You’ll need to entertain your guests for the remainder of the weekend after they have eaten the Thanksgiving dinner. Then, you can enjoy Colorado’s outdoor adventures and festive events outside. It’s the reason you live here, and it’s also why people visit.
Here is the list of Things To Do In Colorado On Thanksgiving:
Colorado’s Top Holiday Lights
To get in the Christmas spirit, it’s a great family activity to check out the lights. The spectacular Grand Illumination in Downtown Denver takes place the day after Thanksgiving. It features holiday lights running along 16th Street Mall, Union Station, and Civic Center Park. The Denver Botanic Garden, Denver Zoo, and Lakewood Heritage Center are all great places to see beautiful light displays in the Denver area.
Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade is on display downtown. Then, head up to Seven Falls to see a colorful extravaganza lighting up the falls. Other Colorado light displays that glow include the Night of Lights at Gunnison in Estes Park and the Catch the Glow Parade in Estes Park.
Ski Colorado
For the family, the best way to burn off the turkey dinner and pumpkin pie calories is to go to the slopes early in the season. The traditional start of Colorado’s ski season is Thanksgiving weekend. Most resorts have already turned on their snowmaking equipment to ensure the lifts are operating.
Check websites for information about snow conditions. Summit County, which includes Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Loveland, and Arapahoe Basin, is the best option for the early season. Steamboat, Winter Park, and Vail are also open.
Enjoy a scenic drive
Take your car to the hills after Turkey Day and show Colorado’s out-of-towners what Colorado is all about. You will find stunning scenic drives that run through the high country. They offer breathtaking views, hiking trails, and rushing rivers. There are also picturesque towns in the high country. The Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway runs from Nederland through Estes Park, the Highway of Legends, from Trinidad to La Veta, the rugged Gold Belt Tour (which loops from Canon City to Cripple Creek), and the Pikes Peak Highway are some of the best Front Range drives.
The best Thanksgiving drives in western Colorado include Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument, Los Caminos Antiguos (San Luis Valley), and Trail of the Ancients (near Cortez).
Enjoy a hike in a State Park
Enjoy a hike in one of the 41 Colorado state parks after Thanksgiving. Denver and northern Colorado can be reached at Lory State Park near Fort Collins, Eldorado Canyon State Park in Boulder, Golden Gate Canyon State Park over Golden, and Barr Lake State Park northeastern of Denver.
Roxborough State Park is south of Denver. Great hikes close to Colorado Springs at Mueller State Park and Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
Take the Polar Express Train
Enjoy the Colorado winter magic and holiday spirit by taking a Polar Express train. This delightful ride over snow-covered tracks is perfect for children. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, recreates the magic of The Polar Express’s best-selling book and the hit movie. Families can also enjoy the sounds and sights of a train trip to the North Pole at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden.
You can also enjoy the Santa Express Train on Royal Gorge Railroad, two-holiday train excursions on Georgetown Loop Railroad, or a free ride aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad if you donate non-perishable food and toys.
Find an Out of the Ordinary Adventure
You can choose from a variety of Colorado adventures. Front Range Climbing Company invites you to take up ice climbing on a frozen waterfall. Good Times Adventures in Breckenridge and Snow Buddy Dog Sled Tours Steamboat Springs offer dog sledding tours. Nordic skiing is possible at Vail Nordic Center and Breckenridge Nordic Center if you can fit into narrow skis.
One of Colorado’s three Dark Sky Places, Silvercliffe and Westcliffe or Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park and Hovenweep National Monument, allows you to see a million stars at night. For giggles and grins, grab an inflatable tube to slide downhill quickly on Copper Mountain’s Tubing Hill.
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