Top Cheap Activities To Do With Kids In Denver
(credit: The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave)
Looking for a few fun things to do with your children this summer, but don't want to spend tons of cash? Luckily, there are lots of great activities all over the Denver area that charge low prices and are perfect for a few hours of education and entertainment. No need to spend big bucks going to another movie. Instead, check out one of these fun ways to spend a day with your children in Denver. You'll have tons of fun, your kids will love it and they may even learn a little something in the process.
Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys
1880 Gaylord St.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 322-1053
www.dmmdt.org
Price: Adults $6/Seniors $5/Children five to 16 $4/Children under five are free
If your child loves toys and dolls (and really, what child doesn't), then this museum is perfect for a few hours of fun. The Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys is an unique place that showcases a variety of dolls and toys from all over the world. You'll find fully furnished miniature houses, miniature trains, plains and more. There are also giant teddy bears, antique dolls, Japanese dolls and even a miniature circus. The museum also features a few special exhibits that rotate throughout the year, like a series of cathedrals and castles made entirely of matchsticks by artist Paul Marti. A visit to this museum is a great way to help your child escape into their imagination as you wander the exhibits and see all of the amazing dolls and toys.
Related: Denver's Top Attractions For Kids
The Denver Puppet Theater
3156 W. 38th Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 458-6446
www.denverpuppettheater.com
Price: $7 per person
Here is another wonderful way to escape into your imagination for a couple of hours. The Denver Puppet Theater brings live marionette shows that are designed for children age three and up. Once the show is over, you can play with more than 100 different puppets on your own and even decorate your own puppet to take home. There is a beautiful courtyard to enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack from the café and a fun gift shop with lots of trinkets and toys to purchase as well. Of course, the real attraction are the puppet shows themselves. Featuring stories like Thumbelina and Pinocchio, it is sure to be lots of fun for children of all ages.
The Children's Museum of Denver
2121 Children's Museum Drive
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-7444
www.mychildsmuseum.org
Price: $9 for ages two to 59/$7 for seniors and children age one/children under one are free
If you haven't spent an afternoon exploring the Children's Museum of Denver with your little ones yet, then here is your official invitation. There is so much to see and do here that it is sure to be your new favorite destination for a rainy afternoon. Your kids will love all of the different hands-on exhibits, and they won't even realize just how much they are learning while they play. Check out the 3,2,1… Blast Off! Exhibit to learn about building your own rockets, or visit the Art Studio to get a little messy while creating your own works of art. The Bubble exhibits are also very popular, where you can create huge bubbles and learn all about these soapy, sudsy delights. Really, there is so much to do, you'll need more than one day to see it all.
The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road
Golden, CO 80401
(303) 526-0744
www.buffalobill.org
Price: $5 for adults/$5 for seniors/$1 for children ages six to 15/children five and under are free
There are a lot of great reasons to take your children to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. First, it is a fascinating way to introduce them to the stories and legends of Buffalo Bill himself. You can learn all about the man at the permanent exhibits on display and then take the one-mile hike from the nature center to the grave location. It is a fairly easy hike with lots of beautiful spots to stop and take a rest or get some photos of the beautiful Colorado wilderness. When you get back from the hike, check out the Kids' Cowboy Corral to dress up like a cowboy, design your own brand and even attempt to lasso a calf. There is also a huge gift shop for all your western-themed souvenirs and a lovely café to grab a bite to eat before hitting the road.
Hammond's Candy Factory Tours
5735 N. Washington St.
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 333-5588
www.hammondscandies.com
Price: Free
What child wouldn't want to take a tour of a real candy shop? You may not see any Oompa-Loompas lurking about, but you will be able to watch and learn how candy canes, ribbon candy and lollipops are made, the same way they have been since the factory opened in 1920. These 30-minute tours are offered during the day from Monday through Saturday and include information about Colorado history, candy nostalgia and even some science. Of course, once the tour ends, you get to stop off in the candy shop to pick up some sweet treats of your very own.
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
