I have long believed that any future for the human race will require that we bail off of this ball and spread out among the stars. Otherwise, the human race will atrophy and die.
A colony on the moon or Mars would be a first step. However, such a colony would be entirely dependent on Earth for all its supplies. The hardships of living in these conditions would require the regular changing out of personnel to avoid mental disease and insanity. In other words, no permanent residents. A steady swapping of crew would be required.
However, setting up a permanent colony on another planet would be much more difficult. First of all the distances involved would mean that such a colony would first and foremost have to be compatible to human life. Atmosphere, gravity, weather and general conditions would have to be within normal human limits. Further, it would have to already have both plant and animal life capable of feeding and sustaining humans. And could be controlled, farmed and harvested as needed. First and foremost to succeed any colony must first establish a viable food chain.
Simply put, you would have to start with an at least partially developed Earth-like planet. Once established, such a colony would be on it own as any resupply from earth would be extremely rare and many years between trips.
To further complicate the process, due to the vast distances involved, humans would have to develop some form of faster than light or "Warp" drive. Current science suggests that there are Earth like planets out there, but they're many light years away.
The future of the human race lies out there among the stars. The question is whether or not we will survive our own stupidity long enough to reach them.
