Colorado in the summer time

Estes Park
Winter Park
Aspen

Tons of things to do during the summer....actually peak time for these towns.

I like Estes park. You have the national park, white water rafting, downtown estes, etc.

The further you get away from Denver, the less people. Pick towns that were old mining towns with character.

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I like telluride, Crested Butte, Durango and Salida. But any mountain town is great.

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Add Ouray. Side by side rental in Ouray was a family favorite. White water rafting, telluride food and drink, Pikes peak, garden of Gods,

We did 7 days trip, basically a western loop beginning and ending in Denver. Pick towns you’d like to visit and plan activities you enjoy in towns.

Like others say you can’t go wrong with any of the big ones.

I did tons of research last year and our family did Breck in June and it was perfect. Not busy at all and tons of stuff for kids on the mountain. We tubed, zip lined, rode bikes, etc. great food and shopping too

Consider Leadville as an option.

It's an hour from Vail/Eagle County (US 24 is a pretty drive too).

An hour and a halfish from Aspen. Another pretty drive over Independence Pass.

Less than an hour to Dillon/Frisco/Breckenridge.

An hour down to Salida with plenty of whitewater rafting options all the down through the upperest part of the Arkansas River valley.

Puts you close to a whole lot of places to explore. In an old mining town with some actual history.

The lodging options aren't amazing, but there's so much to do within an hour's drive and all the drives are going to be scenic.

We did 3 days in Colorado Springs and 3 in Estes Park this summer. I liked Colorado Springs but Estes was definitely better. RMNP is incredible

Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Mt Princeton Hot Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

Also, mountain towns are always having events... wine n jazz fests, beer fests, blues fests, bluegrass fests, whitewater fests, etc