Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Denver, CO

Where Kids Can Unleash the Power of Their Imagination
Voted the Favorite Place to Have Fun Inside!

Kids Wonder is an intentional play center where kids can “Enjoy the Wonder of Simple Play.” The 13,000 square foot play area offers children many opportunities to challenge themselves as they learn to navigate social relationships and unleash the power of their imagination. Lil’Town is popular with kids as soon as they learn to walk with a Home, School, Daycare, Grocery Store, Pizzaria, Cafe, Coffee Shop, Construction Zone, Fire Station, Pet/Vet, Theater, Airport, and Post Office. For crawlers a safe and developmentally appropriate area with soft play, manipulatives, and a small ball pit. Bigger inflatables cater to kids from 3 to 6 years old.  Voted #1 kids birthday party 4 years in a row!

At the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, you will experience world-class wildlife displays that take you to Earth’s wildest places, huge dinosaurs that transport you back in time, interactive space exhibits that make your mind wonder, and personalized health science fun that puts your body to the test. Phipps IMAX 3D Theater places you on the edge of your seat and in the middle of the action, and Gates Planetarium is your ticket to the universe.

Whether you have an hour or all day, with family or on your own, your mind will open to real science and adventure that dazzles, enlightens, and inspires.

Denver Zoo is a leader in connecting people to the awe and importance of wild animals while providing unparalleled care, educational experiences, and local and global conservation efforts that help save wild places and wildlife. Denver Zoo's community passionately supports our mission everyday: Inspiring Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations.

At Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, you can do it all. Whether you’re navigating through a 3 ½ story climber, stepping inside a 6-foot bubble, sculpting a clay masterpiece or powering a hot balloon, there is always something new to explore. Every day, our expertly designed exhibits and programs encourage kid-powered learning and open doors for Colorado's curious young minds to express what they know and to discover, create and explore more - on their own terms.

The mission of Denver Botanic Gardens is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone. A wide variety of programs are available for children and families to explore plants and the natural world. Mordecai Children’s Garden is closed summer 2020 due to COVID-19, but some in-person and virtual family programs are available. Visit www.botanicgardens.org for a complete list.

Since 1890, Elitch Gardens in Denver has been America's only downtown theme and water park. The park is open May through October with 53 rides, live shows, thrilling roller coasters, an entire water park, and Fright Fest in October.

Of course, the libraries in the Denver area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication.

Float your boat in the lake, bicycle or hike on a trail that provides scenic views of the neighboring foothills and Platte River valley, camp, ride a horse and even fly a model airplane - all at Chatfield State Park, nestled next to the foothills southwest of Denver.​

Bring the whole family to see America's #1 dinosaur tracksite and Jurassic-age bone fossils still embedded in the sandstone. Located just east of Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Dinosaur Ridge is the site of the world's first Stegosaurus excavation in 1877. Our Main Visitor Center includes two areas where children can dig for fossil replicas, an exhibit hall that shows what Colorado was like millions of years ago, and our award-winning Gift Shop offers fun souvenirs, and keepsake gem and mineral collections for use in a sluice mining operation. 

The Carousel of Happiness is a one-of-a-kind, magical menagerie with 57 whimsical, hand-carved animals on a restored 1910 Looff carousel, turning to the music of a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ. Open year-round in the small mountain town of Nederland on the Peak-to-Peak Highway, the Carousel makes a great day-trip from Denver. The Carousel also features an upstairs puppet theater where children can engage in creative play after they ride.

Sky Zone is the world's first all-walled trampoline playing court! Sky Zone features an array of fun, fit and low-impact activities ranging from Freestyle Jump, Ultimate Dodgeball, and so much more!

The South Suburban Park and Recreation District operates a variety of recreational facilities including four golf courses, four recreation centers, four outdoor pools, four restaurants, three tennis centers, two ice arenas, two miniature golf courses, batting cages, a sports dome, BMX track, hotel, nature center and an entertainment center.