Spoiler alert: It involved a brewery, a minivan, and an off-road trail in rural Wyoming.
Taking your first trip as a young family is a rite of passage. It’s where memories are made—and sometimes, where mistakes become the stories you’ll laugh about for years. Our weekend trip from Denver to Cheyenne was just that kind of adventure. From brewery tours to backroad blunders, here’s how we tackled it all with a car full of snacks, a toddler’s playlist on repeat, and a whole lot of trial and error.
Whether you're planning your first family getaway or just love real-life travel stories with practical tips, this post is for you.
🗺️ Top Activities and Attractions for Families
🍺 Touring the Coors Brewery – Surprisingly Family-Friendly
Yes, we brought our kids to a brewery—and it worked. The Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado, offers a short guided tour that’s surprisingly educational (even for little ones), with plenty of visual stimulation, a peek at the bottling line, and some refreshing root beer at the end for the kids.
Parent tip: If you're worried about it being too “adult,” know that the tour is short, stroller-accessible, and the tasting room at the end is optional.
🦬 Wyoming’s Open Roads and Cheyenne’s Charm
The drive from Denver to Cheyenne is just under two hours, but we stretched it into a mini-adventure. Once in Cheyenne, we explored Cheyenne Depot Plaza, walked through Lions Park, and let the kids burn energy at the Paul Smith Children’s Village (free admission!).
Cheap entertainment win: The park and botanical garden combo is a great spot to relax without spending a dime.
🛻 That One Time We "Accidentally" Off-Roaded in a Minivan
Confession time: Seeing this country can take you down all sorts of different roads. My desire to see the beauty that Wyoming had to offer overshadowed the reality of the situation. We took what looked like a normal gravel road, at least the 1/4 mile we could see down it. I grew up around gravel roads in the plains and thought, "No big deal, this is going to be great." Around the first bend, the gentle gravel road gave way to rock ledges and deep ruts. My young wife was begging me to turn around as I was figuring out how to navigate the trail. Reality set in when a group of three Jeeps came from the opposite direction. The driver in the first Jeep, an older man, just smiled and nodded. No judgment for my lack of judgment. With the baby still sleeping in the backseat, knowing that this vehicle needed to get us the 500 miles home, I forfeited my "Kodak moment," luckily turned around, and headed back to the highway.
Lesson learned: Download offline maps and always double-check road conditions before you follow GPS blindly. Especially in Wyoming, where roads can go from paved to pasture real fast.
🧠 Local Insights and Fun Facts
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Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming and steeped in Old West history. Its annual Frontier Days rodeo is the largest in the world.
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Golden, CO (home of the Coors Brewery), was once the capital of the Colorado Territory before Denver took the crown.
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The drive between these two cities offers stunning views of rolling plains, wind farms, and endless sky. It's classic road trip country.
🍔 Where to Eat and Drink (Without Breaking the Budget)
In Denver/Golden:
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Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza (Golden): Casual, fun, and kid-friendly.
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Snarf’s Sandwiches: Quick, tasty, and ideal for picnic-style lunches.
In Cheyenne:
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2 Doors Down: Voted one of Cheyenne’s best burger joints. Great prices and friendly for families.
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Tasty Bones BBQ (if you're splurging a little): Down-home flavors worth the extra napkins.
💡 First-Time Family Road Trip Mistakes to Avoid
1. Overpacking the Schedule
We crammed too many stops in the itinerary. Lesson: Leave wiggle room for naps, tantrums, and unexpected gems along the way.
2. Skipping Tech Backups
That GPS blunder? Could’ve been avoided with downloaded offline maps. Seriously, do it.
3. Forgetting Simple Entertainment
The difference between a peaceful drive and chaos? A backseat travel kit: stickers, snacks, and headphones saved the day more than once.
4. Ignoring Free Fun
Don’t underestimate how much kids love open spaces. A picnic in the park or a walk through a garden can beat expensive attractions.
🔍 Hidden Gems and Insider Tips
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Rest stop playgrounds: We found one just past Wellington, CO—completely unplanned but perfect for stretching little legs.
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Mini hikes near Golden Gate Canyon State Park: Not too strenuous and you’ll feel a million miles away from the city.
✨ Final Thoughts
Our weekend trip from Denver to Cheyenne wasn’t perfect, but that’s what made it memorable. Between brewery tours, free parks, and learning how not to navigate rural roads, we found a rhythm that worked for our young family—and created stories we’ll be telling for years.
If you’re planning your first-time family road trip, don’t sweat the small stuff. Laugh through the missteps, pack some patience (and snacks), and keep your plans flexible. You might just stumble onto your next favorite memory.
Have your own family travel story or tips? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear it!
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