Top 18 Things to Do When Visiting Denver with Kids

Thinking about a family getaway to Denver? From toddlers to teens, these nearby adventures promise unforgettable moments for every age.

Although Denver and surrounding areas offer endless museums, parks and attractions, here are our top 10 Can’t Go Wrong stops you should consider when planning out your trip.

If you’re traveling with young children, toddlers through early elementary, it’s tough to beat this museum for a rainy morning or indoor blast. The Children’s Museum of Denver is designed specifically for little ones up to about age 8, with hands-on galleries, climbing features, water play, and art zones. Here, kids can take their pick of the activities:

• Investigate - splashing and experimenting in Water, testing motions and graphics in Kinetics, understanding soapy science in Bubbles, launching and powering up in Energy, and catching Catawampus in Gallery Uno.
• Imagine - racing to the rescue in Fire Station No. 1, playing vet in Ready Vet Go, picking up dinner ingredients in My Market, and settling in for story time at the book Nook.
• Explore - discovering canyons and sand dunes while running wild in Joy Park, skating and sledding on real snow in Snow Days, balancing and climbing in Box Canyon, scaling a mountain in Altitude, and enjoying early learning play in Bloom (Adventure Forest is currently closed and will re-open in the Spring).
• Create - painting and building in the Art Studio, cooking and learning in The Teaching Kitchen, and building one-of-a-kind projects with real tools in the Assembly Plant.

Anticipate spending at least 2-3 hours here as your little one explores the 15+ different exhibits, with everything from a bubble room and assembly plant to a craft filled art room and real hands-on teaching kitchen. Lunch can be purchased in the food court or you are welcome to bring your own lunch or snacks. The museum is open every day from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.; just keep in mind that no adults are allowed in without a child and no children may enter without an accompanying adult.

Note: Tickets are not available online; you can buy them at the museum.

A perfect pick for older kids and teens who are looking for something out of the ordinary. Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver is an immersive, surreal art and adventure space with interactive rooms, hidden passages and story elements. Here, reality unfolds across three floors of mind-bending, choose-your-own adventure exploration; there are 70+ rooms to wander through!

Some of the can’t-miss places are The Perplexiplex, a 360 projection space that interacts with your motion during events (concerts, yoga sessions, workshops, etc.), and the rotating Galleri Gallery, an exhibition space that spotlights artists in the most revolutionary way (literally!). There are also some popular add-ons; the Q-Pass (optional RFID card), which turns visits into an interactive quest, and the Meow Wolf App where you can use Pysic Sensor to collect memory fragments and unlock behind-the-scenes content.

If your teen wants something that doesn’t feel like a typical museum, this is exactly what they’re looking for. With a café and bar conveniently located within the museum, you could spend several hours here experiencing non-stop fun.

Tip: It’s highly recommended to buy tickets in advance. Daily hours can change so make sure you check before you go.

The Denver Zoo is a quintessential family outing and is filled with kid-friendly activities for all ages; toddlers, tweens, and teens alike. Little ones can engage their curiosity from habitat to habitat; some of the can’t-miss ones are Toyota Elephant Passage, Tropical Discovery (jungle vibes), and the Pinnacle African Penguin point. You’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of stroller-friendly paths and a lot of wow moments along the way. And, when it’s time to give the little legs a break, they can also enjoy some classic rides like the Denver Zoo Railroad and the Conservation Carousel.

Older kids and teens can immerse themselves in Gorilla Trek (a realistic virtual reality African jungle adventure), or some seasonal up-close fun at Stingray Cove and Lorikeet Adventure ( hello colorful birds!), where you can pay extra to feed birds nectar from your arm. When you need an energy reset, just swing by the Zofnass Barclays Family Nature Play Trail for some digging and exploration (usually open most mornings, hours may change depending on the season). To make the most of your visit, check the daily schedule so you can catch the most exciting animal moments and educator-led things happening.

There are plenty of places to grab a bite and re-energize; you can grab lunch at Cafe Costa, check out Scratch Chicken Truck (which is near the train and carousel), enjoy some delicious pizza at Simply Pizza, get a coffee break at Cup & Cone, or have a quick cool down at Dippin Dots or Kona Ice. And, if you’re visiting during the holidays, don’t miss Zoo Lights or Winter at DCZA. Talk about the perfect family fun day!

Tip: During the Winter season (1st Nov - 31st March), the zoo is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and you’ll need timed entry tickets that you should get online in advance; there are NO walk-up gate tickets.

If you’re coming during the warmer months, there’s no better time to get up to the mountains and surround yourself in nature, but with an epic twist.

For the older teen (or parents) who wants “extreme” but safe, this zipline located just 35 minutes from Denver offers an adventure to remember. You will have the opportunity to ride 6 different ziplines ranging from 850 ft – 1,900 ft (259 m - 579 m) in length.

There will be expert, ACCT-certified guides leading the way, plus the course is ACCT-inspected for your peace of mind.

Families love the 6-zipline adventure tour (the most popular) that includes a short scenic uphill hike through a pine forest and the full experience usually takes 2.5 - 3 hours. The ziplining itself really is the highlight; the ziplines are in a protected nature park, which makes for some wonderful scenery, so just enjoy the ride and take in the beautiful views. And the best part, there’s no scary hand-braking, you'll be brought to a smooth stop instead.

Note: Riders must be between 40 lbs. and 245 lbs., all minors must have a parent with them, and reservations are required.

Just north of Denver in Westminster, the Butterfly Pavilion allows you to walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies, explore invertebrate and insect exhibits, and even enter outdoor gardens.

It’s ideal for younger kids (and up to early teens) who love nature but may not be ready for more extreme adventure options. They have rotating exhibits throughout the year, so make sure you check out what’s going on during your visit!

The Butterfly Pavillion is also located near the Westminster Promenade and Shops at Walnut Creek which offer various food and other entertainment options for an extended stay in the area.

If you’re looking for a can’t-go-wrong family stop, look no further than the Denver Downtown Aquarium. Here, you can wander through the themed exhibits (North America, In The Desert, Under The Sea, At The Wharf, Ship Wreck, and more), where you can spot everything from tropical fish to sea turtles, sharks, and rays. Level up the fun at Stingray Reef, where you can touch and even feed live stingrays. Then, let the younger kids burn off energy at the Adventure Play Center with a jungle gym and some hands-on play centers. And, if you’d like to add a sprinkle of some mystical magic, check out the Mystic Mermaids Show, where mermaids gracefully glide in the main tank.

For older kids (and brave parents!), there are some bucket list add-ons like the Shark Cage experience; gear up with an A-1 scuba guide, learn the basics, then step into the cage for a panoramic view of the 400,000-gallon exhibit and come face to face Bamboo, Sand Tiger, Blacktip, Zebra, and Sandbar Sharks, not to mention hudrends of other fish. There’s also the Swim With The Fish snorkeling experience, where you can snorkel with the fish, rays, and turtles. Top off your visit with a meal at the Aquarium, where you can eat around a 50,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium with floor-to-ceiling videos of 100+ species of colorful tropical fish.

Tip: You need tickets to enter the aquarium; you can buy them online or at the entrance.

Another warm weather option, you can take to the sky with the Sky Trek ropes course or zip line tour. Or you can challenge yourself physically by taking on the Adventure Tower or Ninja Course.

With bundle options, multiple levels, harnesses and ziplines, this is perfect for anyone who is confident with heights and physically active.

Tip: book ahead and check height/weight/age requirements.

This museum is a classic: dinosaurs, space, natural history, hands-on science; something for all ages. With rotating exhibits, you will never run out of something new to see, even if you’ve been here before. Start with big exhibitions like Prehistoric Journey where you can travel through time, witnessing the evolution of life on earth (hello dinosaurs and fossils!) or Space Oddysey where you can touch, see, hear and even smell space. Highlights here include rumbling rockets and the sensory spacewalk.

For families with a wide age range of kids (2-17), the permanent exhibitions offer something for the youngest and the teens alike. Little ones can explore and discover in the Discovery Zone, which is perfect for 0-8 year olds. On the other hand, older kids can unwrap ancient Egyptian stories at Egyptian Mummies, explore dazzling minerals at the Gems and Minerals exhibit, or even marvel at gem carvings at the Kobavalenko exhibit. There are also a number of captivating temporary exhibitions.

The museum also includes a café, coffee shop, and deli for when the family needs a pick-me-up and a gift shop so you can get some lasting mementos.

Tip: It’s best to buy tickets online in advance, timed tickets are required for the Infinity Theater, Planetarium, and some temporary exhibitions.

If you’re planning your visit around the holidays, this could be an excellent activity to add to your itinerary. The annual Christkindlmarket is a festive holiday market in downtown Denver with vendors, food, music, crafts and seasonal magic.

Even if you’re not travelling in the deep winter, it’s worthwhile to check whether the market is active during your visit, or at least plan for holiday-themed stops.

This year they will be celebrating their 25 year anniversary, so you can anticipate extra magic! The market will run from November 21 – December 23, 2025.

For a calm, hands-on nature experience that still feels like an adventure for kids, think Mordecai Children’s Garden, which is inside the Denver Botanic Garden. This hidden gem is perfect for exploring plants and nature through hands-on experience and play. The garden has real outdoor materials and allows kids to let their imaginations lead the way and form their own special connections to plants. It’s especially perfect for kids who enjoy being in nature and seeing how nature works.

Spread across 3 acres, the garden shows the different Colorado ecosystems; Alpine Tundra, Montane Forest, Subalpine Habitat, Pinon Juniper Woodlands, Foothills, and Grasslands Wetlands Riparian Zone to help kids connect the dots when it comes to plants and where they grow. And the best part, the landscape changes throughout the seasons (Spring, Summer, and Fall), so no two seasons are the same. Just note that the garden is currently closed for the season and will reopen on 1st March 2026.

Indoor skydiving is another great option for adrenaline-seeking older kids/teens. iFLY Denver offers the experience of free-falling in a vertical wind tunnel, no plane required. It’s especially nice when the weather is unpredictable and you want something thrilling but controlled.

Once you’re geared up, a certified flight instructor will walk you through the basics before you step into the tunnel for the guided flights. Most first-timers start with the 2-Flight Experience, however there’s also the most popular 4-Flight Experience that gives teens more time to build skills and confidence.

This venue is built for family-fun; it’s birthday party ready with several birthday party packages (Take Flight Essential, Cloud Nine Party, Sky Master Party), has private event spaces, and has group packages. There are also some comfortable spectating areas so everyone can watch the action and cheer from the sidelines.

Flyers must be at least 40” tall, and reservations are required for this event.

Tip: Please wear comfortable clothes and lace up sneakers, and plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early.

For older kids (pre-teens through teens) who are comfortable in the water and ready for a thrilling, outdoor activity: tubing down Clear Creek in Golden is a summer highlight. The creek has man-made features to add interest and adventure.

This is a great mid-summer activity, as long as the water levels are safe. You will want to rent a tube beforehand, from local places like Adventure West. Then take a stroll upstream, or ride a shuttle, and choose from several great starting points that are clearly marked. Tubing itself generally takes about an hour, so be sure to wear your sunscreen!

Tip: Make sure you check flow conditions, current age/ability recommendations, and be sure to bring water-friendly shoes, proper sun protection, and life vests.

A museum visit that’s also fun for kids? Yes, please! The Denver Art Museum is a choose-your-own adventure stop made even better by the free general admission for kids and teens (anyone under 18). Grab the museum’s family guide and let the troops roam freely; younger kids can get their creativity on at The Wild Studio and The Studio, while older kids and teens can take on some hands-on challenges at the Creative Hub and Design Studio. The best part is how interactive the experience can be; build a mini-codex story using pictures, then head to the Thread Studio to try your hand at textile-based activities.

The museum has Sensory-Friendly-Mornings, which are a calm way for neurodiverse kids and families to enjoy the space; doors open early at 9:00 a.m., lights are dimmed, and supportive tools are available if needed. They take place every 2nd Sunday of each quarter; the 2026 dates are 11th January, 12th April, and 12th July. Also, if you’re visiting between May and October, the Sensory Garden adds a peaceful, calming outdoor experience.

Located just outside Denver in Morrison, the Natural History Museum is a gem for any dinosaur- or fossil-loving kid (and adult). The museum features real fossils, touchable exhibits, and a lab where you can watch scientists at work. You’ll be happy to know that admission includes personalized guide-led tours so you’re not just looking at displays, you’re actually getting the story behind them.

Along the way, you’ll explore hands-on exhibits of the county’s prehistoric past; from Jurrassic Morrison to Cretaceous Colorado, and even the Ice Age Front Range. At the end of your tour, browse the gift shop, or spend some time doing your own excavation in the dino dig out space outside.

Because it’s smaller and more intimate, it’s a nice choice when you want something educational and away from the crowds of Denver.

If your kids light up at big planes and big stories, Wings Over The Rockies is a can’t-miss stop. The museum is inside a historic hangar at the former Lowry Air Force Base, and here, you can get up close to real historical aircrafts, artefacts, and memorabilia. Kids can stand nose-to-nose with the aircrafts and then hear stories about the flights, from aviation pioneers like Amelia Earhart to the technologies that shaped 20th century space exploration (even memorabilia shuttle era pieces!). There are also high-energy, hands-on options like Drone Soccer to get momentum up.

For “I can’t believe I did that” moments, definitely plan some time for the museum’s simulator and VR experiences (including a full-motion Max-Flight ride and a Wright Flyer-style simulator). Simulator tickets are first-come, first-served and bought in person, so it’s smart to stop by early to get a time slot (the last slot is 4:30 p.m.). The museum is an easy half-day adventure that feels totally different from the average museum experience.

For school-aged kids and teens, the Mint is one of those “how is this made” experiences that actually delivers, thanks to its free, guided walking tour that walks you through the Mint’s history and the coin-making process (when production is happening). The tour is a surprisingly fun way to spend part of your day, takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and ends with an easy add-on stop at the Gift Shop, where you can get coins and one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

A few important planning tips; all visitors must be 7 or older, and online timed reservations are required (in-person tickets are no longer offered). Reservations are first-come, first-served up to 30 days in advance, and are released at 1:00 a.m. MST. Tours run Monday to Thursday at set times throughout the day.

If you want a low-stress and relaxing yet high-reward day that works for toddlers through teens, put City Park on your list. At 330 acres, the park is Denver’s largest municipal park and boasts two lakes (Ferril and Duck), two playgrounds, miles of scenic paths (perfect for walking and biking), and wide-open lawns that are perfect for picnics, games, kite-flying, and generally letting the kids run free.

This park is full of activities; the kids can hit the playgrounds for climbing and swinging, wander the lakes to spot birds, run around in the soccer fields, or shoot hoops at the basketball court. Plus, Ferril Lake has a boathouse where you can rent things like paddle boats or stand-up paddleboards and get out on the water for a fun-filled time. Then, you can cap it all up with a scenic lakeside stroll filled with gorgeous skyline views.

Tip: If you’re visiting in summer, watch for City Park Jazz, a popular series of free Sunday evening concerts that turns the lawn into one big picnic and music event. And, because City Park is home to both the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, you can easily spend a full day there with plenty to do!

For an easy, free nature escape that feels like a mini–safari near Denver, head to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and do the 11-mile Wildlife Drive, a relaxed 45 minutes to an hour auto tour where you can spot bison, prairie dogs, deer, and all kinds of birds without ever leaving your car. Make it extra fun by playing the Refuge’s podcast/audio tour, which lines up with each mile marker along the route (think “audio guide,” but for wildlife).

A few quick know-before-you-go tips: the drive has a 30 mph speed limit, you’ll want to follow directional signs, and please only park in marked areas. Please also obey any “stay in vehicle” signs, and once you see the bisons, give them plenty of space (at least 75 feet). If you have time, pop into the Visitor Center (Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to grab a Junior Ranger booklet and earn a badge, and keep an eye out for the black-footed ferret exhibit nearby for an extra kid-approved bonus.

No matter what type of adventure/activity draws you and your child in, Denver will have something that is perfect for everyone. Keep in mind, this list is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the fun Denver has to offer.