Estes Park is an ideal family destination located an hour and a half from Denver and just miles away from Rocky Mountain National Park. It is also the home of The Stanley Hotel, a gorgeous hotel built by the inventor of the Stanley Steamer in 1904 and the inspiration for Steven King’s The Shining.

The Stanley Hotel has a rich history, boasting stays from the likes of Titanic survivor Molly Brown and Theodore Roosevelt, in addition to the many reports of hauntings. The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) of the SyFy show Ghost Hunters have investigated the hotel and declared it to be “definitely haunted.” A stay at the hotel is nice if you can afford it; if not, there are plenty of other family-friendly accommodations, including themed campgrounds and lodges with playgrounds. Be sure to stop by to walk around and eat a meal at their excellent restaurant though.

Downtown Estes Park is full of cute little shops and restaurants. It’s easy to spend a few hours wandering around here. Kids love the Taffy Shop, where you can watch the taffy puller stretching and condensing the candy. If you’re lucky, you might also catch one of the many fairs held during the summer months. There happened to be one going on during our late-August stay, with an excellent petting zoo, mainly cowboy- and Native American-themed vendors and, best of all, a Stanley Steamer, which Jack got to “drive.” If you don’t catch the Steamer at a fair, be sure to check out the Stanley Museum.

Just past downtown, you will find Fun City, a family fun center with giant slides, bumper cars, mini golf, bumper boats, go-karts, climbing wall and a bungee trampoline. Be sure to try the donut shop next door! Also, across the street is the Estes Park Aerial Tramway, a tram car that takes you to the top of a mountain for breathtaking views.

Near Lake Estes, you will find Trout Haven, a fully stocked rainbow trout pond. Great for your kid’s first time fishing, they actually guarantee you will catch something. They will also clean and cook your fish to enjoy at their pondside cafe. Jack is still to young for this, but I still remember catching my first fish here. Also nearby you will find Ride-A-Kart, with a train ride, go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, train, extreme bungee trampoline, bumper kars, mini golf and an arcade. Jack loved riding the train and bumper boats and playing Skee Ball in the arcade.

Estes is also the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, which also offers many family-friendly options. Bear Lake has an easy half-mile hike even the youngest family members will enjoy. The parking at the trailhead is extremely limited, so take the free shuttle unless you plan on getting there really early. Trail Ridge Road is also worth checking out; we took a drive up the road during Jack’s nap and, while I’m not usually one for scenic drives (yawn), this was truly breathtaking. There are also tons of places to get out and take pictures, so it’s not just driving.

Summer is definitely the best time to go to Estes Park, but it’s not to late to catch it this year. In fact, it might be the perfect getaway for Labor Day. Most attractions will close for the season sometime in mid-September. During the winter, Estes can be a peaceful retreat with deep discounts at the hotels, but there’s definitely more for families to do in the summer months.

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