Best Pack Up + Go Cities for Outdoor Fun
When you think about outdoor fun, big cities might not be the first thing that usually comes to mind. We wanted to showcase the greatest outdoor activities around metropolitan areas all over the country!
Here are some of our recommendations, featuring amazing outdoor features + attractions.
Denver, CO
Let’s start off with a biggie here: Denver, CO. The Mile High City nestled in northern Colorado may be one of the greatest places to visit to get your city + nature kicks at the same time.
Red Rocks Park
Known for its iconic amphitheater, producing concerts and shows most evenings, during the day Red Rocks is a beautiful park to hike or bike! Just about a half hour outside of the city, you can be surrounded by gorgeous geological structures and at night, if there are no events, it is a great place to stargaze too.
Address: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway Morrison, CO 80465
Clear Creek
With an easy and accessible paved, two-mile loop trail, Clear Creek is the perfect spot near Denver for a little fresh air. If you’re feeling more adventurous, rent a tube and set out on the water!
Address: 1470 10th Street, Golden CO 80401 (Visitor’s Center)
Rocky Mountain National Park
Located a relatively short drive away (compared to most distances between National Parks and major cities), this park has about 415 square miles of mountain wilderness to explore. Take Trail Ridge Road to get a long and wonderful look at the vastness of the rocky mountains or stroll around Sprague Lake, witnessing the picturesque scenery and fresh air up close and personal.
Visit their website for full directions, no matter where you’re coming in from.
Park City + Salt Lake City, UT
Utah is full of nature and fun. These two cities, located only 40 minutes from each other, have a few unique spots that you must visit.
Utah Olympic Park
Originally built to host the 2002 Winter Olympics, this sports facility is now open to the public for neat activities and events. Play where Olympians once did and feel your adrenaline skyrocket with activities like extreme tubing, extreme zip-lining + scenic chair lifts, and that’s just the outside! Go inside and experience the fastest ice on Earth, with the most records held right on their very ice skating rink.
Address: 3419 Olympic Pkwy Park City, UT 84098
ATV Rentals
What better way to experience the Utahan outdoors than ripping through the wilderness on an ATV! Rentals can be made at Peak Adventures for two-seater or four-seater side by sides. Head out on the Bountiful Peak trail, or take the it wherever your heart desires to customize your trip and memories! (just so long as the trails and area are side by side legal)
Address: 847 Northpointe Cir North Salt Lake, UT 84054
Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway
Connecting Park City to Brighton, the Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway offers stunning scenery in every direction, especially at the top, 9700 feet above sea level. You can take your family car but beware, there are some spots with gravel, washboards and it is very steep. Don’t travel it during a storm, just to air on the side of caution!
Address: 1845 E Cedar Trails Way Park City, UT
New Orleans, LA
Teeming with swamp land and beautiful trees, New Orleans is a great city to escape city life.
Swamp Tours
Filled with wildlife, both scary and serene, plus gorgeous views, the swamps are an ecological oasis. Take a kayak tour to be right out on the water or an air boat tour to zip through the land, either way, it will be an experience to remember.
Kayak Tours: https://neworleanskayakswamptours.com/
Airboat Tours: https://bigeasyswampadventures.com/
City Park
City Park in New Orleans is a place of magic. Towering and whimsical trees riddle the park where you can walk right under the canopy of the oldest grove of mature live oaks on the planet. The photos taken here will be sure to make it to a frame in your home. Explore 1,300 acres that include a botanic garden, art museum, amusement park, sculpture garden, and much more!
Address: 1 Palm Dr New Orleans, LA 70124
Barataria Preserve
Walk the boardwalk through the swamp and wetlands of the Barataria Preserve, located just about a half hour south of New Orleans. The preserve is made up of 23,000 acres of bayous, marshes, swamps and forests. You don’t want to miss this!
Address: 6588 Barataria Blvd Marrero, LA 70072
Saratoga Springs, NY + The Hudson Valley
Comprised of beautiful greenery and historic places and architecture, this area of New York is a beautiful site, both urbanely and naturally.
Storm King Sculpture Garden
Located in New Windsor, NY, the vast open field is full of huge, abstract sculptures. It is perhaps the largest collection of outdoor sculptures in the country.
Address: 1 Museum Rd New Windsor, NY 12553
ADK Tubing Adventures
With the rolling waters of New York, a unique way to see the outdoors is by a lazy river tubing excursion! Rental information is available online along with other excursions too!
Address: 877 Lake Avenue Lake Luzerne, NY, 12846
Hudson Highlands State Park
6000 acres of nature sprawling across New York State is what makes up the Hudson Highlands. Hike the Bull Hill Koop trail to see some impressive views.
Address: 3260 NY-9D Cold Spring, NY 10516
Monterey, CA
A beautiful beach city along California’s rocky coast, Monterey has quite the selection of outdoor recreation.
Old Fisherman’s Wharf
An iconic attraction in Monterey, this historic fish market is a popular place to take a step back in time and enjoy the pristine California water.
Address: 1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf Monterey, CA 93940
Jacks Peak Park
Go horseback riding or walk part of the 8.5 miles of trails at Jacks Peak. Lookout on Monterey from one of the vistas and look for fossils from the Miocene epoch along the way!
Address: 25020 Jacks Peak Park Rd Monterey, CA 93940
Lovers Point Park
Whether you’re with a lover or not, this park is worth the visit! Sunbathe by the bay while you watch the sunlight dance off the blue water or play a game of volleyball at the on-site courts.
Address: 631 Ocean View Blvd Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Austin, TX
Austin is filled with quirky features and its outdoor recreation is nothing short of the rest!
Barton Springs Pool
On hot summer days, Barton Springs is the perfect place to cool off after being in the concrete jungle. The recreational pool is fed with natural spring water, making it the perfect crossover of urban amenity and natural occurrence. The pool stays between 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. Check their website’s schedule before heading here, as there are scheduled cleaning often to make sure the pool is kept up to standards for humans and wildlife alike.
Address: 2131 William Barton Dr Austin, TX 78746
McKinney Falls State Park
A pretty little place of falls and rocks, this state park is right in the city limits of Austin. Come here to get away from the hustle + bustle of the city life without barely leaving the city.
Address: 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway Austin, TX 78744
Hamilton Pool Preserve
This place is straight out of a movie. Cascading water pours over dome-shaped rocks, pooling at the bottom with trees and woods surrounding the grotto to create its own little Texan-oasis. A 40-minute drive outside of the city and you’ll be immersed in this natural wonderland.
Address: 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Ready for an outdoor adventure? Book an Outdoors Road Trip or Outdoors Plane Trip with Pack Up + Go!