School’s out and all of our young patients at Kids Mile High Pediatric Dentistry are beyond excited. While they’re thrilled to put the books down for a few months and sleep in, we know for parents it can be a challenge to keep your offspring busy and entertained all summer long. As an Englewood pediatric dentist, Dr. Paddy gets the scoop on lots of cool things to do with kids in Denver and Englewood, so we thought we’d help you out with some of our recommendations. Here’s the Kids Mile High guide to best summer activities for children in Englewood and Denver listed in no particular order of awesomeness.
The Children’s Museum of Denver
On a rainy or hot day, inside the Children’s Museum is the place to be. It’s full of interactive playscapes and daily fun and educational events for little ones and families. Plus on Target First Tuesday Nights (from 4 to 8 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month), admission is free. Too nice out to be cooped up indoors? Check out the Children’s Museum’s Joy Outdoor Adventure Park. It boasts 30,000 square feet of outdoor adventure space and nature-based play areas. Take advantage of Joy Park free nights on the third Friday of every Month, May through September from 4 to 8 p.m.
Pirates Cove Water Park
One of our favorite kids’ activities in Englewood is Pirates Cove Water Park. But, who are we kidding? This place is just as much for the adults. Live it up on the water slides, relax in the lazy river or splash around in the lagoon. The summer hot spot even hosts birthday parties.
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The Denver Art Museum
The art museum is another fun way to beat the heat in the summer. There are designated children’s areas where kiddos can try on costumes and engage in imaginative play. However, the most unique museum program is their family backpacks that contain art making supplies, games and puzzles geared towards exploring certain sections of the museum. Backpacks (for ages three to five and six through 12) are available on weekends during the school year and weekdays during school breaks. Pick one up from the Studio on level 1 of the Hamilton Building and go on an adventure.
Southwest Movies at Skyline Park
Enjoy a free, family-friendly movie under the stars at Skyline Park (corner of 16th and Arapahoe Streets) brought to you by Southwest Airlines. The movies begin at dusk on Saturdays and run from July 2 through August 6. Additional entertainment kicks off an hour before the flick. Catch Pitch Perfect 2 on July 2 or Minions on July 9. The full schedule is here.
Belleview Train and Children’s Farm
Belleview Park is another great place for cheap family fun in Englewood. The Belleview Children’s Farm and the Miniature Train are both open from Memorial Day through Labor Day and only cost $1.75 per person. Take a ride on the train and then frolic at the petting zoo and meet the farm animals. When you’re done, ride bikes on the bike paths or spend some time on the playground.
Mordecai Children’s Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens
This 3-acre, magical place allows children and families to explore plants and the natural world of six different ecosystems in Colorado through hands-on play. Since the ecosystems continually change throughout the year, every visit is different.
Denver Story Trek
Denver Story TrekThis is a great way to see the city in a new light. These DIY, self-guided tours will get kids moving and teach them a thing or two about Denver. You can choose among tour themes like “Women of the West” or “Mile High Arts & Culture” or customize your own. You bike or walk to the sites on your pre-planned trek and then call in or download an audio file to hear the story of your site. Best of all, it’s free.
Civic Center EATS
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October 6 at Civic Center Park, you can take advantage of Metro Denver’s largest gathering of gourmet food trucks and carts. Enjoy lunch outside while listening to live music and support a good cause. Proceeds aid Civic Center Park revitalization efforts.
Storytimes at the Englewood Public Library
For parents of babies and toddlers, Storytimes at the library can be a great way to keep the babes engaged and connect with other parents. BabySteps Storytime is geared towards little ones aged birth through 18 months, Teetertots Storytime caters to those 18 months to three-years-old and Preschool Storytime is for ages three to five. Check out the schedule here. You’ll also notice plenty of programs for school-aged kids and teens as well.
Dinosaur Ridge
Okay, so this attraction is technically in Morrison but we’d be remiss to include a list of things to do with kids in the Denver area and leave out Dinosaur Ridge. It’s actually two trails, Dinosaur Ridge and Triceratops Trail, as well as indoor exhibits. Visitors can get a taste of ancient Colorado at this outdoor museum and site where dino discoveries were made in the late 1800s. You’ll see stegosaurus bones, Iguanodon tracks and even ripple patterns left by Colorado’s ocean! You can walk the Ridge trail for free or stop by the Visitor Center for a guided shuttle tour.
