - that is about it. The east side has two major visitor centers, programs, lots of wildlife viewing, all kinds of hikes for all levels of hikers, drives, picnic areas, campgrounds, etc. And less moisture - rain or snow - and less bugs.

As mentioned, this year we are, once again, returning to Buena Vista, Montrose (Black Canyon), Mancos and Ouray.....concentrating on BV and Ouray. Going to be there for fall colors. Pikes Peak is great - either driving it with tv or toad or the cog railway. Forget the Royal Gouge (as we used to call it) - very pricey for what there is there.

4runnerguy and ThunderMountain are good resources as they also have spent a lot of time in CO.

Enjoy that great state!