Denver Activities with Kids

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus provides an interactive, educational and exciting way for children to explore, discover and learn through play.

The museums expertly designed exhibits, specialized programs for all ages and hands-on approach to learning all aim to create a community of “kid-powered learning.” Founded in 1973, the museum features innovative and interactive Playscapes (hands-on exhibits), including ‘The Big Backyard’, an oversize introduction to life in the backyard, ‘The Assembly Plant’, where children can build and construct to their hearts’ content, and ‘Fire Station 1’, where they can learn about the job of a firefighter on a real fire engine.

The museum also hosts engaging daily workshops and programs for children, as well as exciting year-round special events.

2121 Children's Museum Dr, Denver, CO 80211, Phone: 303-433-7444

The Morrison Natural History Museum is Jefferson County's original paleontology museum and is dedicated to exploring the rich natural history of the region.

Located 25 minutes west of Downtown Denver in Morrison, the Morrison Natural History Museum offers visitors the opportunity to view real fossils that have been found in the area such as baby Stegosaurus fossils, the muzzle of Apatosaurus Ajax, and baby sauropod tracks.

Visitors can also see how research is done into fossil finding and preparation in the laboratory and is an excellent orientation to the Red Rocks and Dinosaur Ridge areas.

The Museum can be self-explored or enjoyed on a guided tour with an expert docent and are available three times a day.

501 CO-8, Morrison, CO 80465, Phone: 303-697-1873, (website link)

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a museum that focuses on educating visitors and children about the natural history of the Colorado and Rocky Mountain region, as well as the Earth and Universe through scientific study.

The museum hosts a variety of displays, exhibitions, interactive activities and educational programs for all ages that encourage curious minds to ask, explore, discover and learn, and is home to more than one million objects in its collections.

Educational programs cover the fields of anthropology, paleontology, geology, zoology, health and space science and permanent exhibits include ‘Discovery Zone’ – a hands-on educational center for children; ‘Egyptian Mummies’ – a journey back to the days of the Pharaohs; ‘North American Indian Culture’ – a look at the heritage of the North American Indian; and ‘Space Odyssey’ – a step into the future.

2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, Phone: 303-370-6000

Located in the City Park, Denver Zoo is home to over 4,000 animals from 600 species which live in a variety of natural habitats across 80 acres of zoo land.

Founded in 1896, the zoo was started with an orphaned black bear cub called Billy Ryan and has since grown into one of Denver’s most popular attractions.

Boasting species from all over the world, ranging from primates, pachyderms and carnivores to reptiles, birds, and fish, the zoo is designed in a circular loop, which covers a variety of habitats and animal enclosures, including Bear Mountain, Primate Panorama, Predator Ridge, Giraffe House, Toyota Elephant Passage, and Bird World.

Other facilities at the zoo include the Endangered Species Carousel, showcasing some of the many endangered species in our world, the Pioneer Train, which offers an exciting trip around the zoo’s carousel meadow and flamingo lake, and the Wild Encounters outdoor amphitheater, which is designed for wildlife presentations and educational programs.

2900 E 23rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80205, Phone: 720-337-1400

Affordable Attractions:

The Downtown Aquarium is an entertainment and dining complex with a state-of-the-art aquarium that features more than a million gallons of underwater exhibits that showcase fascinating ecosystems from all around the world and house more than 500 species of marine and land creatures. Opened to the public in 2005, the Downtown Aquarium boasts several fascinating exhibits such as North America, In the Desert, Under The Sea, At The Wharf, The Rainforest, Coral Lagoon, Sunken Temple, Shipwreck, and At The Beach. Other fun features at the aquarium include the Aquarium Express, a specially designed electric train that rides around the Aquarium exploring wetlands and the South Platte River, and an Aquatic Carousel with painted ponies and mystical sea monsters. The Downtown Aquarium also boasts a full-service restaurant, an upscale bar, and a fully equipped ballroom for private events and functions.

700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211, Phone: 303-561-4450

The Dinosaur Ridge is a section the Morrison Fossil Area National Natural Landmark that is famous for its dinosaur fossils. Situated in part of the Dakota Hogback in Jefferson County, the rocks on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge form part of the Morrison Formation of a Jurassic age where Arthur Lakes discovered the dinosaur bones in 1877, including Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus. The east side of Dinosaur Ridge features rocks that boast hundreds of dinosaur footprints which were found in 1937 and include theropod tracks, and Iguanodon-like prints. The Dinosaur Ridge Exhibit Hall can be found on the site and features fascinating exhibits about the dinosaurs found at the site and visitors can follow interpretive signed trails around the area that explain the local geology and paleo-ecology, trace fossils, a volcanic ash bed, and other geologic and paleontological features.

16831 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465-9703, Phone: 303-697-3466

Nestled in the Cheesman Park neighborhood, the Denver Botanic Gardens is a public botanical garden that boasts a variety of theme gardens, a glass-enclosed conservatory and a sunken amphitheater that hosts open-air concerts during the summer. The Denver Botanic Gardens are made up of three locations, namely the formal garden on York Street in East Denver, the natural meadows and riparian areas of the Chatfield gardens and the alpine wildflower gardens of Mt. Goliath. The York Street gardens feature seven themed gardens that include endemic to Colorado and neighboring states, as well as the most extensive collection of plants from cold temperate climates around the world. In 1986, the gardens introduced the world's first Xeriscape Demonstration Garden (later named the Dryland Mesa), which is home to drought-tolerant plants from the arid West and Mediterranean region. The Denver Botanic Gardens also feature a Japanese Garden called Shofu-en and the Mordecai Children’s Garden, which offers a beautiful oasis for families and children to play.

1007 York Street, Denver, CO 80206, Phone: 720-865-3500

The Butterfly Pavilion is a 7,200 square-foot tropical rainforest and insect zoo in Westminster that is home to countless butterflies, numerous species of other insects, and over 200 plant species from around the world. Opened in 1995, the climate-controlled conservatory features five exhibit areas including four indoor exhibit halls, beautiful outdoor gardens, and winding nature trails. Exhibits and habitats include the Wings of the Tropics, which house 1,600 free-flying tropical butterflies, Crawl-A-See-Em, which showcases a range of spiders, including Rosie the tarantula, and Water's Edge, which allows visitors to explore the world of ocean invertebrates. Interactive experiences include a touch tank, interaction with live animals and immerse technology that explores science and conservation topics.

6252 W 104th Ave, Westminster, CO 80020, Phone: 303-469-5441

City Park is a 330-acre neighborhood park in east-central Denver that is home to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Zoo, the Ferril and Duck Lakes, and a charming boathouse. The park, which is the main park in the city, also plays hosts to several summer concerts which draw thousands of visitors every season, and offers an array of outdoor recreational activities, such as boating, paddle-boating, and kayaking on the lakes, hiking, and biking in the nature trails, and private events and functions can be held at the boathouse. Ferril Lake is home to the Prismatic Fountain which was designed and built by engineer Frederic W. Darlington in 1908 and features bright LED lights which cycle through different formations.

2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205

Opened in 1922, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) is one of the largest art museums in the West and is renowned for its magnificent collection of American Indian Art, as well as permanent and evolving collections of over 68,000 unique works from around the globe. Located in the Civic Center in Denver in an award-winning building designed by Frederic C. Hamilton, the museum’s collections are spread over nine curatorial sections, ranging from architecture, design, and graphics to Asian, New World, European and Modern art. The museum holds several programs and workshops throughout the year, including ‘Meet the Artist’ where visitors can get to meet the artists of various exhibitions, as well many interactive events for the whole family to enjoy. General admission to the museum is free for children every day.

100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204, Phone: 720-865-5000