Great Estes Park Indoor Activities!
As summer in Estes Park continues, so do the common afternoon rain showers. While usually brief, these small storms can leave travelers wondering what to do indoors until the sun comes back out. We've collected a few recommendations for you:
• FIND SOME INDOOR RECREATION & FUN: Believe it or not, there are many places you can have fun recreational activities indoors in Estes Park. Try your luck at bowling at Chipper's Lanes or take the family swimming at the Estes Park Aquatic Center. Get creative in the Craft & Design Center at the YMCA of the Rockies! Try the arcade at Ride-a-Kart for some friendly competition. Find these and other family activities here.
• TASTE SOME LOCAL WINE OR BEER: Duck into a local winery or brewery to sample a few local flavors! Both Snowy Peaks Winery and the Estes Park Brewery offer a family-friendly atmosphere, so no need to plan ahead for childcare. Snowy Peaks even offers a kid zone with free grape juice tasting! View the Wineries & Breweries.
• GO MUSEUM HOPPING: Estes Park has four main museums to explore and learn about the history of this beloved mountain town. The Estes Park Museum and Historic Fall River Hydroplant are operated by the Town of Estes Park and share the history of the town, key players in that history and explore how The Stanley Hotel got its electricity in 1909. MacGregor Ranch Museum celebrates the Estes Park and MacGregor family history of ranching old-west style. Visitors get to tour the family home (main museum) and outbuildings explaining details of what ranching entailed yesterday and demonstrating how it has changed today. Then, head over to the Dorsey Museum at the YMCA of the Rockies, which features four historic buildings that offer guests a glimpse into the YMCA's history, family-friendly programs and a hands-on room for learning play. Find more information on Learning Activities.
• TAKE COVER IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: While the national park is known for its outdoor activities, there is a lot to be learned indoors. The Beaver Meadows Visitor Center features a 20-minute film on the park, a topographical, interactive relief map of the park and the opportunity to speak to a ranger. Don't forget to pick up your Junior Ranger book for when the rain stops! Then head to the Moraine Park Discovery Center to learn about natural history through interactive exhibits. Then, trek up to the Alpine Visitor Center along Trail Ridge Road, where you can discover the alpine tundra, do a bit of shopping and grab a snack before heading back to town. More national park visitor center information can be found at the RMNP Visitor Center webpage.