30 Best Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Denver in 2024

LOOKING FOR KID-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN DENVER?

We can help! We lived in Denver for four months and had so much fun exploring new places with our kids. This guide highlights some of our favorite kid-friendly things to do in Denver. These are the top spots we recommend you visit with your kids and family.

Whether you’re there for a day or a week, there is plenty to keep you busy. We were there for much longer than that and return every chance we get.

There are so many places to explore outdoors and indoors with your kids. However, the Denver, weather can be unpredictable so be prepared.

Table of Contents

Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Denver
Free Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Denver Colorado
Kid-Friendly Hikes Denver
Fun Places to Eat with Kids in Denver
Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Denver
Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Colorado Springs
Conclusion: Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Denver Colorado

Kid-Friendly Things to do in Denver Colorado

1. Denver Zoo

The Denver Zoo is home to 4,000 animals representing 650 species and is a great place to visit in Denver with kids. Lions, tigers, and bears – oh my!

There are numerous interactive exhibits and animal shows throughout the day so get a copy of the schedule when you get there. Some of our favorite animals were the elephants, the Siberian tiger, and the grizzly bear.

There was also a baby Western Lowland gorilla there and watching the baby was one of Rowen and Raven’s favorite things about our trip to the Mile High City. They are still talking about all the different kinds of animals we saw at the Zoo. They are really getting to the age where they love seeing the animals and trying to guess what animals we will see next.

2. Denver Museum of Nature and Science

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is one of the fun things to do in Denver with kids that parents will also enjoy. There are permanent as well as rotating exhibits making it a new adventure every time you go to the museum.

The Space Odyssey exhibit is a great place to learn about the stars, our galaxy, the moon, and more. There are lots of hands-on opportunities for learning throughout the exhibit. The Sensory Spacewalk is a new fantasy spaceship with over 11,000 stars to help you feel like you’re in space. You can also drive a rover on the surface of Mars and feel the rumble of a rocket launch in the launch simulator.

The permanent collections focus on Egyptian mummies, dinosaurs, the human body, and more.

It takes at least two hours to go through the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, but you can easily spend more time there. Plus, the cafeteria comes highly recommended!

There is a splash pad outside if it’s a warm day and you want to let your kids play. It’s always a good idea to bring swim diapers or an extra set of clothes for splash pad days.   

3. Archery Games Denver

Archery Games Denver offers two unique options for those that are looking for an active indoor activity to enjoy with their kids. The venue is geared toward kids a bit older than Rowen and Raven, so we weren’t able to try it out for ourselves, but it’s definitely a venue we’ll visit on a future trip. 

Their main offering, Archery Dodgeball, combines the rules of dodgeball with bows and foam-tipped arrows and is suitable for ages 7+. Each session starts on the practice range, where they’ll get everyone sized with the proper bow and teach you how to shoot.

Then you’ll head into the arena, where their referee will lead you through a variety of games. Each session lasts 75 minutes.

Nerf Wars lets you and your kids battle it out with the Nerf Rival series of blasters. It’s suitable for slightly younger kids aged 6+, and sessions last 60 minutes. 

4. The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

As we travel from city to city, we try to visit each of the children’s museums. The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus has been one of our favorites. It was so fun to get to watch Rowen and Raven increase their creativity and critical thinking skills. The Children’s Museum has its exhibits broken down into four different sections: explore, imagine, investigate and create.

Each exhibit was new and exciting for the girls. They could have easily spent all day going back and forth between the vet office, the bubble room, and the grocery store. I even loved the bubble room. It is a room filled with a variety of ways to make bubbles into different shapes and sizes and test their flexibility.

The children’s museum was one of my kid’s favorite kid-friendly things to do in Denver, Colorado.

5. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

If you are visiting Denver from May through October, Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park is one of the really kid-friendly things in Denver, Colorado. There are over 50 rides and attractions including roller coasters, water slides, and fireworks displays. During the month of October, you can get in the Halloween spirit with Fright Fest.

If you’re visiting with younger kids, be sure to visit Kiddieland. There are tons of rides in this area of the park that my kids love like the KidSpin, a version of the spinning teacups, sunflower swings, a mini train, and the kid-friendly roller coaster Blazin’ Buckaroo.

For older kids, the Tower of Doom is a 200-foot free-fall ride, and the star flyer is a 50 miles per hour swing that is 17-stories high. There are also a handful of different exhilarating roller coasters.

6. Downtown Aquarium

No matter how many aquariums we have been to, my kids still love going to see all of the different sea life on display. The Denver Aquarium has over a million gallons of tanks and is home to a large variety of water life ranging from fish local to Colorado to sharks.

The Aquarium Adventure Exhibit is the main exhibit and includes nine different habitats representing fish and sea life from all over the world. Keep an eye out for the North American river otters who are so entertaining to watch. Another really fun thing to do is walk through the glass tunnel where you can see stingrays, a tiger, and 20-foot-long sharks.

One of the unique things to do at the aquarium is participating in their “Marine Biologist for a Day” program.

7. Denver Firefighters Museum

If your kids are one of the many kids who are fascinated with everything firetrucks, be sure to check out the Denver Firefighters Museum. It is a great place to see a bunch of exhibits about firefighters and what they do but also learn important things like fire prevention and safety. There are four different galleries that dive into the history of firefighters in Denver.

In the museum, there are a bunch of different hands-on exhibits and activity stations. Be sure to check what educational programs are going on during your visit. There are some really cool antique objects to look at as well.

After your visit, you can check out nearby Civic Center Park.

8. Dinosaur Ridge

Dinosaur Ridge is a great place for kids to learn more about dinosaurs and spend some time outdoors. I’d recommend starting at the Main Visitor Center. Here you will find the exhibit hall, the Kids Dig Areas, and the gift shop. They also have picnic tables here for lunch. The exhibit hall is filled with tracks and replica displays from dinosaurs who lived in the area.

There are a couple of ways to explore Dinosaur Ridge from here. They have a guided shuttle bus tour that will take you throughout the area with stops along the way or you can walk the road yourself.

If you want to see everything, the road is about 3 miles and uphill about half of the way. It is a stroller-friendly road. The shuttle bus trip will take about 45 minutes and costs $9/adults and $7/youth.

On Dinosaur Ridge, some of the things you will see are dinosaur bone sites, more than 300 dinosaur tracks, and ripple marks from what used to be a coastal beach.

9. Butterfly Pavilion

The Butterfly Pavilion is about 20 minutes north of Denver in Westminster. It is worth the drive! There are seven different exhibits with the Wings of the Tropics being our favorite. It is a huge tropical paradise where you can walk alongside the butterflies. We also got to watch the staff release brand new butterflies into the room while we were there.

The other exhibit Rowen and Raven especially enjoyed was the underwater invertebrates. They have small pools of water where kids can touch underwater animals such as starfish and more. If you’re brave, you can also hold Rosie the tarantula.

This was one of our favorite kid-friendly things to do in Denver, Colorado. There are lots of opportunities for fun learning.

10. Attend a sporting event

Denver has so many different opportunities to catch a professional sports game just about every time of the year and is a great activity in Denver with kids. They have five different professional teams so that should tell you something about the way Coloradans feel about their sports.

While we were there, we went to an NBA basketball game to watch the Denver Nuggets take on the Boston Celtics. Rowen and Raven loved the snacks and watching the game. On the way back to the car after the game, they were cheering “go Nuggets, go Nuggets!”

11. Kids Wonder

Kids Wonder is a great place for active learning through simple play. As soon as kids can walk, they will have fun cruising around the Lil’Town. Different sections of the area have a school, grocery store, construction zone, fire station, and more. There are also inflatables for kids ages three to eight in this area.

In the toddler section, there are small slides and playhouses. There is a small bounce house for the younger kids as well.

Kids Wonder also offers some classes for adults and kids to help support children as they learn and grow. The classes focus on physical, intellectual, social, and emotional well-being.  

Free Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Denver

12. Denver U.S. Mint

The United States mints are where coins are manufactured. The U.S. Mint in Denver was established just a year after the city of Denver was founded. Gold was found in the area which quickly led to the establishment of Denver as a city. As a result, the city needed a place to make the gold coins. Today, the Denver Mint makes coin dies, stores silver bullion, and makes coins.

The Denver Mint produces the coins circulating in the western half of the United States.

Free tours are offered year-round. You do have to get a ticket for the tour. They release tickets first-come, first-serve and only give out tickets for that same day. The busiest seasons for tours are during the summer, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

You can pick up your tickets at the tour booth near the Gift Shop. The tour booth opens at 7 am and stays open until the day’s tickets have been given out. Some people get in line really early to make sure they can get their tickets.

The tour is 45 minutes long and gives visitors an inside look into the production of money in the United States.

Plus, as a souvenir of your visit, you get a free bag of shredded dollars. Adults going on the tour need to bring a photo ID and kids have to be at least seven years old to go on the tour.

13. Denver Skatepark

If you’re driving in from out of town or you’re a local looking for something to do, check out the Denver skate parks. There are at least 10 great skate parks in the area.

Even if you do not skate the skate parks are a great place to run around and watch others as they practice their tricks.

14. City Park

The City Park is home to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as well as the Denver Zoo. Additionally, there are acres of picnic spots, lakes, walking trails, and playgrounds. It is actually one of the oldest public areas in Denver because it was built in the late 1800s.

Rowen and Raven loved playing on the swings and chasing the geese along the walking paths. If your kids love boats, rent a paddleboat or kayak on Ferril Lake. The park in Denver with kids is always a good idea!

The park has two lakes, two playgrounds, and a bunch of picnic sites making it a great place to find kid-friendly things to do in Denver Colorado. You can also rent bikes to explore the park.

15. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is one of the most famous concert venues in the world. Apart from being a famous concert venue, there are really fun trails around the amphitheater that kids of all ages will enjoy exploring. Another cool thing about the amphitheater is that it is 70 million years old. It is geologically fascinating as it is a naturally formed theater.  

The most kid-friendly trail in the area is the Trading Post Trail.

There are also some fun displays inside with pictures and instruments from famous performances inside the amphitheater.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre Tours

A great way to explore Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater and other sights in the foothills like Lookout Mountain, Lariat Loop National Scenic Byway, and the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum is with a tour from Aspire Tours.

Their half-day tour will give you a first-hand look at some of Colorado’s best sights in the foothills. The area is beautiful and is well worth visiting. The tour departs from downtown Denver making this an easy way to see Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre if you do not have a car.  

Book Your Red Rocks Park Tour Here

16. Hammond’s Candy Factory

So the saying “like a kid in a candy shop” can totally come to life at Hammond’s Candy Factory. They have been based in Denver since 1920, making handmade candies such as candy canes, lollipops, chocolate, and more.

Our favorite part of our visit to Hammond’s was our factory tour. You get to watch a short video explaining the history of Hammond’s and then you get to go into the back and watch their employees make the candy.

They also have a storefront where you can browse all of the candy they make and purchase some to take home.

17. Tattered Cover Book Store

The Tattered Cover Book Store is considered one of the best independent booksellers in the United States. For the little book worms in your family, you can head in to pick out a new book and take advantage of the free children’s events like book reading parties and author visits.

If you are flying into Denver, you can check out their store at the airport. However, their largest store where the events take place is in the 16^th Street Mall.

18. Washington Park

Washington Park is one of the biggest parks in Denver and visiting is one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Denver, Colorado. The park is 155 acres and has really pretty gardens, large grassy fields, Smith Lake, and trails.

If it is a warm day, you can head out on the paddle boats at Smith Lake. My kids love the chance to go out on the paddle boats, especially now that they are getting tall enough to paddle.

The gardens nearby are also really pretty and worth a stroll. One of the gardens is a replica of George Washington’s gardens in Mount Vernon.

19. Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center

If your family loves to be outdoors, then you need to head south to the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center. The Garden of the Gods Park is a beautiful area to enjoy. The Visitor and Nature Center is where you can learn all about the geology and wildlife in the Garden of the Gods.

There are 30 different hands-on exhibits that will teach kids all about the area, including the Indigenous Americans native to the area as well as the plants and animals.

There are also a number of educational events hosted so be sure to check the schedule before you visit. Some of the events are fun history talks, arts and crafts as well as rock climbing. These events are a great resource for families visiting the Garden of the Gods.

20. 16^th Street Mall

A fun place to get out and explore in Denver with kids is the 16^th Street Mall. There are lots of fun and darling shops and boutiques in this mile-long strip of stores and restaurants. Everyone will love sundaes from 5280 Ice Cream parlor.

At the southern end of the mall, you can visit Denver Pavilions, a shopping center, and a movie theater. It is a really fun area of town to window shop and explore. They even have horse-drawn carriage rides.

Kid-Friendly Hikes In Denver

21. Meadow and Forest Loop Trails

Just outside Denver in Golden, Colorado you will find the Meadow and Forest Loop Trails. The loops are short, coming in at 0.6 and 0.8 miles so you could easily do both trails depending on the hiking abilities of your family.

The loops start at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center. After checking out the exhibits at the nature center, you can head outside to hike the loops. These loops are perfect kid-friendly hikes in Denver.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the deer and squirrels in the area.

22. Bear Creek Trail at Lair o’ the Bear Park

• Length: 1.7 miles
• Elevation Gain: 68 feet
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Easy

This trail is a fan-favorite for local Denver families. It is a very interesting trail with lots of things to see along the way which helps younger kids stay entertained while they hike. There is quite a bit of shade on this trail which is nice during the hot summer months.

Be sure to pack a picnic before heading out to the park because there are great places for picnics and is really beautiful. There is a nice bridge over Bear Creek surrounded by huge trees.

This trail is open to mountain bikers so keep an eye out for them during your hike.

23. Flatirons Vista

• Length: 3.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 285 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

Just north of Denver in Boulder, Colorado, you will find lots of kid-friendly hikes near Denver. This hike is a little longer at 3.5 miles but there isn’t much elevation gain which makes it a little easier. The first mile of the hike is flat and weaves through a meadow. By following the signs for the Flatirons Vista North Trail you should not see much of any elevation gain.

If you would like some elevation gain, you can head left at the crossroads and take the Flatirons Vista South Trail.

There is a $5 parking fee in Boulder County.

24. Dinosaur Ridge Trail

If you are going to visit Dinosaur Ridge, you can easily combine walking the Dinosaur Ridge Trail. It is a paved path so it isn’t going to give you quite the experience that you would get on the other trails. However, it is a great educational trail for kids and adults alike.

Along the trail, you will get to see about 300 different tracks dinosaurs left as well as a dinosaur bone site. There is also a Stegosaurus dinosaur bone site along the trail. Throughout the hike, you will get beautiful views of downtown Denver.

25. Enchanted Mesa-McClintock Loop

Length: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 419 feet
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy

Up in Boulder, the Enchanted Mesa Loop is part of Chautauqua Park and some argue is the best place to go hiking in Colorado. The Enchanted Mesa loop takes hikers through a dense pine forest but is still an easy hike so everyone in the family can enjoy it. The hike is about 1.9 miles roundtrip.

The trailhead starts near the Chautauqua Auditorium trailhead which heads up into the mountains. Kids love crossing the stone bridge along the trail!

Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Denver – Restaurants

26. Sweet Action Ice Cream

Rowen and Raven love ice cream, especially when it is pink peppermint bark ice cream! Sweet Action Ice Cream is full of unique flavors, along with some delicious classics, that will have every kid begging for more. They make all their ice cream by hand starting with fresh Colorado dairy.

Their flavors change daily so there is always something new to try. If your kids are older, you can dare them to try a unique and interesting flavor. For us, it was cherry jalapeno! Coltin tried it! If you’re a purist and the milk chocolate is available, get at least a scoop.

27. Ace Eat Serve

Ace Eat Serve has three great areas that everyone in the family will enjoy. The highlight of our visit for everyone was the Ping-Pong hall. We totally underestimated how much the girls would love playing ping pong. They would have stayed until closing trying to play.

We would hold them up and help them play and by the end, they were trying to hit the ball themselves. It is a very fun and yummy place to visit in Denver with kids.

They also have an outdoor area with ping pong tables and picnic tables. They also have a formal dining room if you want to grab a bite to eat before playing ping pong.

We enjoyed dessert while playing ping pong and loved the donuts and in-house fortune cookies. The whole restaurant has such a fun atmosphere that will definitely make your visit a memorable part of your time in Denver.

28. Sushi-Rama  

Whenever my kids get to pick where we go out to eat, 8 times out of 10 they will pick to go to sushi! Sushi-Rama is a unique dining experience because rather than traditionally ordering your meal, you pick your sushi rolls off of a conveyor belt.

Kids will love seeing all of their different options to find the roll that looks good to them. The plates are color-coded to specify a price. If your little ones aren’t up for sushi, they have bento boxes that you can order to come with teriyaki beef or teriyaki chicken.  

There’s no need to entertain the kids while you wait for your food because it is already coming by on the conveyor belt.

29. The Melting Pot

Whenever we have fondue for dinner, my kids love it. They love getting to pick out what they want to eat and dipping into all of the yummy cheeses and chocolate. The Melting Pot is one of Denver’s few fondue restaurants and one of the fun places to eat with kids in Denver.

If the fondue isn’t enough to convince you, the Littleton and Louisville locations offer weekly kids eat free days. The Littleton location also has a Magical Family Nights on Tuesdays from 5 pm to 7 pm. During this time, kids under 12 eat free and there is a magic show.

During the summer, you can check out the Fondue Fairy Tales and kids are encouraged to wear their costumes.

30. Visit Nearby Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is a beautiful city with so many different outdoor activities that your kids will love. The highlight of our day trip to Colorado Springs was Garden of the Gods. The Central Garden Trails were paved and stroller-friendly so it made exploring with the girls very easy.

We also hiked the Siamese Twins trail which is about a half-mile loop so the girls were able to walk most of the hike themselves. If you are visiting Denver with kids, carve out a day to explore here.

We also spent some time in Manitou Springs exploring the cute shops downtown and the city arcade. Our last stop in Colorado Springs was at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, a group of Anasazi ruins cliff structures.

Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Denver

Stay at the Drury Inn and Suites

When I was little, staying at hotels was always the best. Continental breakfasts, the elevators, a swimming pool – need I go on? Just like their mother, these were the things that Rowen and Raven loved about staying at Drury Inn and Suites.

They became masters at running the elevators and felt like rock stars with so many breakfast options in the morning. The hotel also provides popcorn in the afternoons to guests.

Drury Hotels has three convenient locations throughout the Denver area that make finding a family-friendly place to stay a breeze. They have two-room suites available which makes putting the kids down for bed at night so much easier than just the standard hotel room. Coltin and I got to relax in one room while the girls fell asleep in the other room.

Book Your Stay at the Drury Inn and Suites Here

If you want to save money on accommodations or spend more time outdoors, you can bring your RV and stay at many of the great nearby RV parks and campgrounds. If that’s the case, we recommend checking out The Dyrt, the #1 camping app. The Dyrt Pro has so many great resources to make planning your trip so easy:

• Take advantage of PRO Membership discounts to save up to 40% on campground costs
• Plan camping road trips with the Trip Planner
• Find free dispersed camping locations
• Use the Dyrt app anywhere with offline access

We have arranged with The Dyrt to give the CS Ginger viewers a FREE 30-day Trial using the code “csginger.” Normally, the trial is 7 days!

Conclusion: Best Kid-Friendly Things to do in Denver

If you’re thinking of going to Denver with your kids, don’t hesitate! There are so many kid-friendly places in Denver Colorado. You will have a great time.  Use the ideas to help you get started on planning your family vacation to Denver.

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