My family and I will be driving to California in June. We plan doing Rocky Mtn National Park, specifically Trail Ridge Road and then head down to Pikes Peak. However this is where I need some input. I know nothing about these sights or where to go. I would like to know if there are any suggested sights, restaurants, hotel/lodges or that unique gun/hunting shop in those areas. Thanks ahead to help me plan our Griswold family vacation.

Head back west from Pikes peak over Independence pass. Beautiful paved road high country pass. Check out Aspen. If you like fishing, stop/stay at Redstone and fish the Crystal river. Neat jeep trip up to loop at Marble/Crystal

Then south over MaClure pass then back east over Kebler pass and camp at Lost Lake. Then see the sights at Crested Butte.

Then head south to Pagosa Springs (hot springs), then west to Durango (Durango narrow gauge railroad), then Mesa Verde.

Some good memories doing that very trip more than once, although not always in that order.

The mill at Crystal:
https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt...fr=yfp-t-901-s

Lost Lake on Kebler pass:
http://www.timwier.com/#/colorado/Lost_Lake_2

Durango rail:
http://www.durangotrain.com/

Mesa Verde:

http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

If you're going to be around CO Springs, which you will because that is where Pikes Peak is, you should see the Air Force Academy Chapel, the Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Garden of the Gods.

If you get down to the south western part of the state, the Royal Gorge is cool and you should see Mesa Verde.

If you're around Aspen and Glenwood Springs you should see Hanging Lake.

If you end up out on the plains go see Beecher Island Battleground.

The area west of FT Collins up over Cameron Pass is pretty nice.

Don't forget to park the car and do some hiking. That is how I found most of my favorite spots.

Caught my biggest fish ever on the Crystal river: 29" 11 lb rainbow trout!

If you follow our advice, you may never make it to California! LOL

I'll have to do some research. Ill keep checking until I leave. thanks

+1 to the Crested Butte post. I have lived in CO my entire life and never went there until last year. It quickly became one of my favorite places, especially in June with all the wild flowers. Also I would recommend Ourray if its in your path, beautiful scenic place, small town charm minus the chic ski town aura of places like Telluride. As far as around Pikes Peak(besides the obvious mountain itself), Garden of the Gods is about the only other thing I recommend, and only then because its free. I would personally warn you to avoid the tourist trap places of Seven Falls and the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Both are over-priced tourist traps with really not a lot to offer. If you are looking for some easy hikes around Colorado Springs try Red Rock Canyon or Cutler Trail, which will give you a free overlook of Seven Falls and the city, very cool to do at night.

Folks have already posted most of the go to spots around Colorado Springs, So i'll chime in with a restaurant suggestion on highway 24 which will be on your way to Pikes Peak.

Colorado Mountrain Brewery @ the Roundhouse.

Tasty food and beers.

http://www.cmbrew.com/

Mesa Verde in SW Colorado is a "must see" place. It was inhabited by Anasazi Indians around 1200 AD to 1280 AD after which they disappeared with no traces, and we still do not know today what became of them (theories expounded by Stephen Lekson in "A History of the Ancient Southwest" are promising but are not accepted by a consensus of archaeologists yet). They made communal dwellings in cliff niches that had a strong defensive position -- what were they afraid of? The ruins are very moving and compelling. Do some on-line research about the site and about how much time it takes. Take water to drink.

The Durango-Silverton railroad is well worth riding in Durango. Take the train from Durango up to Silverton, but take an alternative back from Silverton to Durango, like a bus. The train ride takes a lot of time, and you will have seen all the same scenery on the way up to Silverton. Beautiful mountain views.

Meteor crater about 40 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona, is worth a look if it is on the way. Grand Canyon is north of Flagstaff, worth seeing. The north rim is thought to be the best by friends of mine who have been to the Grand Canyon many times.