Friday: Frisco to Amarillo and Dinner at The Big Texan
We hit the road from Frisco, TX to Amarillo — about a 6-hour drive. Took a lunch break somewhere along the way at Brickhouse Brew in Witchita Falls. It was okay.
After checking in at the Hyatt Hotel, we met up with friends for dinner at The Big Texan Steak Ranch at 8 p.m. This iconic spot is famous for its wild west vibe and the crazy 72-ounce steak challenge. No one in our group tried the challenge, but it was a fun, touristy experience the kids enjoyed too. Definitely a Texas must-see!
After a big day on the road, we called it a night.
Saturday: From Texas Canyons to Colorado Caves
We kicked off the day with breakfast at the Hyatt in Amarillo before hitting the road for the next leg of our trip.
First stop: Palo Duro Canyon
Just about 30 minutes from Amarillo, we opted for a drive-through since the hiking trails were closed due to rain the day before. While we missed out on hiking, the views did not disappoint. Known as the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” Palo Duro’s sweeping landscapes are absolutely breathtaking — definitely worth the detour!
Next stop: Cadillac Ranch
Just a quick drive from Palo Duro, we swung by Cadillac Ranch and honestly, we loved it! This quirky, iconic roadside art installation featuring half-buried, spray-painted Cadillacs is a must-see. It’s colorful, fun, and totally Instagram-worthy. Don’t forget to bring some spray paint if you want to add your own mark to the cars!
Lunch in Dalhart, TX
We stopped for lunch at Wendy’s, hoping for a quick bite, but this was hands down the worst fast food experience we’ve ever had. Slow service, a dirty dining area swarming with flies, and soggy, cold food left us ready to hit the road fast. Skip this spot if you’re passing through Dalhart.
Onward to Cave of the Winds, Colorado Springs
After about 4.5 hours of driving, we arrived just in time for our 6 p.m. tour. This place was the highlight of the day — twisting tunnels, towering stalagmites, and narrow passageways made for an unforgettable underground adventure. It’s cooler inside (54°F), so bring a jacket and wear good shoes with traction. The caves offered a totally different kind of excitement compared to our outdoor hikes.
Dinner at Cerberus Brewing Company
A quick 10-minute drive from the caves brought us to Cerberus Brewing Company, where we enjoyed a relaxing dinner. Great atmosphere, tasty food, and excellent craft beers — the perfect way to wind down after a long day of travel and exploration.
Sunday: Wolves and Arrival in Lyons
We started the morning with a 10:00 a.m. tour at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. It’s a meaningful experience with a strong mission, but just a heads up — the tour opens with graphic stories of animal abuse. They do give a brief warning, but it was much more intense than expected and really upsetting for our animal-loving kids. After that tough intro, the rest of the tour was great. The wolves are beautiful, and the staff clearly cares deeply about the animals.
Lunch at Colorado Mountain Brewery
This place had great service and no wait, which was a win. We tried the soup flight, which was a standout — surprisingly good and fun to sample. The margarita pizza, though, was a total miss. Overall, a mixed bag food-wise, but a good stop. We stopped one more time at Hazels Beverage World in Boulder for beverages. An excellent facility. We drove on to our friend’s house in Lyons and finally arrived!
The house is gorgeous, tucked into nature with a river literally running through the property. We had taco bowls for dinner and settled in — ready to relax and explore the area over the next few days.
Monday: A Hike, Some Hail, and a Lyons Afternoon
Started the day with a beautiful hike which had great views (until the hail hit!). It was still really pretty, just a little chaotic with the sudden weather. Classic Colorado.
Had lunch back at the house and took it easy for a bit.
Later on, we left the kids behind (perks of older kids!) and headed into Lyons to meet up with a Colorado friend. We grabbed drinks and pizza at MainStage Brewing Company, which had a fun, laid-back vibe.
We wandered around downtown Lyons after — definitely worth it. The shops are small but super charming. Cute home goods stores, outdoor gear spots, a record shop, and a few art galleries mixed in. It’s a nice town for browsing with a beer in hand.
Wrapped it up by bringing pizzas back for the kids. Solid day all around!
Tuesday Rafting with Rapid Transit Rafting – Great Experience, Long Day
We went rafting with Rapid Transit Rafting and really liked the tour itself. We did the level 1–2 option — safe with kids, but still had a few fun rapids. Lunch is included mid-trip and was solid (although the vegetarian option was kind of sad).
The biggest downside was the 2.5-hour drive each way. It’s scenic (through Rocky Mountain National Park), but the van was old, no charging ports or cell service, and the driver wasn’t especially talkative. The stop at the end to change clothes had some of the most disgusting porta-potties I've ever seen.
Afterward, we had dinner at Ed’s Cantina & Grill in Estes Park. The food was pretty good for the area. The avocado margaritas got mixed reviews in our group — unique, if nothing else!
Overall: great rafting, exhausting logistics. Worth doing once.
Wednesday: Chill Day at the House — Plus a Moose Sighting
We kept things low-key this day and just hung around the house. The kids played in the river, we did a couple of short hikes nearby, worked on a puzzle, and made chicken fettuccine alfredo for dinner.
Highlight of the day: we spotted a moose on one of the hikes! It was close enough to make us nervous, so we headed back to grab the truck, the Jeep, and the kids — and when we came back, the moose stood up and looked right at us. Super cool moment. Definitely not something we see every day!
Thursday: ATV Day with Backbone Adventures
We rented 3 RZR ATVs from Backbone Adventures, and it ended up being the favorite activity for most of our crew. The trails were scenic, bumpy, and at times pretty intense — lots of rocky climbs, tight turns, and big mountain views. We packed lunch and stopped to eat trailside, which was a fun break with amazing scenery.
Not everyone loved it — a couple of folks weren’t thrilled with the steep drop-offs and high-up sections — but overall it was a blast and felt like a real adventure.
That night we grilled burgers at the house, and one of the neighbors surprised the kids with s’mores. Great end to a big day.
Friday and Saturday The Drive Home Begins: Garden of the Gods, Capulin Volcano, and a Crab Feast in Amarillo
We started the long drive back to Dallas and tried to make the most of the day with a few great stops along the way.
First stop: Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
This place lives up to the hype — massive red rock formations that feel totally different from the alpine scenery we'd gotten used to. The visitor center is really well done, with exhibits, bathrooms, and AC (very welcome that day). The trails are wide, flat, and super accessible — a nice change of pace after all the mountain hiking. That said, it was hot and crowded, and our kids were tired and cranky, so we didn’t get to explore as much as we would’ve liked.
Easy quick lunch at Whataburger.
Next: Capulin Volcano National Monument in New Mexico
This one surprised us — Capulin is totally underrated. It’s a dormant volcano that you can actually drive up to the rim, with stunning panoramic views of old lava flows and the surrounding high plains. We did two hikes: a steep, paved loop around the rim (only two of us braved that one — serious incline but worth it), and a shorter, easier trail down into the vent of the volcano, which was super cool and more manageable for everyone else. This place felt quiet, unspoiled, and really unique — highly recommend.
Dinner in Amarillo: The Crackin’ Crab
Total win. Big portions, super friendly service, and fun, messy, Cajun-style seafood boil vibes. We went all in with bags of shrimp, crab, corn, potatoes — the works. 5 stars from our whole crew. It was the perfect way to end a long travel day.
The next morning, we drove the rest of the way from Amarillo to Dallas. Stopped for lunch at a Steak and Shake in Henrietta.
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