Denver With Kids: Our Top Finds
We’re all about camping, but this was a trip where it made more sense to go without the trailer hitch. I had a work conference in Denver so we took the opportunity to combine business and pleasure. After staying in various hotels and cabins during the trip to Denver and the Rocky Mountains, we can safely say we aren’t really a “hotel” family. My kids did much better when we could relax on a porch or outside space, rather than up an elevator into a small hotel room.
None of us had been to this part of the country before so it was a joy to experience many firsts together.
If you’re planning a trip to the Rockies, staying in Denver a day or two first helps fight off any altitude sickness.
Denver kid favorites
Here are our top finds in and around Denver:
Dinosaur Ridge trail – See actual dinosaur tracks and fossils along this 1.5 mile trail near Red Rocks Park. The trail is totally free; You can pay $8 per person to ride the bus and make stops at the sites of interest.
Red Rocks Park and trails – Get a glimpse of how the locals run, climb, hike and bike around this huge area. We drove up to the Trading Post and did the 1.4 mile hike around the area (you can also see the Denver Music Hall of Fame – don’t miss the John Denver statue and tribute here). After the trail, we drove up to the actual amphitheater where you’ll find one of the best views of the city. There’s a restaurant there, but a picnic would be an even better idea.
Water World Colorado – Chad took the kids to this top ranked water park and they took zero photos #dadlife. What they lacked in photos, they made up for in fun stories, including the time Carson accidentally hopped on the steepest, craziest slide in the park and lived to tell the tale (the boys are very glad I didn’t witness this event!).
Union Station – Known as Denver’s Living Room, this meeting, shopping and transportation hub was a feast for the senses! You’ll find people here meeting friends for a coffee or beer, trying local ice cream, boarding their next train, and working on laptops. Outside, the kids had fun playing in the water feature. Plan a walk (or ride the free shuttle) down the 16th street mall area to get here.
Tattered Covered Bookstore – Only a block away from Union Station, you’ll find this lovely local bookstore in a historic building. It’s a great pit stop on a hot day with fun little nooks for sitting and browsing new books.
Casa Bonita – Known as the “Disneyland of Mexican restaurants,” this famous (or infamous) Mexican restaurant is known for its cliff divers, not the food! It’s not every day you pull into a strip mall, get your food on a cafeteria lunch tray and then walk into a 52,000 square foot space with a 30-foot waterfall, cliff divers, hidden caves and a gorilla shows. We got some big laughs out of this place and the kids were entertained. I ate approximately two bites of my “salad."
Hops & Pie – Great family friendly local pizzeria and craft beer taproom right outside the city. Lots of families and the nicest servers around. We tried the $2 craft cans and (bonus!) they came with koozies!
Ace Eat & Serve – We strolled a few blocks uptown to dine over at this fun Asian restaurant featuring ping pong tables. Our kids aren’t the most adventurous eaters, but this was a hit, plus the kids meals were healthy! (Tip: order the Tiger Wings and Brussel Sprouts.)
Do you have any family suggestions for Denver? Share below in the comments.
Once my work trip wrapped, we headed west! Read on to get highlights from our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park.