101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Denver | Kids Out and About Denver <

101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Denver

 

 

Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).

Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Denver. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!

 

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Explore Gardens & Sculpture Gardens

  Denver Botanic Gardens
Heritage Lavender
The Hudson Fardens
Sculpture Park at the Arts Complex
Civic Center Park
Busy Bee Lavender Farm
Colorado Mountain Lavender

 

Get Wild on a Hike 

  Pine Valley Ranch Park
Horseshoe Trail at Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Evergreen Lake Trail
Coyote Trail at Rifle Falls State Park
Castlewood Canyon State Park
Jean Lunning Trail in Roosevelt National Forest
Chautauqua Trailhead

 

Time Travel Today 

  Golden History Museum & Park
History Colorado Center
Four Mile Historic Park 
Hidee Gold Mine Tours and Panning
Centennial Village
Frisco Historic Park and Museum
Pioneer Village Museum
Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

 

Make Life a Beach 

  Chatfield State Park
Grand Lake
Jackson Lake State Park
Boulder Reservoir 
Confluence Park
Bow Mar Beach

 

Splash into Some Water Fun

  Water World
Brighton Oasis Family Aquatics Park
Glenwood Hot Springs
Great Wolf Lodge
Pirates Cove Water Park
Discovery Bay Water Park
The Splash At Fossil Trace
Walsenburg Water Park

 

Spend the Day at a Museum 

  Denver Museum of Nature and Science
History Colorado Center
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Fiske Planetarium 
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
Museo de las Americas
John May Museum of Natural History
Money Museum
Black American West Museum

 

Explore These Cities 

  Boulder
Colorado Springs
Glenwood Springs
Estes Park  
Manitou Springs

 

All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!) 

  US Airforce Academy
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Forney Transportation Museum
Georgetown Loop Railroad
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
The National Museum of World War II Aviation
Podium Karting and Events

 

Grow Some Fun at the Farm 

  Cottonwood Farm
Anderson Farms
Miller Farms and Corn Maze
The Urban Farm
Sunflower Farm

 

Play Ball! 

  Colorado Sports Hall of Fame
Family Sports Center - Centennial
Lil' All Stars Athletics
Colorado Avalanche 
Denver Nuggets
Denver Broncos
Colorado Rockies

 

Treat Yo' Self 

  Glacier Home Made Ice Cream and Gelato
Little Man Ice Cream
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
Sweet Action Ice Cream 
Liks Ice Cream
Ice Cream Riot

 

Connect with Nature 

  Garden of the Gods
Cave of the Winds
Morrison Nature Center
Dinosaur Ridge Nature Center
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Clear Creek Colorado Rafting
Swim With Fish at the Downtown Aquarium

 

Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks 

Lakeside Amusement Park
North Pole; Santa's Workshop
Elitch Gardens

 

Talk to the Animals 

  Denver Zoo
Butterfly Pavilion
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Pueblo Zoo
Wishing Star Farm
Englewood Farm & Train at Belleview Park
Vist a Denver area Dog Park

 

Take A Spin On A Carousel 

Carousel of Happiness
  Denver Zoo Conservation Carousel
George R. Williams' Memorial Carousel
Kit Carson County Carousel
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Carousel 
Carousel at Lakeside
Elitch Gardens Carousel
Carousel at the North Pole

 

Get Active Indoors 

  iFly Denver
Shredder Ski and Play Gym
Boondocks Food and Fun
Waterworks Aquatics

 

Challenge Yourself 

  Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Valmont Bike Park
Museum of Outdoor Art
Swim With the Sharks at the Downtown Aquarium
Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides

 

Shop Your Heart Out 

  Timbuk Toys
The Wizards Chest
Talulah Jones
Second Star To The Right Bookshop
Into the Wind
Mile High Comics
Wax Trax Records

 

 

 

Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!


Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Denver. For those that are a bit farther away:

             = Less than 1 hour away

          = 1 to 2 hours away

       = 2 to 3 hours away

   = Just over 3 hours away 

 


 

 

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