If you re a parent, you know that traveling with children is more than

packing your bags and slipping the Aladdin tape into the cassette player.

You need crayons, coloring books, snacks, an assortment of shoes and ]

coats for any weather--but most of all, you need a battle plan. With the/r

notoriously short attention spans, children require plenty of diversions on

any trip.

You could open your average guidebook, but where to

~istorical museum may sound good on paper, but how will

et your 2-year-old loose inside?

In researching this book, we visited hundreds of attractions in Colo-

rado with our own children--ages 3, 5, 6, and 11--in tow. We looked for

places that would engage them, and whether we were traveling to the

Great Sand Dunes in the south or to the Colorado National Monument in

the west, we found gems all along the way.

In this book, you ll find quiet attractions as well as those that tempt

tourists with giant roadside billboards. You ll find museums and stops

with educational value as well as hot springs and amusement parks where

kids can simply let down their hair. ,I

We have included only those attractions that we felt were worth a

visit, even a cursory one. We were looking for good value for the dollar,

keeping in mind that traveling with families can be an expensive proposi-

tion. We have tried to include information that will let you make your

own decision as to the worth of the experience in time and money. For

instance, a museum that will keep you busy for only 30 minutes may

not be worth a stop on a busy summer day--but should the weather

change abruptly, you ll be glad for an indoor option. In addition, you ll

find a diamond (~) following the names of our very favorite attractions:

places that we and our children loved, that were reasonably priced, and

that we wouldn t hesitate to visit time and again if we were in the area.

Some of them are major sites with national recognition; others are small

local finds.

Colorado boasts an abundance of outdoor activities, including

whitewater rafting, skiing, hiking, and camping. We offer tips on how

to navigate the many choices offered here.