Best Places to Take Kids in Denver, CO

As a family traveler it’s exciting planning visits to places you’ve always wanted to see. But with kids in tow you’ll need to plan some kid-friendly excursions to keep the boredom woes at bay.

This list is a comprehensive guide to the best spots to take your kiddos while traveling in Denver that’ll surely make lasting memories, they’ll beg you to bring them back!

1. Denver Zoo – This zoo is stocked full of amazing exhibits, great restaurants and thrilling events. The built in aquarium is designed to feel like you’re walking into a muggy rainforest and the animals are so close the kids feel like they’re really in the wild!

2. Denver Aquarium – Experience interactive fun like never before. With tanks that have cut outs for kids to stick their heads into so it feels like they’re swimming with the sharks, “real” mermaids that put on beautiful shows while swimming with the fish, and a sting ray cove where they can feed and touch the sting rays the Denver Aquarium is a thrilling experience for children of all ages! *Did I mention they also have tigers?!

3. Colorado Railroad Museum – Have a train lover? I know I do! This museum has real trains built into the side of a mountain kids can experience the history and beauty of old stream engines (and even ride them!) Thomas the Train comes every September for a fun train ride around the train yard! As well as the Polar Express with reenactments of the entire movie – It’s serious fun for the entire family!

4. Butterfly Pavilion – Ever wondered what it would be like to have thousands of butterflies surrounding you while you take in the smell of tropical flowers? It’s s a constant reality when you’re at the Butterfly Pavilion! They have so many interactive and educational stations for children of all ages it’s an amazing way to kill a few hours while letting your kids get their wiggles out and their minds growing!

5. Denver Museum of Nature and Science – This is a favorite of my family’s. Three stories of incredible history, interactive exhibits, an IMAX theatre and a planetarium. If you’re looking for a way to spend an entire day with the kids this is the spot. With a built in cafe and restaurant, a rotating travel exhibit area, and a kid’s indoor playground this is the place to bring the kids. Seriously one of our favorites!

6. Children’s Museum of Denver – Newly revamped and reimagined this eclectic museum has the coolest places for kids to play, learn and imagine. Another place to spend all day and wear them out (win-win!)

7. Elitch Gardens – Like amusement parks? You’ll LOVE this place. Stocked full of rides for people of all ages, you’ll easily spend an entire day drinking beers, riding crazy rollercoaster and eating some of the best comfort foods you can find!

8. Water World – One of my favorites since I was a kid. An amazing water park filled with some of the best rides and best funnel cakes Ive ever had. This is a MUST do on a warm summer day! Easy to spend an entire day here but definitely an unforgettable memory locale!

9. Denver Art Museum – Have an artsy kiddo? They’ll love the beautiful design of this building and even more beautiful sights inside (ha!). There is some gorgeous and unique art along with interactive STEM fun to keep kids engaged and happy 😉

10. KidSpace – STEM based play space for kiddos. An amazing spot for them to climb, play, learn and experience science with hands on exhibits. Also, it has a built in coffee shop, how cool is that?! It’s a spot we frequent for sure!

11. Little Monkey Bizness Westminster – Another absolute favorite of ours for sure. We come here about once a week, because it also has a coffee shop, an art room, and huge inflatables for kids to get ALL of that crazy energy out. they even have a spot for infants so they don’t get trampled on 😉 You can save 10% off with code SIMPLYKARALIZ_fff.

Obviously, outside of the Denver metro area, there are a million other amazing spots to hit but these are some of our Denver favorites that we go to often!

Looking for great recommendations on places outside of the city? Then check out this amazing post on fun things to do in Breckenridge, CO over at Champagne on Deck!

Provided by Champagne on Deck

Have another local spot you love? Comment with them below!

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Best Hidden Date Night Spots in Denver

I love Red Robin and Chili’s more than the next gal, but when you’re traveling and looking for a unique spot, you want something authentic and memorable. I’ve lived in Denver long enough to find the most amazing spots hidden in plain sight – And been desperate enough to try anywhere if that means making my babysitter time worthwhile, ha!

5. 740 Front – 740 Front St, Louisville, CO 80027 – $$

Built in 1904 this Louisville saloon restaurant has a lot of history with many stories to tell. But their greatest story is their phenomenal food. Known for their incredible seafood and steak, there are many amazing items to choose from so even the pickiest of eaters will find something they’ll adore. Their drinks are artfully handcrafted and their staff exudes sophistication. This is the perfect spot for a fancy night out for an anniversary, birthday, etc.

4. Ocean Prime – 1465 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80202 – $$$$

One of the best meals I’ve ever eaten was eaten here. Their food is incredible, their drinks are unique and dreamy, but their location is gorgeous. Right in downtown Denver you get an amazing view of Larimer Square that’s always lit up and always lively. This place is amazing if you’re looking for a classy dinner to impress and celebrate with a loved one. Try their lobster mac n’ cheese, seriously drool worthy.

3. EAT! Food and Drink – 520 Zang St N, Broomfield, CO 80021 – $

Love this place. It is tucked into a cute little strip mall but packs a big punch. Amazing food, along with gluten-free options, patio seating while sipping on a cold, refreshing cocktail, and pleasing conversations are only a few of the amazing qualities this place has to offer. The owner creates unique and thoughtful menu items that make it a place to try and remember!

2. Jack’s & Steamers – 8565 Five Parks Dr #100, Arvada, CO 80005 – $

Owned by a former Olympic skier, Jack and his wife, Athan, own this incredible restaurant and created a training kitchen in order to support and employ people with developmental disabilities. Their kindness is not the only amazing thing they offer – Their unique and delicious menu keeps locals and travelers coming back time after time.

1. Aspen Lodge Bar and Grill – 8125 W 94th Ave, Westminster, CO 80021 – $$

Literally, my number one favorite place to eat in Colorado. We’ve been coming for 6 years now and it’s become a tradition to take family and friends every-time they’re in town. Owned by Turkish native, Mesut, his restaurant is like a scene out of a Christmas lodge, but in the background, there is always Iron Maiden playing. An eclectic restaurant with American/Turkish foods will leave you full and happy. You’ll never experience anything quite like it anywhere else – When you come make sure to order his Mesut Burger (a traditional burger with a Turkish twist!) and his award winning Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich! Best place in Denver!

Traveling Victorian Dress Up Tea Party

The beauty and wonder of tea parties as a young girl is something I still fondly remember.. So when I heard of a TRAVELING tea party that brings the dress up clothes/accessories, fancy tableware and games TO you I knew I HAD to do it for my step-daughters’ 9th birthday party..

We’re now at an age where pretend play is not as much of a desire so as my only girl I knew it was my last chance for a tea party. I called up Traveling Tea Party and the sweetest women, Nancy and Linda, who own it were so sweet and enthusiastic! They were just as excited for the party as I was!

They supplied themed invitations that were adorable and included in the package – She was very excited to write out her own invitations for all her friends!

We started setting up and they were incredibly fast at getting all of the outfits laid out and a station for makeup and accessories. The birthday girl got to have first choice of her outfit and it was a point of pride and excitement.. She looked BEAUTIFUL. They had an impressive collection!

Once all of her friends were dressed and gorgeous they began their parlor games, games that taught poise (While still having a blast!) and class.

Afterwards we began the lunch. The tea was pink lemonade and they supplied pink wafer cookies which were perfect for dipping in the chocolate fountain we brought! I loved the beauty and grace of the event as simple things like the lady of the table ringing a bell when she was ready for tea time, serving the tea to each guest (Gracefully, of course) brought you back to a lovelier, simpler time where such things were expected.

Although her friends and her are getting older they absolutely loved the party and were raving about it for weeks. Nancy and Linda were so so sweet and the cutest things! If I had more girls I’d book them every year but my boys much rather prefer to smash things over tea time. 🤦🏽‍♀️

I highly recommend Traveling Tea Party to any Parent in the Denver area looking for a wonderful idea for their child’s next birthday party. You will not be disappointed and your little princess will feel like the bell of the ball!

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

EAT! Food and Drink

Again.. Y’all KNOW I love local places that have paleo/gluten free options and I found one that’s literally 8 minutes down the road. A new hip spot called EAT! It’s in the lively shopping centers across from Flatirons Mall seated on the edge of Broomfield.

When you first walk in, you’re greeted by an industrial rustic vibe and friendly staff! The menu is full of classic brunch foods with unique twists, but don’t be fooled because they also provide health conscience items to meet your dietary needs!

They had amazing sweet potato fries and were able to provide us with gluten-free options for our burgers! *They had three different GF bread options, how awesome is that?!

Their drink menu also included some very unique recipes that were delicious additions to our brunch! (They grew the mint in house and used it for their drink infusions.. I love that!)

As amazing as the food and people were at the restaurant (Talking about you David and Alex!) the thing that really stood out to me was their amazing kid’s menu. It doubled as an activity booklet that used a PENNY as the writing utensil.. How eco-friendly is that! No waste, no chemicals.. Just a penny. I love it and I am hooked on that idea!

We’ll absolutely be back again – The hospitality and atmosphere makes you feel as though you’re in a hip downtown eatery but it’s in our own backyard and it’s super kid friendly! Thanks EAT!

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own.)

KidSpace A Children’s Exploration Center

Y’all know I love to do local places – This is one I really love to take Hudson to! It’s fun, educational AND health conscious so wanted to share them with y’all incase you’re looking for some fun places to hit up during these cold Colorado winters!

You walk in and it just screams interstellar.. There are themed sections everywhere! You see scientific experiment games based on Archimedes’ work, a launch lab where kids can use different levels of strength to get a rocket ship to different planets, a ballistics zone where kids can run, play, climb and use air launchers to shoot balls – And SO much more!!

Wherever you look there’s STEM play and that’s an amazing feeling as a parent to have the opportunity to have your kids learn as they play! I believe STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is so crucial for children, especially at a young age as it allows their minds to bend and flex in ways they wouldn’t be able to ordinarily.

They have hourly planetarium shows in an amazing blow up igloo which is so fun for the kids!

Something all parents can appreciate is the extreme cleanliness of the entire facility – I never feel as though I’ve got to give Hudson a bath after he leaves! Another parent pleaser is the amazing full espresso bar with delicious coffees and healthy snacks!

The owners are so friendly and passionate about their creation and they should be. You can easily spend hours here.. So if you’re looking for a fun, indoor place to take your stir crazy kiddos – Bring them here!! You won’t be disappointed and they’ll be begging you to come back!

Dinosaur Birthday Party

Like a ton of other little kids his age Hudson is obsessed with dinosaurs. So it was a definite theme for his 3rd birthday! We decided to do it at the WOW! Children’s Museum in Lafayette, CO – It’s small enough where we won’t be overwhelmed but the kids can still have tons to do and it’s large enough for us to hold all of our close friends and family. 🙂

Their prices were great for a 2 hour session (This was my first time doing an “outside of the house” party so I was excited it was affordable 😉 ) and they helped so much with the set up! Y’all know how thrifty I am so I decided to ask around my local Facebook Mom groups and found ALL of my dinosaur decorations for FREE. I was pretty proud considering it turned out looking uh-mazing! 

The room was large enough for 20 people with space to spare and there TONS of tables for food, gifts, cake, etc.

• 

Sprouts Farmers Market has the best catering platters!!! I grabbed 6: A veggie tray, a fruit tray, a sandwich tray, a dessert tray and a breakfast tray. They were all amazing, affordable for how much you got and they were a HIT. Anyone with any kind of food restrictions had plenty to eat which is obviously important to us as paleo eaters!

One of my favorite parts of this party planning was getting him a custom cake made by a local baker.. She does some AMAZING work and I’m SO happy I trusted her to make his cake! She made Hudson an AWESOME dinosaur cake and he LOVED it (Then she made this preggo Mama an INCREDIBLE carrot cake and omg it was gone in minutes haha!)

Hudson’s looking at this picture right now and really wants it.. haha!

Her bakery is located in Broomfield, CO and has the CUTEST name! The Book Tree Bakery! Contact her if you’re ever looking for any baked goods – You’ll be amazed ❥

At the end of the party we passed out little goody bags with different dinosaurs printed on them and each kid/adult got their own healthy snacks to take home – And my favorites, of course! SunRype Fruit Strips and Made in Nature snacks!

Everyone had such a blast and most importantly so did my little three year old! Highly recommend ALL of these places and goodies to anyone hosting a birthday party in the Colorado area! (Or anywhere else 😉 )

(I was compensated for some of the aspects of this post, but all opinions are my own!)

Good Samaritan Medical Center

It’s a pretty tough decision choosing the right hospital for your labor delivery. If you ask another parent they’ll all give you hundreds of different suggestions.

When I was pregnant with Hudson in 2015 I decided I wanted it to be solely my decision based on what I believed was most important for my son and myself.

After doing a lot of research I decided Good Samaritan seemed like the best fit because it was designated Colorado’s first Baby-Friendly Hospital by UNICEF. They were very pro-breastfeeding which was something I’ve always been so passionate about due to the plethora of health benefits it provides your baby.

I did a hospital tour after making my decision to ensure it was in an area I felt safe and would feel proud to have my family come to to meet my gorgeous baby boy.

Upon arriving my Husband and I were in awe. It was absolutely beautiful – Tucked in the town of Lafayette there were mountain views, modern touches, delicious food/drink shops and the classes they had consistently running were such an amazing perk. We decided then and there this was the hospital for us.

On November 22nd I began having my contractions and we were off to Good Samaritan! It was such an exciting ride. Once we arrived we were pleasantly greeted and placed into a beautiful, comfortable room waiting for our little Hudson to grace us with his presence. After 10 hours he was ready. This was my first baby so I was terrified of labor but the nurses were absolutely incredible and my Doctor was so helpful that it made the whole experience a lot less stressful!

Once Hudson was born the caregivers were there every step of the way! A lactation specialist came in and assisted in teaching me how to get him to latch and came in every few hours to ensure it was still going well. I had a free post-labor massage which was AMAZING and we had some delicious food!!

We stayed for a few days then when we were getting ready to head home were given a humungous bag of food so we didn’t have to worry about cooking for a few days! We were also scheduled a nurse to come to our house a week after taking him house to make sure Hudson was healthy, I was healthy and that breastfeeding was still going well. I love how breastfeeding focused they were!

We still talk about the wonderful experience we had at Good Samaritan and plan on using them for our next baby’s delivery as well! Highly recommend them to anyone looking for a comfortable, breastfeeding encouraging hospital in the Denver area!

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

Flower Child Begins Serving Up Healthy Food in Boulder August 22

Flower Child – a restaurant that serves made-to-order, healthy food in a fast-casual setting – is opening on Wednesday, August 22 in Boulder at 2580 Arapahoe Avenue! The restaurant offers conveniently nutritious and delicious dishes, including salads, hummus, soups, plates, bowls, wraps and a kids menu in a light and airy environment with modern bohemian decor. Flower Child is celebrating its opening by donating a portion of proceeds from grand opening day to local non-profit Boulder Food Rescue and providing several local-inspired giveaways for its first customers.

“Our mission at Flower Child is to provide healthy food for a happy world, and to us, that starts at the community-level where our restaurants are located,” said Sam Fox, Founder of Fox Restaurant Concepts. “We’re excited to be in Boulder and support locals’ active lifestyles with our nutritious menu. Similarly, our partnership with Boulder Food Rescue is a natural fit as they are focused on a less wasteful food system and providing healthy food options to low-income individuals.”

To invite guests in on opening day, Flower Child will be hosting several giveaways on August 22 including: 

●      Handing out complimentary flower bouquets from Boulder Gardens Florist to 300 lucky guests

●      Distributing flower seed lollipops from Amborella Organics. Eat the lollipop and plant the stick in your garden for a flower or herb surprise!

●      Sampling Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha throughout the day, which is available on tap daily at the store

Flower Child features vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free menu items. Guests also have the option to add all-natural chicken, sustainable salmon, grass-fed steak and organic non-GMO tofu to their meal. The menu is divided into six categories including: Salads, Hummus & Soups, Plates, Bowls, Whole Grain Wraps and a Healthy Kids menu. Guests can order organic juices, organic cold brew on tap, coffee, seasonal lemonades, organic wine, local beer or signature kombucha on tap. Each menu item is made-to-order, fresh from scratch in a full-service kitchen.

Some signature dishes include:

●      Skinny Cobb Salad – romaine, arugula, red cabbage, avocado, tomato, cucumber, crunchy corn, pickled onion, smoked almond, gorgonzola vinaigrette 

●      Mother Earth Bowl – ancient grains, sweet potato, portobello mushroom, avocado, cucumber, broccoli pesto, charred onions, leafy greens, red pepper miso vinaigrette, hemp seed

●      Vegan Poke – marinated beet, avocado, pickled mushroom, cucumber, radish, wasabi pea, smoked dulse, brown rice, spicy ponzu

●      The Rebel Wrap – grass-fed steak, charred onion, port salut cheese, arugula, horseradish yogurt

The restaurant space seats 68 and includes decorative tile, painted brick, bright stone tables, and greenery throughout. A large mural is painted on the outside wall of the restaurant next to the patio, which seats 28 customers.

For opening day, Flower Child has partnered with Boulder Food Rescue (BFR). The non-profit organization’s goal is to create a more just and less wasteful food system. BFR facilitates the sustainable redistribution of healthy food to agencies who service low-income individuals and participatory No-Cost grocery programs.

To further celebrate its opening, the restaurant is hosting a lemonade stand on Saturday, August 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside of McGuckin Hardware, giving away free lemonade samples and Flower Child swag. McGuckin Hardware is located at 2525 Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder.

Flower Child will be open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is located at 2580 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, Colo.

For more information visit http://www.iamaflowerchild.com, follow them on Instagram @eatflowerchild and like them on facebook.com/eatflowerchild.

Marcella’s Ristorante, Pizzeria and Wine Bar Launches New Sunday Brunch with Italian-Inspired Menu

My FAVORITE Denver restaurant – Marcella’s Ristorante, Pizzeria & Wine Bar, located in the LoHi neighborhood of Denver, is thrilled to announce the launch of Sunday brunch featuring chef-driven cuisine inspired by authentic Italian recipes. The menu includes shareable antipasti, hot and cold plates, pizzas, soups, salads, pastas and delicious brunch entrees. There will be Sangria Sundays, $20/person bottomless; Bellinis, mimosas and bloody Mary’s in addition to Italian wines, handcrafted cocktails and local beer. To kick-off brunch, the restaurant will offer bottomless sangria for just $10 on Sunday, August 19 and Sunday, August 26.

“Brunch has become a widely popular event for locals and visitors alike,” said Dain Cooke, general manager at Marcella’s. “We are thrilled to bring it to our LoHi location and offer guests a chef-driven menu with Italian-inspired twists. From brunch celebrations and day parties to family and communal gatherings, our Sunday brunch has something special for everyone.”

The brunch menu includes specialties like: a Nutella Waffle with chocolate, hazelnut and whipped butter; a Ricotta Crespelle with crepes, macerated strawberries and marcona almonds; and Short Rib Hash with Yukon gold potatoes, pepperonata and sweet garlic sauce. In addition, there are such items as Truffle Eggs with poached eggs, toasted ciabatta and taleggio as well as Shrimp Polenta with poached eggs, toasted garlic, tomato and basil.

Marcella’s seats 152 guests inside and 40 guests on the patio, which faces downtown Denver. The large patio offers unobstructed views of the city. Marcella’s is located at 1801 Central Street in LoHi. Free parking is available in the Centric building where the restaurant is located and complimentary valet is available on weekends for dinnertime.

Marcella’s is open Monday-Thursday from 4-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 3-9 p.m. On Denver Broncos home game Sundays, Marcella’s will open at 9 a.m.

For more information visit marcellasrestaurant.com or follow them on Instagram @Marcellasdenver.

ABOUT MARCELLA’S RISTORANTE, PIZZERIA & WINE BAR

Marcella’s Ristorante, Pizzeria & Wine Bar, located in the LoHi neighborhood of Denver, is a bustling Italian café featuring chef-driven cuisine inspired by authentic Italian recipes and serving Italian wines, handcrafted cocktails and local beer. The restaurant offers shareable antipasti, hot and cold plates, pizzas, pastas and entrees. Marcella’s bar provides a vibrant venue for sampling 50 Italian wines served by the bottle or quartino, as well as handcrafted cocktails and weekday happy hour from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The restaurant is located at 1801 Central Street in Denver and is open for dinner Monday-Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday for dinner from 4 p.m. to midnight; and dinner from 4 p.m. to midnight; Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Denver Broncos home game days the restaurant will open at 9 a.m. For more information visit marcellasrestaurant.com or follow us on Instagram @Marcellasdenver.

Birch Benders

As y’all already know – We’re big paleo eaters. It’s been amazing for our health but it can be a little challenging at times when cravings kick in. A big one in my family is waffles and pancakes. Hudson is obsessed with waffles and the kids always want pancakes on the weekends. However, I really hate using regular sugar and flour – So much bleach, gunk and chemicals, so I would take forever trying to make paleo pancakes and they’d only come out “okay”.

But when I stumbled across a Birch Benders’ Paleo Waffle/Pancake mix in Sprouts I was SO excited. “Only Add Water“ SO much easier than 20 minutes worth of trying to get the consistency and taste justtt right.

Well.. 2 years later and it is a staple in our home. That long being a customer and I happened to get an invite to an exclusive writer’s event thanks to Sprouts to Birch Bender’s Denver office!! I was literally giddy!

Once we got there we were greeted by the sweetest people ever – Their employees were so friendly, really passionate about their product and just happy with life (I would too if I worked for such a fun company!)

The event was hosted by Sprouts and as usual they supplied delicious meals and drinks! Thanks Sprouts, y’all are the best!

Now.. Something I hadn’t known (Not sure HOW) was that they had created some DELICIOUS new products – Frozen Waffles!! Even PALEO waffles which they had learned to make straight from master waffle makers in Belgium.. How amazing it that?! They were so dedicated to creating delicious and healthy waffles that they searched all over the world. That is a company I love to support!

Now I had a delicious, REALLY quick option for Hudson for breakfast since he’s obsessed with waffles! (And not just any kind… But specifically the frozen kind, because it’s an on-the-go-can-hold-it-while-I-am-rambunctious kind of waffle.. LOL) They taste just like a normal waffle but fill my children’s tummies with the good, wholesome ingredients they deserve.

Their theme for the event was Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches. They had a whole bar set up ready with all their new waffle types, different ice cream options and toppings. It was so delicious and brilliant – Decided I am going to do this for Hudson’s birthday party in November at the Colorado Railroad Museum! It’s going to be SO fun, so you’ll be seeing more of these kinds of photos soon 😉

Birch Benders is such an amazing company – Not just because of their delicious products but because of their passion behind it. We’ve been their fans for 2 years now but this event has only exacerbated this.. We’ll forever be Birch Benderites and we’re so proud they’re in our gorgeous state!

Thanks Sprouts and Birch Benders for such an amazing experience!