Things to Do with Kids in Denver, CO

The Toyota Elephant Passage is massive. Go on a weekday morning — half the crowds, double the animal activity.

2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205 · Daily 9am-4pm

The outdoor Adventure Forest is worth the price alone. Under-1s are free. $12 Tuesday nights in summer.

2121 Children's Museum Dr, Denver, CO 80211 · Daily 9am-4pm · Ages 0–8

The dinosaur exhibit alone is worth the price. Go on a Tuesday — it's dead.

2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205 · Daily 9am-5pm

Three-acre children's garden on top of the parking garage. Kids dig in dirt, pump water, climb. Free kids days in June, July, August.

1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206 · Daily 9am-7pm (summer), 9am-5pm (winter) · Ages 0+

There's a tiger exhibit inside an aquarium. Also a stingray touch pool. Restaurant overlooks the fish tanks.

700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211 · Sun-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm

Kids will crawl through portals, push buttons, and lose their minds. Not a museum — more like being inside a video game.

1338 1st St, Denver, CO 80204 · Sun-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm · Ages 3+

Free. 15,000 acres. Actual bison, deer, eagles. 10 miles from downtown. The 11-mile drive takes an hour and kids spot animals the whole time.

6550 Gateway Rd, Commerce City, CO 80022 · Sunrise to sunset (May-Aug open until 8pm)

Free playground, free lake views, swan boat rentals. Combine with the zoo or DMNS for a full day.

2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205 · Daily 5am-11pm · Ages 0–10

The 2.3-mile loop around the lakes is the default family walk. Playgrounds, gardens, rec center. Every Denver parent ends up here.

701 S Franklin St, Denver, CO 80209 · Daily 5am-11pm

Free. 30 minutes. Kids watch candy canes get hand-pulled and twisted. Free sample at the end. Book 24 hours ahead.

5735 Washington St, Denver, CO 80216 · Tours Mon-Sat 9:15am-2:15pm

It's in an actual WWII-era Air Force hangar. Kids can sit in cockpits. The space exhibit is surprisingly good.

7711 E Academy Blvd, Denver, CO 80230 · Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm · Ages 4+

Only theme park in the country in a downtown. Water park included with admission. Kiddieland has 10+ rides for little ones.

2000 Elitch Cir, Denver, CO 80204 · Hours vary — check website for daily schedule

$3.50 gate, rides are 50 cents each. Retro vibes, Art Deco tower, Kiddies' Playland. The anti-Elitch.

4601 Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80212 · Hours vary by season — check website

Free. 1.5-mile loop through massive red rock formations. Easy enough for a 4-year-old. 25 minutes from downtown.

18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 · Daily 5am-11pm (amphitheatre access varies) · Ages 4+

Always free for kids 18 and under. The building itself looks like a spaceship. Art-making studios on every floor.

100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 · Daily 10am-5pm

Free for kids 17 and under. Maker Mornings, Art Crawls for infants, hands-on studio. Right next to the Denver Art Museum — do both.

1250 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri until 8pm

$5 adults, $4 kids. Miniature village with 100+ tiny buildings and a real train you ride through the canyon. Ages 2-8 lose their minds.

6249 S Turkey Creek Rd, Morrison, CO 80465 · Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, summer daily 10am-5pm · Ages 0–8

$7 per person. Live puppet shows, a play area, and a puppet museum. The whole thing is charming and unhurried.

3156 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 · Thu-Fri 10-11:30am, Sat-Sun 1-2:30pm · Ages 3–10

Gold panning, farm animals, a tipi, and a guided tour of the oldest house in Denver. $8 adults, kids 6 and under free.

715 S Forest St, Denver, CO 80246 · Wed-Sun 10am-4pm

Free storytime, crafts, STEM programs — daily. 27 branches across Denver, every one of them runs kids programming.

10 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 · Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm

Free for ages 5-18 with a MY Denver Card. 24 rec centers. 13 indoor pools. Sign up at any rec center or online.

Multiple locations citywide · Hours vary by location · Ages 5–18

92 pop-jet fountains right at Union Station. Free. Grab a coffee while the kids get soaked.

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202 · Open daily during warm months

80 acres. Dr. Seuss-inspired playground. Free splash pad Memorial Day through Labor Day. The playground is one of the best in the city.

8801 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Denver, CO 80238 · Daily 5am-11pm

23 climbing walls, 15,000 sq ft of trampolines, separate toddler area. Indoor playground heaven when it's 10 degrees outside.

5560 S Parker Rd, Centennial, CO 80015 · Sun-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm · Ages 1–12

Indoor mini golf in LoDo. 18 holes of weird, artsy courses. First-come first-served. Full restaurant and bar for parents.

1201 18th St, Suite 110, Denver, CO 80202 · Tue-Sun, check website for current hours · Ages 5+

$5 admission. Miniature rooms, antique dolls, a hands-on playroom. Small, weird, and kids love it.

830 Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80215 · Fri-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm

$10 per car. Swim beach, fishing, hiking trails, archery range. A full outdoor day 20 minutes from downtown.

15600 W Morrison Rd, Lakewood, CO 80228 · Daily sunrise-sunset

Real dinosaur tracks in the rock. Free to walk the trail. Guided bus tours available. 20 minutes from downtown.

16831 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 · Trail: daily dawn-dusk, Visitor Center: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm

Outdoor waterpark, lazy river, slides, zero-depth toddler area. Under $20. The summer default for south Denver families.

1225 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80120 · Daily 10am-6pm (summer)

Completely free. Two living history farms, a lake, and farm animals. One of the best-kept secrets in the metro area.

6028 S Gallup St, Littleton, CO 80120 · Tue-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm

$10 per car. Swim beach, fishing, 26 miles of trails. The reservoir is big enough to feel like you left the city.

11500 N Roxborough Park Rd, Littleton, CO 80125 · Daily 5am-10pm

315 steps across 69 rows, 145 feet of elevation gain at 6,450 feet. People run stairs here year-round. Trading Post Trail is a 1.4-mile easy loop, Red Rocks Trail is a 6-mile loop with 1,300 feet of gain. Stairs close during concerts and events.

18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 · Daily, sunrise to one hour before events

Opened 2018. 8-lane lap pool, leisure pool with lazy river, gym with basketball and volleyball courts, weight room, fitness studios, outdoor climbing wall. Monthly membership $31. Drop-in available.

2401 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206 · Tue-Fri 5:30am-9pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm, closed Mon

Ten lighted hard courts in Washington Park, free and first-come first-served. One-hour courtesy limit when others are waiting. Park around it has a 2.6-mile jogging loop and a lake.

1499 E Louisiana Ave, Denver, CO 80210 · Daily 5am-11pm

40-mile paved trail from Confluence Park in LoDo southeast to Cherry Creek State Park. The popular 11-mile stretch from Confluence Park to the reservoir is flat and heavily used by cyclists, runners, and skaters. Connects to the Platte River Trail for a 100+ mile network.

2200 15th St, Denver, CO 80202 · Open 24 hours

40,000-square-foot climbing gym in RiNo with nearly 200 boulder problems, lead and top-rope walls, fitness area, yoga. Same building as Improper City (cafe, food trucks, beer garden). Day pass $29, 7-visit pass $182. Shoe rental extra.

3201 Walnut St, Suite 107, Denver, CO 80205 · Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 8am-6pm

Public outdoor pool with an Olympic-sized swimming area, regular swim area, and kids splash area. Open June through early August. $3.50 drop-in for adults, free under 3. Gets busy.

850 Josephine St, Denver, CO 80206 · Summer season: Daily 11:15am-6:30pm (Jun-Aug)

284 acres around Denver's largest lake. 2.6-mile flat paved loop for running, walking, biking. Tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, two playgrounds, and kayaking/paddleboarding on the lake (non-motorized boats allowed).

1700 N Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80212 · Daily 5am-11pm

Public tennis and pickleball facility with indoor and outdoor courts. Pay-as-you-play, no residency requirements. League play, clinics, private lessons. Court fees start at $6.

3300 E Bayaud Ave, Denver, CO 80209 · Mon-Fri 6:45am-10:15pm, Sat-Sun 6:45am-9:15pm

18-acre park where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte in LoDo. The 16th Street Wave is a man-made whitewater feature for kayaking, river surfing, and SUP. Confluence Kayaks (2301 7th St) rents gear nearby. Free to visit.

2250 15th St, Denver, CO 80202 · Daily, open year-round

Well-maintained park with lighted basketball courts, tennis courts, walking/biking path, soccer and softball fields, playground. Free. Good courts for southwest Denver.

850 S Bryant St, Denver, CO 80219 · Daily 5am-11pm

Rec center in Washington Park with indoor pool, gym, weight room, fitness classes. $7 drop-in, $31/month membership. Park around it has a 2.6-mile gravel jogging loop, two lakes, and open fields for pickup sports.

701 S Franklin St, Denver, CO 80209 · Mon-Thu 6am-9pm, Fri 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm

330 acres with a gravel 5K jogging loop, tennis courts, handball court, soccer and football fields, softball diamonds, horseshoe pits. Two lakes, Rocky Mountain views. Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature & Science are both inside the park. Free.

1700 N York St, Denver, CO 80206 · Daily 5am-11pm

19,000-square-foot bouldering gym in the Golden Triangle. Bouldering only (no ropes), so beginners can just show up. All skill levels, fitness area, yoga, and beer on tap. Day pass $22, shoe rental $5.

1235 Delaware St, Denver, CO 80204 · Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 8am-6pm

53,000+ square feet of climbable terrain with 65-foot walls. Lead, top rope, bouldering, fitness center, yoga. Formerly Earth Treks. Day pass $29. Kids programs available. 10-minute drive from downtown.

1050 W Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80110 · Mon/Fri 6am-10pm, Tue-Thu 6am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-8pm

7.5-acre free mountain bike park with slopestyle course, dirt jumps, pump tracks, and skills course. All levels. Free to ride, free parking. Bring your own bike, no rentals on-site. Winter snow tubing when conditions allow.

1200 W Florida Ave, Denver, CO 80223 · Open 24 hours

28-mile paved trail along the South Platte from Chatfield State Park through downtown to Brighton. Connects to Cherry Creek Trail at Confluence Park for 100+ miles of trails. Flat, good for cycling, running, skating. Free. Downtown section goes past REI and several breweries.

2250 15th St, Denver, CO 80202 · Open 24 hours

2,600 acres with a swim beach, kayaking/SUP lake, 15 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, horseback riding, archery range, and disc golf. Vehicle entry $10 weekdays, $12 weekends. Kayak and SUP rentals in summer.

15600 W Morrison Rd, Lakewood, CO 80228 · Daily sunrise to sunset

8 lighted outdoor pickleball courts, free, first-come first-served. Quiet equipment pilot location so you must use foam Librarian Pickleball balls. Busy mornings and evenings, midday is your best bet for open courts.

4300 E Dartmouth Ave, Denver, CO 80222 · Daily 5am-11pm

66 indoor pickleball courts across 7 rec centers (Ashland, College View, Green Valley Ranch, La Alma, Rude, St. Charles, Swansea). $7 day pass or $31 monthly. Permanent pickleball lines and nets.

Various locations, Denver, CO · Hours vary by location, check Denver Parks schedule

Denver's largest recreational social sports league offering kickball, sand volleyball, soccer, flag football, softball, dodgeball, bowling, cornhole, and more. Leagues run year-round across parks and indoor facilities. Season typically 6-8 weeks plus playoffs. Individual registration available if you do not have a team. Prices vary by sport, typically $50-80 per player per season. Post-game bar sponsors included.

Various locations, Denver, CO · Games typically evenings and weekends

Denver's official adult slowpitch softball program, 1,000+ teams registered annually. All skill levels. Spring, summer, fall seasons. Also indoor volleyball at rec centers. Team registration required but some leagues have free agent signup.

Various Denver parks, Denver, CO · Games typically evenings and weekends, Apr-Oct

Rec center with leisure pool and water slide, lap pool, gym, weight room, indoor track, fitness studios, and indoor pickleball. $7 drop-in, $31/month membership.

4890 Argonne Way, Denver, CO 80249 · Mon-Fri 5:30am-9pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 8am-5pm

Hilltop park with panoramic Rocky Mountain views. The Astro Sundial at the top identifies peaks from Longs to Pikes. Open lawns, playground, walking paths. Good sunset spot. Free parking.

3rd Ave & East Clermont St, Denver, CO 80220 · Daily 5am-11pm

Kayak and SUP rental shop near Confluence Park. Single kayak $50/day, SUP $55/day. Also guided river trips, instruction, and tube rentals for floating the South Platte in summer. Right next to Cherry Creek and Platte River trails.

2301 7th St, Denver, CO 80211 · Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm (seasonal hours vary)

Lighted outdoor basketball courts at the former Lowry Air Force Base, well-maintained. Free, first-come first-served. Also has tennis courts, playground, open fields, and a rec center. Less crowded than City Park. Free parking.

1000 Yosemite St, Denver, CO 80230 · Daily 5am-11pm

Cheap breakfast burritos that Denver runs on — a local institution.

Multiple locations, Denver, CO · Daily 6am-3pm (hours vary by location)

Walk through portals into different worlds — part art, part theme park, fully weird.

1338 1st St, Denver, CO 80204 · Mon/Wed-Sun 10am-10pm, closed Tue

Cliff divers, indoor lagoon, cave maze, mariachi — revived by the South Park guys.

6715 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214 · Wed-Sun, timed reservations

Soak in a cedar hot tub filled with hops while drinking craft beer — only in Denver.

1229 N 27th St, Denver, CO 80205 · Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-8pm

Looks like a used bookstore from outside — walk through the bookshelf to find the bar.

3160 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211 · Mon-Sat 5pm-1am, closed Sun

Mountain trails without the crowds — 30 minutes from Denver, locals only.

31299 Buffalo Park Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439 · Sunrise to sunset daily

The club that launched national careers. Two-drink minimum, tight room, no bad seats. New Talent Night is $8.

1226 15th St, Denver, CO 80202 · Shows Wed-Sun, times vary

Improv every night, no drink minimum, free pizza at every show. Tickets under $20.

1260 22nd St, Denver, CO 80205 · Shows 5 nights/week, times vary

65 seats, craft sake brewed on-site, Japanese bar food. Comedy club meets izakaya.

3559 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205 · Show nights vary, check schedule

Live jazz 7 nights a week. Sunday brunch has two seatings. Two-item minimum, no exceptions.

1080 14th St, Denver, CO 80202 · Mon-Sat 3pm-late, Sun 10am-8pm

9,500 seats between 300-foot red sandstone monoliths. Best outdoor venue in America. Free to visit on non-show days.

18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 · Park: sunrise-sunset daily. Concerts: seasonal schedule

Moving stage, tiered floor so short people can see, best sound system in Denver. Opened 2019 and already the top room.

4242 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80216 · Event nights only, doors vary

550-cap room from 1913. Three tiers with a balcony. Where you see bands right before they blow up.

3317 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206 · Event nights only, doors vary

Two rooms running simultaneously — Ballroom for headliners, Other Side for the weird stuff. Denver's jam and electronic HQ.

2637 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205 · Event nights, doors typically 7-9pm

Free for anyone under 18. The building itself is a Libeskind sculpture. Best Indigenous art collection in the country.

100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 · Sun-Mon/Thu-Sat 10am-5pm, Tue 10am-8pm, closed Wed

One artist, 3,125 works, 93% of everything he ever made. Next door to the DAM but a completely different vibe.

1250 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon

Dinosaur bones, space exhibits, IMAX, planetarium — plus Friday nights open until 9pm with a bar.

2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205 · Daily 9am-5pm, most Fridays until 9pm

23 acres of gardens that peak in summer but the holiday lights in winter are the real draw. Concerts on the lawn too.

1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206 · Daily 9am-4pm (winter), 9am-8pm (summer)

Titanic survivor's actual house. The tour is better than you'd expect — less 'unsinkable' kitsch, more actual history.

1340 Pennsylvania St, Denver, CO 80203 · Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Thu until 7pm, Sun 12-4pm

Second-largest performing arts complex in the US. Broadway tours, original plays, opera. $25 DCPAccess tickets if you qualify.

1101 13th St, Denver, CO 80204 · Box office Tue-Sat 12-6pm, show times vary

Converted church, 90 seats, fearless new plays. The theater people in Denver go to when they want to be challenged.

1080 Acoma St, Denver, CO 80204 · Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm

Third-oldest Chicano theater in the US, $20 tickets, gallery on-site. Oldest theater company in Denver, period.

721 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204 · Box office Mon 2-5:30pm, Tue-Fri 9am-5:30pm

Burlesque, drag, comedy in the basement of the D&F Clock Tower. 100 seats. Nobody's more than 15 feet from the stage.

1601 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80202 · Show nights only, box office opens 2hrs before

Restaurant-bar-music venue in an 1890s Victorian brothel building. Weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas and live music.

1215 20th St, Denver, CO 80202 · Wed-Sat 5-11pm, Sat-Sun brunch 10am-2pm

Multiple themed rooms, $30-35/person, 60 minutes. The Ghostlight Lounge room is their best one.

1529 Champa St, Denver, CO 80202 · Daily, time slots 10am-10pm

20,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor beer hall with 100+ taps, sand volleyball, free live music most nights, dog-friendly patio.

3560 Chestnut Pl, Denver, CO 80216 · Daily 11am-late

BBQ joint with a live music room in the back. Small, loud, cheap. The kind of place that doesn't exist anymore.

4483 Logan St, Denver, CO 80216 · Restaurant daily, show times vary