Denver and Colorado as a whole seem to be synonymous with the Great Outdoors, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a magnitude of world-class indoor-activities that are fun for the whole family! With Fall in full swing and Winter just around the corner, it’s almost time to bust out the ski gear from storage and prepare for the snowfall that will soon blanket our Mile High City. If you’re looking for a warm and fun day to escape the cold, then take a look at some of our favorite indoor and educational places for kids in Denver that both parents and kids can equally enjoy:
This non-profit kids museum is highly-regarded by parents as one of the top Children Museum’s in the entire country, and we’re sure that your kids will agree. With a multitude of exhibits that inspire exploration, imagination, investigation, and creativity, there is no shortage of stimulating experiences for kids to enjoy. They even have a 500 ft. adventure course that appears to be right out of a fairy-tale! Their target audience are newborns through eight years old, but there is plenty to do to keep everyone entertained.
Location:
2121 Children’s Museum Drive
Denver, CO 80211
Price:
Under Age One: Free
Age One: $12
Ages 2-59: $14
Seniors: $12
Hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9 am – 4 pm
Wed: 9 am – 7 pm | Sat, Sun: 10 am – 5pm
This could easily be the best history and natural science museum in the entire Western U.S.! If you have a kid that is a not-so-little one anymore, this is a great place to spend an entire day. There’s plenty of exhibits that will entertain toddlers, kids, young adults and grown-ups of all ages. Bring the whole family and let your imaginations run wild! You can even enjoy a thrilling and educational film in their IMAX theater, or explore the wonders of the universe at their on-site Planetarium.
Location:
2001 Colorado Blvd
Denver, CO 80205
Price:
Junior (3-18): $14.95
Adult: $19.95
Seniors (65+): $15.95
Save some cash and Book Online!
Hours:
Open Daily: 9 am – 5 pm
WOW is right! This museum aims to inspire and engage children at an early-education level and boy do they succeed. Your little one will love exploring all of their unique exhibits that stimulate the senses and encourage problem-solving, experimentation, and creativity. This is a great option for indoor and educational places for kids in Denver!
Location:
110 N Harrison Ave.
Lafayette, CO 80026
Price:
Children (1-11): $10
Adult: $5
Infants (under 1 yr): Free
Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
Monday: Closed
Explore the wonders of the Earth’s aquatic lifeforms in Denver’s Downtown Aquarium! A number of exhibits focusing on different aquatic locations will keep the whole family curious and engaged all day long. They also have a 4-D movie theater, upscale-casual dining, and even mermaids!
Location:
700 Water Street
Denver, CO 80211
Price:
Adults (12-64): $22.99
Seniors (65+): $21.99
Children (3-11): $16.99
Children (2 and under): FREE
Hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
Friday & Saturday: 10 am – 9:30 pm
Flying and space travel could very well be two of the most captivating subjects for kids of all ages. Explore the wonders of flight at Colorado’s Official Air & Space Museum, hosting more than 182,000 square feet of hangar space that features space vehicles, iconic aircraft, a number of different kinds of artifacts, and so much more!
Location:
7711 E Academy Blvd
Denver, CO 80230
Price:
Adults (17-64): $16.95
Seniors (65+): $12.95
Military: $12.95
Children (4-16): $9.95
Children (3 and under): FREE
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
This museum boasts one of the finest collections of rocks, minerals and fossils in all of Colorado! The Geology Museum at School of Mines in Golden attracts over 30,000 visitors every year and has an impressive 15,000+ square feet of space to explore. Check out their indoor cave to learn about what minerals glow in the dark, and see one of Colorado’s two Goodwill moon rocks collected from the Apollo 17 mission!
Location:
1310 Maple St.
Golden, CO 80401
Price:
Free Admission!
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 am – 4 pm
Sunday: 1 pm – 4 pm
Explore and learn about animals from five continents right in Littleton! You can touch, feed and interact with a variety of wildlife that are rescued by SeaQuest USA. Much more than your average aquarium, Seaquest Littleton allows you to get up close and personal with these creatures and learn about their habitats and origins. Make sure to check out their snorkel with stingrays experience! This is a great option for indoor and educational places for kids in Denver!
Location:
8501 West Bowles Ave
Littleton, CO 80123
Price:
Ages 12+: $16.95 ($14.95 online)
Ages 2-11: $12.95 ($10.95 online)
55+/Military/Students: $14.95 ($12.95 online)
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm
There’s so much to do and see for people of all ages at the Colorado Railroad Museum! Although this is both an indoor and outdoor experience, we felt it was appropriate to add as it is open year round. Explore the history of the railroads through historical pictures, artifacts, and fully restored railcars from the past. Their 15-acre railyard is home to over 100 steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses, and more. They also offer various special events, and of course, train rides!
Location:
8501 West Bowles Ave
Littleton, CO 80123
Price:
Members/Children under 2/Active Military: Free
Ages 2-15: $5
Ages 16-59: $10
Seniors: $8
Hours:
Daily: 9 am – 5 pm
Located in historic Morrison, this paleontology museum offers expert guides and hands-on exhibits that are sure to impress. Here you can travel back in time to learn about the giants that once roamed in our backyards. The museum hosts an impressive collection of fossils, a dig pit for kids, a jurassic garden, and much more!
Location:
501 Colorado Highway 8
Morrison, CO 80465
Price:
Ages 12+: $10
Ages 3-11: $5
Ages 0-2: Free!
Hours:
Daily: 10 am – 4 pm
With a primary focus on education, this Denver museum teaches the history of Firefighting and fire safety through a collection of artifacts, documents and photographs. The Denver Firefighters Museum is as fascinating as it is engaging, and is sure to leave you with a new sense of appreciation and interest in Firefighting history. This is a great place to bring a little one who has a fascination with firefighters and firetrucks!
Location:
1326 Tremont Pl.
Denver, CO 80204
Price:
Adults: $10
Juniors (5-13): $5
Kids (4 and under): Free!
Students/Military/Seniors: $6
Firefighters: Free!
Members: Free!
Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm
Storytime for children is a chance for them to explore their imagination and discover all the wonders that the world of literature has to offer. There are various locations in & around Denver that offers free & cheap storytimes for children that are as fun as they are educational. Check out our blog on the top 10 places for kids storytime!
Located on the CU campus in Boulder, the Fiske Planetarium offers a variety of fun and educational shows that will take your breath away! You will find a variety of entertainment displayed at this Planetarium, including a variety of educational projections as well as seasonal & musical events!
Location:
2414 Regent Drive
Boulder, CO 80204
Price:
Prices vary by event
Hours:
Public Shows Thursday – Saturday Evenings | Matinee shows Saturday & Sunday
The Forney Museum of Transportation is a non-profit museum that holds over 600 different artifacts of historical transportation! From trains to cars and everything in between, you can find all sorts of amazing pieces in this unique museum. If you have a little one who loves trains, cars, planes and just about anything with an engine, this is a place you surely won’t want to skip. This is a great option for indoor and educational places for kids in Denver!
Location:
4304 Brighton Blvd
Denver, CO 80216
Price:
Adults: $12
Seniors (65+): $10
Children (3-12): $6
Children Under 3: Free
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
The Gates Planetarium is located inside of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and offers a variety of ticketed shows designed for kids and adults alike. They even have specialty programs especially for little ones such as “One World One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” and many more. Kids will love exploring the wonders of the universe before or after checking out the rest of the museum!
Location:
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205
Price:
Prices vary by event
Hours:
Open Daily: 9 am – 5 pm
The Cussler Museum is dedicated to preserving & displaying rare and vintage automobiles from around the world! If you have a kid who loves all things cars, this museum will surely not disappoint. The Cussler Museum is home to over 100 significant automobiles that are in pristine display condition.
Location:
14959 West 69th Ave.
Arvada, CO 80007
Price:
Adults: $10
Children (under 12): $5
Seniors (over 65): $8
Hours:
Open May – September: 10 am – 5 pm
Another fun feature at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the VR Arcade is a great way to introduce kids to the future of cutting-edge technology! Both adults and children will be floored at the amazing experience that virtual reality brings. Here you can strap on your 3D headset and step into a completely different world. Adventures include, Spacewalk – Danger in Orbit, Cosmos Coaster, Dive into Prehistoric Seas, and much more!
Location:
2001 Colorado Blvd
Denver, CO 80205
Price:
Junior (3-18): $14.95
Adult: $19.95
Seniors (65+): $15.95
Save some cash and Book Online!
Hours:
Open Daily: 9 am – 5 pm
Teach your kids a new sport and potential life-long passion by taking them rock climbing indoors! Denver is home to a variety of world-class rock climbing gyms that all offer various kids programs and classes as well as after-school programs. Rock climbing is a great way to get your kids active & healthy during the winter months, as well as introduce them to social groups and new friends.
Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art offers a variety of permanent and rotating features that celebrate art and culture from around the world. Here you can find art from local artists as well as artists from around the globe. MCA Denver offers a variety of programs as well, including classes designed for teens and young adults.
Location:
1485 Delgany St
Denver, CO 80202
Price:
Adults: $10
College, Senior (65+), Military: $7
Teen (13-18): Free
Children Under 12: Free
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 12 pm – 7 pm
Friday: 12 pm – 9 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Who says skiing needs to be learned outside? With Denver being one of the biggest ski-hubs in the country, our city has two locations where kids can learn how to ski and ride in a safe, controlled environment indoors. You can bring your kids to SNÖBAHN Indoor Ski + Snowboard Center or Shredder Ski, offering various locations in & around Denver that are surely close to you.
The Butterfly Pavilion is the first non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world! Here you can find over 1,600 butterflies that you can get up-close and personal with. Kids and adults will love learning all about what makes these invertebrates unique and what we can do to protect them. Beyond butterflies, you can also find spiders, bees, beetles and much more! This is a great option for indoor and educational places for kids in Denver!
Location:
6252 W 104th Ave
Westminster, CO 80020
Price:
Adults: $13
Senior (65+): $11
Children (2-12): $9
Children under 2: Free
Hours:
Open Daily: 9 am – 5 pm
