Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Denver, CO - 2023
Each year, KidsOutAndabout.com surveys Denver-area parents to find out where they love to take their kids. This is our page to showcase the 2023 winners. (Click here for the full list of nominees.)
Of course, there are hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in greater Denver, so be sure to browse through all of the lists and calendar on our site. Also, be sign up for our fantastic FREE weekly newsletter with dozens of ideas each week for local stuff to do with kids that weekend and beyond.
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1. Denver Zoo
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.
2. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
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.
3. Kids Wonder
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.
4. Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Amusement Park is a family friendly amusement park with attractions for all ages, including the scenic train ride around Lakeside's picturesque lake with stunning mountain views. Rides range from the relaxing train that travels around the lake to the 140 foot drop tower for thrill seekers. Kiddies' Playland hosts a variety of toddler sized attractions. Additionally, there are games and fun foods to enjoy.
5. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is like no other zoo – on a mountainside overlooking Colorado Springs. Feed our world-renowned giraffe herd, hop alongside the wallabies, and feel the powerful roars of our lion pride. Don’t miss Water's Edge: Africa, home to hippos, African penguins and lemurs. Our interactive beach gives penguins access to waddle alongside you, and you’ll see eye-to-eye with our hippos at the edge of their pool. A rope bridge will give you up-close, overhead views of the hippo yard.
Our guests contribute $500,000 per year to conservation efforts worldwide. Each admission generates 75¢ for conservation, so you can do good while you have fun!
6. Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
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.
7. Anderson Farms
Fall Festival returns September 20 - October 30, 2023. Come out to Colorado’s Largest Fall Family Entertainment Destination for a fun filled fabulous experience! Get lost in the 25-acre corn maze. Take a tractor-drawn wagon ride to the pumpkin patch and pick from over 100 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds. Ride the barrel train and pedal karts, jump on the jump pads, play on tire mountain and the combine slide and much, much more! After dark, check out Terror in the Corn, rated the #1 Haunted Attraction in Colorado by ScareFactor.com.
U-Pick Sunflowers is back!! Opening mid July - mid August 2023. Gather the family, grab your camera, and join us for a truly amazing summer experience exploring our beautiful 15 acre sunflower field. There are over 50 varieties of sunflowers & wildflowers ranging in height, colors and stages of bloom! Admission includes a wagon ride to and from the field where you will find many hidden photo ops scattered throughout our fields. Take home your own bouquet by purchasing an All-You-Can-Fill Collectors Cup or French Market Bucket. (Picking flowers to take home is not included in admission.)
8. Butterfly Pavilion
Butterfly Pavilion Butterfly Pavilion has been part of the Colorado community since 1995 and is the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited, stand-alone, non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world. Experience our indoor tropical conservatory with over 1,800 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.
9. Water World
Water World. America's largest water park located in Denver, CO with over 50 slide and attractions.
10. Denver Botanic Gardens
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.
11. Downtown Aquarium
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.
12. My Local Library
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.
13. Elitch Gardens
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.
14. Bluff Lake Nature Center
Bluff Lake Nature Center is a FREE urban wildlife refuge located in Denver open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset! Our 123-acre wildlife refuge has diverse wildlife and habitats including a creek, a lake, and a prairie, as well as nature trails and nature play areas! Our mission is to educate individuals to be engaged, resilient, and curious; conserve a natural area in the city; further equity in outdoor access; and nurture the health and well-being of communities and ecosystems. Our nonprofit owns the property and relies on community support to protect our habitats and provide programming.
Come visit us anytime and check out our website to find out more about upcoming programs as well as resources to bring with you while visiting the site (scavenger hunts, I Spy sheets, and more)! The site is family friend and stroller accessible, but please remember to bring water and leave your leashed pets at home! Happy exploring!
15. Adventure Golf and Raceway
At Adventure Golf and Raceway you can golf on 3 of America's most unique 18-hole miniature golf courses and race around Colorado's first and only outdoor electric go-kart track, and much more.
16. Boondocks Food & Fun
Boondocks offers indoor and outdoor activities for all ages. At Boondocks you can bowl, play laser tag, use the arcade, play in the kiddie cove soft play area, play mini golf, drive the bumper boats, and race with the go karts.
17. Carousel of Happiness
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.
18. WOW! Children's Museum
WOW! Children's Museum aims to inspire every child’s learning and curiosity through play. WOW! is committed to providing STEAM focused exhibits and programs that fosters creative and innovative thinking and nurture a love of learning.
19. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are Denver's Major League Baseball franchise. They are currently members of the National League West Division. Their home venue is Coors Field.
20. Dinosaur Ridge
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.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Denver Center for Performing Arts
DCPA is the nation’s largest not-for-profit theatre organization dedicated to creating unforgettable shared experiences through beloved Broadway musicals, world-class plays, educational programs and inspired events. We think of theatre as a spark of life — a special occasion that’s exciting, powerful and fun. For eager students as young as three to high schoolers taking the first step towards a theatre career, our classes fuel creativity and reinforce the tools to help all skill levels improve and develop their craft.
Top Sports Educator: YMCA of Metro Denver
At the YMCA, we ❤️ kids. We offer summer day and adventure camps; youth sports - baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball; swim lessons for every age; early and out of school time child care; summer learning Power Scholars Academy program; and Youth in Government program. Across our 6 wellness centers and multiple program sites, we build healthy spirit, mind and body.
Top STEM Educator: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Butterfly PavilionThe Denver Museum of Nature & Science inspires curiosity and excites minds of all ages through scientific discovery and the presentation and preservation of the world's unique treasures.
