Free Fall Activities For Families In Denver
Inside The Children's Museum (credit: CBS)
Cooler weather tends to signify time to retreat indoors and let the fall and winter months pass you by. However, there are so many fantastic things you can do as a family this time of year that you may not fully appreciate during the warmer summer months. In fact, there are plenty of things to do without paying a single penny, making for many free choices for family entertainment. All of the museums and zoos have free days, and there is always the free First Friday Art Walk every month. Here are a few more great things to do for free this fall in Denver.
South Pearl Street Farmers Market
1500 block of Old South Pearl St.
Between Florida Ave. and Iowa Ave.
Denver, CO 80209
www.southpearlstreet.com
With the arrival of fall comes the arrival of the harvest and that means lots of amazing fresh fruit and veggies, all locally grown and as fresh as can be. The South Pearl Street Farmers Market is free to visit and you can bring the whole family down to enjoy this good old fashioned farmers market. You'll find lots of super-fresh produce along with artisan cheeses, fresh-baked goods and all sorts of delicious treats to enjoy. Get there at noon for the chef demonstrations and you'll even leave with some cooking tips. This farmers market wraps up in early November, so catch it while you can.
Related: Top Fall Festivals in Denver
Target Tuesday Nights at the Children's Museum of Denver
2121 Children's Museum Drive
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-7444
www.mychildsmuseum.org
The first Tuesday of every month is a free night at the Children's Museum of Denver, sponsored by Target. This is the best place in town for your tykes to explore, learn and play. You'll find many different exhibits to explore, covering everything from basic skills to science and more. It is so much fun, your kid won't even know that it's educational too. The museum has activities for the very young up through age eight making it the perfect spot for anyone with young children at home.
US Mint
320 W. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 405-4761
www.usmint.gov
Teach your kids how money is made and take a tour of the United States Mint. Denver is very lucky to be the home of one of three mints in the entire country, so why not take advantage of it and bring the whole family down for a look at how money is made? Every coin stamped with a "D" is made here so you can look ahead of time at your change jar to show your kids just how much of the stuff is in circulation. Tours are always free, take about 45 minutes long and start every 90 minutes every Monday through Thursday.
Celestial Seasonings Tour
4600 Sleepytime Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 581-1202
www.celestialseasonings.com
With the weather cooling off, isn't it a great time to sample lots of delicious teas? Make a short drive up to Boulder and visit the famous Celestial Seasonings plant, take a tour and get some free samples. As one of the biggest and most advanced tea production plants in the world, this tour is always a lot of fun plus you'll get free samples of every tea it makes and you can see all of the beautiful art work that decorates the different Celestial Seasonings boxes. Make sure to visit the peppermint room if you want to clear out your sinuses too.
Garden of the Gods
1805 N. 30th St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 634-6666
www.gardenofgods.com
One of the best things about fall in Colorado is the prevalence of crisp, cool autumn days, perfect for a leisurely stroll around a beautiful location. Make the drive down to the Garden of the Gods and you won't be disappointed with all the stunning scenery and perfect opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in Colorado. You'll find towering rock formations reaching 300 feet in the air, all in front of the majestic background of Pike's Peak. There is a wonderful Visitor and Nature Center to explore with a great short film on how the rocks were made. This is one of the most stunningly beautiful places in the state and the cool fall air is the perfect weather to explore it in.
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
