Colorado Springs, CO

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak,
copyright CSCVB

Pikes Peak isn't the only geological wonder in Colorado Springs. There's also Garden of the Gods, a 1,300-acre city park filled with towering red rock formations and 25 miles of hiking trails. Kids can spend all day scrambling over boulder-strewn paths, peering through rock crevices, and playing "I'm King of the Mountain."

• Easy stroll. The best trail for young children is the 1.5-mile Central Garden Trail. It's stroller-accessible, not too steep, and winds by the highest rock formations.
• Moderate hike. For kids who can handle an incline, check out the half-mile Ridge Trail. This route makes them feel like they're going somewhere, but never gets more than 10 feet off the ground.

The visitor center runs a Junior Ranger program for kids 7-12 that explains the area's geology, nature, and wildlife.