COME TO LIFE Historic Sites Your family can absorb what westward expansion was like at some of Colorado’s most famous 1800s forts. Little ones can become Junior Rangers at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in La Junta. They’ll get to imagine they’re building a new trading post, make a map of the citadel and learn about the games children played back when the fort was bustling. A replica of Fort Uncompahgre in Delta has authentic dirt floors and serves as an interpretive site for what was once a hub of activity on the Old Spanish Trail. Watch reenactors start fires with flint, throw tomahawks and scrape hides. The El Pueblo Fort was the first permanent settlement in Pueblo, and it has been painstakingly reconstructed to showcase life in the mid-19th century. Sit on a bench in the middle of the adobe structure and imagine what living during these times was like. Mine Tours Prospectors came out West in the 1800s hoping to strike a bonanza of gold — your kids will get the chance to put on a hard hat, step back in time and live out one of the momentous eras of Colorado history. Descend 1,000 feet into Summit County’s only real gold-mine tour at Country Boy Mine near Breckenridge. Children will love the ability to pan for gold and meet-and-greet the burros that call the area home. Grab a hammer or chisel and try your hand at striking gold at Hidee Gold Mine or take a lesson in gold panning at this Central City spot — and keep what you find! A trip on the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad wouldn’t be complete without the Lebanon Silver Mine Tour . In addition to a gold-panning option that also allows you to keep what you discover, you’ll actually get to see naturally occurring silver pearls 1,000 feet into Leavenworth Mountain. LEAVE IT AS YOU FIND IT When you’re outside in Colorado, it may be tempting to pick flowers or take cool-looking rocks. By leaving them behind, the visitors who arrive after you can experience the same discoveries you did. MILES PARTNERSHIP/MATTHEW INDEN Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site Colorado.com/FamilyAttractions 74 1-800-COLORADO Want more?
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2024: Page 74
