Colorado summer trip...help

Flying into Denver in the middle of June for approximately 8 days with wife, kids 12 and 8. It will be our first time to Colorado and wanted to see and do as much as possible during that time. Any recommendations on must see, Best towns to stay? So far telluride and Colorado Springs are on the list and we need places for in between. We are all fairly active so light hiking is fine, we are looking st horse back, atv’s, Jeep rentals, etc.

Our plans are to rent car and start a road trip. Thoughts are to head west, spend possible two nights somewhere between Denver and telluride, couple nights in telluride, take different return trip to Denver that gives us a stop in Colorado Springs.

The other “plan” has heading south to Colorado Springs then on to telluride.

Thanks in advance!