Everything To Do in Denver with Kids
Denver, Colorado, is about so much more than ski resorts and 14ers! Believe it or not, this mile-high city is a mecca of adventure for families! Read on for everything to do in Denver with kids.
From fantastic museums and a fun downtown to tons of outdoor adventure, there is something for everyone here.
Everything To Do in Denver with Kids: Attractions and Museums
As far as museums and attractions go, Denver is full of great offerings! They are scattered throughout the Denver area with a few downtown and others within a 10-15 minute drive from downtown.
Here are our favorites with kids!
The Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo is one of our Denver mainstays. We love everything about it! As far as zoos go, this one is excellent. It covers 80-acres and sits in City Park. The layout of the zoo is super easy to navigate and even on its most crowded days, you won’t feel packed in like sardines. Don’t miss the elephant show!
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Right next door to the Zoo is the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. This is another favorite “field trip” around our house! With revolving exhibits and classic favorites, there is always something fun to see!
Denver Children’s Museum
Downtown, you can find the Children’s Museum Denver Marsico Campus! This is another favorite and has some fun Colorado-themed offerings from climbing through Altitude to the outdoor Adventure Forest!
Downtown Aquarium
Next door to the Children’s Museum, you’ll find the Downtown Aquarium! We love visiting the aquarium and then dining at the in-house restaurant that features a floor to ceiling salt water tank!
Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park
If you and your kids are thrill seekers, you should check out the roller coasters and water park at Elitch Gardens! Fun fact: this amusement park first opened in 1890! The park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Hammond’s Candies Factory Tour
Located just north of downtown, Hammond’s Candies Factory is a treat for kids and grownups alike! The factory is home to an old-fashioned candy-making operation that supplies candies all over the country!
Your family can enjoy a free tour of the factory where you can see candy being made and then fill your bags at the gift shop where you can purchase all sorts of fun Hammond candy! Our favorites are the chocolate bars!
For more on Hammond’s Candies, check out this post on my sister site, www.DenverForFamilies.com!
Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum has a great kids and families program with interactive tours, games and engaging exhibits! Make sure to check out the giant Seek and Find in the third floor!
Denver Botanic Garden
The Denver Botanic Garden is 24 acres of gorgeous gardens. The kids garden alone can entertain for half a day! If you want some time outdoors enjoying beautiful landscapes this is it!
Colorado Railroad Museum
The Colorado Railroad Museum is located in Golden, Colorado, just outside of Denver. Little train lovers will enjoy this outdoor museum with antique steam engines and train cars. If you visit in the winter, you should definitely check out the Polar Express event.
Everything To Do in Denver with Kids: Spend an Afternoon at the Park
There are so many fantastic parks in and around Denver that make for a great afternoon. Whether you want a water feature, a place to ride bikes or just a really great playground, check out these four options!
Kids will Love Denver’s City Park
While visiting either the zoo or the museum, you’ll need to head to City Park. Miles of paths, playgrounds, lakes and beautiful views of the city. In the summer there are concerts in the parks and you can rent boats on the lake! It’s not to be missed!
Nature-inspired play at Washington Park
For a truly authentic Denver experience, you’ll have to spend some time at Washington Park. With a beautiful lake, you’ll love walking or biking through this park – make sure to stop at the flower gardens that are fashioned after Mount Vernon in Virginia. Then head over to the playground for a fantastic nature-themed play and even a bike pump track.
Robert F. Clement Park
For our favorite-ever playground, head down to Robert F. Clement Park just outside of Denver in Littleton. This park features a splash pad, a skate park, two playgrounds, picnic shelters and a 60-acre lake that allows for fishing with a Colorado fishing license.
Petting Zoo at Belleview Park
For a fun animal-encounter, head to Belleview Park for a petting zoo! The kids will also love riding the train and playing in the creek at this park. Perfect for a hot summer day!
Everything To Do in Denver with Kids: Downtown Denver
Whether you are staying downtown or not, you’ll want to spend a day checking out the city! Here are some of our favorite, kid-friendly spots.
Union Station
One of our favorite things to do in downtown Denver is visit Union Station to see (or ride) the trains! Union Station is gorgeous and there are always lots of trains to see! Head inside the station for food and shopping or check out the splash pad out front during the summer months.
Confluence Park
Along the river, you’ll have to check out Confluence Park! All year-round you’ll have fun at this spot: skipping rocks, playing in the water, having a picnic on the cement steps, shopping at the REI flagship store or riding the Denver Trolley!
If your family loves bike rides, check out this post on taking long bike rides with kids, where our family did a 35-mile bike ride to Confluence Park.
16th Street Mall
The 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver is an amazing pedestrian promenade closed to traffic featuring dozens of restaurants, people watching, pedicabs, scooter rentals and up close views of the best of Denver’s architecture! The family can get around for free on the MallRide shuttle that goes up and down the 16th Street Mall.
Little Man Ice Cream
Lastly, you’ll have to make it a priority to stop at Little Man Ice Cream. It’s an outdoor ice cream shop in downtown Denver shaped like a milk jug! The ice cream is unbeatable and the atmosphere is super fun!
Everything To Do in Denver with Kids: Entertainment
If you want to catch a game or concert, you’re in luck! With a handful of pro sports teams and some great venues, Denver should have something for you!
Ball Area (Previously the Pepsi Center)
At Ball Arena you can catch the Denver Nuggets in a basketball game or our professional hockey team, the Denver Avalanche, or professional lacrosse team, the Denver Mammoth! Ball Arena has a really family friendly attitude and your kids will love their time! Make sure to stop at guest services to ask about any promotions for kids. Ball Arena also has concerts.
Denver Broncos
If you love football, a Denver Broncos game is definitely a hit! Our kids love Mile High Stadium. For more about attending an NFL game with kids, check out our post here.
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies play at Coors Field and is the perfect spring or summer outing for your family! And by the way, balls travel farther and higher in our thin air so you’re likely to see a home run or two!
Everything To Do in Denver with Kids: Outdoor Adventure
And last but definitely not least, Denver’s best family offering is the great outdoors! From hiking and biking to taking in the views or cooling off in a lake, Denver has it all.
Hiking with Kids in Denver
I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Denver has some of the best kids’ hikes around!! At the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, there are hundreds, if not more, trails that are perfect for your family to enjoy!
With so much to offer, I have several lists for you to check out depending on what you are looking for! First, check out this post for our 31 favorite kid-friendly hikes within an hour of Denver. On that list you’ll find everything from urban trails to some of the state’s most gorgeous state parks.
If you have littles in a stroller and want to stay in the metro area, check out this post for stroller-friendly hikes.
Recreation at State Parks
There are multiple state parks close to Denver that you can visit for the day to enjoy some outdoor recreation! Some of our favorite things to do at the state parks is hike, paddle board or kayak, swim, fish and picnic!
Roxborough State Park is located south of Denver and has some of the best hiking with really cool red rock formations. It also has a great visitors center to learn about local plant and wildlife.
Chatfield State Park is another favorite and is a great spot for water sports! You can rent paddle boards or bring your own. There is also a marina and a swim beach! You’ll also find some great birdwatching and picnic spots.
Cherry Creek State Park has great walking trails and a reservoir with a swim beach and kayaking and boating access. There is a great bike path around the water and camp sites!
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Head here for the views and the history or for a workout! Red Rocks Amphitheatre is known for his majestic natural red rock features surrounding the stage and has hosted all sorts of acts including The Beatles, U2 and the Colorado Symphony.
You can head here for a concert, OR just come to check out the views or get in a workout! The amphitheater is free and open to the public as long as there isn’t an event.
To check out some of our favorite sites in Denver, check out this post.
Looking for even more to do in Denver? Check out 50 things to do in Denver on my sister site, www.DenverForFamilies.com.
