Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Denver, CO - 2021

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 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.

South Denver Metro’s only play facility for children 0 to 8 providing a wide range of fun activities dedicated to intentional play in a safe environment. Kids Wonder’s 13,000 square foot play center offers children many opportunities to challenge themselves as they learn to navigate social relationships and unleash the power of their imaginations.

Anderson Farms Fall Festival is Colorado's largest fall family entertainment destination. The 25th Annual Fall Festival runs September 21st through October 31st, 2022. Activities include wagon rides to the pumpkin patch with over 70 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds, a 25-acre corn maze, barrel train, pedal karts, jump pads, combine slide, farm animals, gem mining, campfire rentals and more! For the more adventurous, Anderson Farms offers Terror in the Corn an outdoor haunted experience. Buy tickets online, they will be limited.

Anderson Farms opens July 29th - August 28th for the second annual U-Pick Sunflowers. Wander and take photos though 15 acres of 17 varieties of sunflowers plus wildflowers, zinnias, celosia, amaranthus and more! Purchase a bag or bucket to take home your own beautiful bouquet. Tickets available online.

Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road – which crests at over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds – along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, starry nights, and fun times. In a world of superlatives, Rocky is on top!

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.

The entertainment and dining complex features a public aquarium boasting more than a million gallons of underwater exhibits that highlight fascinating ecosystems around the world. Downtown Aquarium houses over 500 species of animals, the interactive Stingray Reef touch tank, Aquarium Restaurant, Dive Lounge, the Nautilus Ballroom and amusements for the entire family.

The Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center is the gateway to our world-class Garden of the Gods Park. Serving as the educational heart of the park, The Visitor & Nature Center offers 30 state-of-the-art interactive exhibits that teach visitors of all ages about the plants, wildlife, geology, and ecology of the area, as well as the history of the Indigenous Americans who visited the park.

From nature walks, Geo-Trekker Theater, arts & crafts, children’s programs, and history talks -- the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center hosts a wide variety of fun and educational experiences year-round. Every guest has different passions and interests, so a variety of programs have been created to encourage visitors to enjoy the park in the way which is most meaningful to them. There is an expansive activity calendar with programs and events for every member of the family  - rock climbing, hiking, yoga, adventure tours, interpretation, meditation, painting – the sky’s the limit at the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center! Stop by and learn what makes us one of the premiere family destinations on the Front Range!

Historic Colorado landmark since 1915. More than 100 hand-crafted miniature buildings in a town, rural and mountain setting. Authentic steam train rides.

The Arvada Center celebrates and elevates the human condition with engaging arts, humanities, education, and entertainment that expand the cultural landscape for everyone who visits us.

Butterfly Pavilion is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited nonprofit invertebrate zoo home to thousands of animals from all over the world! Experience our indoor tropical conservatory with over 1,600 free-flying butterflies, hold Rosie our famous tarantula, explore incredible adaptations of sea stars, bees, beetles, spiders, and so much more!

We work to foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation.