We've come up with some great suggestions on outdoor recreation options for adults!

To live in Colorado is to thrive in the outdoors—in fact, Coloradans are rumored to be up earlier on weekends than they are on weekdays, just to get a jump on all the adventure this stunning state has to offer. But when you're planning adventures for the whole family, that incredible outdoor access can come with some real decision fatigue. Where should you go? What Colorado outdoor adventures should your family take on? How do you account for kids (and adults) of different ages and skill levels? What adventures are better suited for quick excursions and which should you plan a full weekend (or more) around?

==Oh, the places you'll go....at camp this summer! We're sharing our favorite local outdoor recreation areas in Colorado for the whole family so you can get outdoors and get active at the places we travel to at camp during the summer! These Colorado outdoor recreation areas are just the beginning of an active lifestyle.

5 Key Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors for Kids

According to the Child Mind Institute, children in the United States “spend 4 to 7 minutes a day in unstructured play outdoors, and over 7 hours a day in front of a screen.” Experts agree that outdoor time is incredibly beneficial for children (and their parents). Playing outside means kids are, “smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors.” The health benefits of outdoor time are not just luxuries but as important as eating balanced meals, getting a good night's sleep and social, community ties.

Hikes don’t have to mean “YIKES”! I’ll admit it. It wasn’t my finest mommy moment. During a hike, our 6-year old sat down in the middle of the trail and refused to budge. He said he was done. He went on strike. A hike strike. He was too big to carry and too young to understand reason. He meant business. What finally uprooted my child? A bribe. We’ve all done it, right?? I’m not proud we promised him a trip to Dairy Queen if he got up and finished, but I swear he would still be on that trail today, sprouting roots in that very spot, if it were not for the lure of the Blizzard. While I have no doubt my child is stubborn, I learned with a few tips and tricks the hike strike didn’t have to happen. Hopefully, our suggestions help your family have a meltdown-free, fun-filled day outdoors.  A little planning goes a long way so here are some tips & tricks for hiking with kids. Because hiking requires almost no special equipment, it’s easy to wake up one beautiful morning and decide that today is the day you’re going on a family hike. Let me be honest with you. Today is not that day unless you’ve already done some planning.