Psst… Family Fun Activities in Denver

August is National Family Fun Month, which means you might want to know about some ideas on where and how to enjoy family fun activities in Denver!

We already let you know about Denver pools, water parks and splash pads, as well as ways you can entertain your kids for free, and even undiscovered amusement parks… Now it’s time for more family fun ideas for the entire family in and around Denver.

Family Fun Activities in Denver

Visit a Local Farm

Visit a local farm this August with the entire family, and learn about local agriculture, produce and animal care. Children and adults alike love engaging with live animals, and there are many local farms that you can take your children to this month around Denver.

Berry Patch Farms is locally owned and operated farm located in Brighton. The farm is a working farm and is 40 acres in size. The farm encourages family visits to learn more about agriculture and to have an authentic farm experience. They offer tours, workshops and special kid activities, as well as “Pick-Your-Own” strawberries, raspberries, currants, pie cherries, plums, apples, basil, flowers and pickling cucumbers from May through September.

Children can enjoy special classes such as making Bat Houses, Lady Bug Houses, Butterfly Houses, and more.

Broken Shovels Farm is a dairy-producing vegetarian urban farm with an emphasis on rescue and sanctuary. The farm, located in Henderson, includes animals such as dairy goats, chickens, guineas, cats, and dogs. The farm hosts an open house and “snuggle” day on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer, as well as private tours and various events throughout the year.

DeLaney Community Farm is a Denver Urban Garden’s educational community farm located in central Aurora. DeLaney is a 158 acre historic property that produces fruits, honey, meat, eggs, soap, and raw goat’s milk. The farm hosts tours, special workshops, a variety of open farm brunches and dinners, and more.

Take a Kid-Friendly Train Ride

There is something about trains that really resonates with children. Children love playing with trains and train tracks, so why not bring those play-time experiences to life? There are so many great places you and your kids can enjoy a family fun day aboard a train!

Belleview Park’s Miniature Train Ride runs every summer from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Tuesday through Sunday. The miniature train takes families around the park on a fun and kid-friendly ride. Rides cost $1.75 per person, making this a very cost-effective way to take multiple rides throughout the day.

Colorado Railroad Museum features over 100 narrow and standard gauge steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses HO Model Railroad and G-scale garden railway on a 15-acre rail yard. Colorado Railroad Museum offers train rides from 10am to 4pm daily and special rail-related events throughout the year.

Platte Valley Denver Trolley used to be part of Denver’s extensive 250 mile electric trail system (from the early 1900s to 1950) that connected Denver to the cities of Golden and Boulder. Car No. 25 is what is left of that system and remained completely intact.

The Platte Valley Denver Trolley takes you on a ride through sites such as Confluence Park, Elitch Gardens, Downtown Aquarium, Children’s Museum of Denver, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Downtown Denver and ends at RTD (allowing you the opportunity to continue your journey using public transport). The trolley runs Thursday through Monday from 11am to 5pm and fares are $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 4–13, and free for children 3 and under. Find out where to board the trolley online.

Tiny Town & Railroad is a miniature village and railroad that features over 100 doll-sized buildings. Children can explore (and peek inside) all the miniature houses, shops and buildings. The miniature train departs every 30 minutes, the ride lasts around 10 minutes and allows you to see parts of the park that aren’t accessible any other way.

Family Fun on the Water

Cherish the outdoor season while you can this month by enjoying a family fun day at one of many local park lakes and reservoirs that offer special water activities rentals!

Wheel Fun Rentals offers various water activity boat rentals at Denver’s City Park and Washington Park.

Choose from their selection of two-person pedal boats, four-person pedal boats, single kayaks, double kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddle boards, and enjoy a day at the park’s lakes creating memorable moments with your family.

Pedal boat prices range from $25–$35 per hour, kayak prices range from $12–$20 per hour, canoes are $20 per hour, stand up paddle boards are $12 an hour, and water trikes are $30 an hour. Boat rentals are available daily from 10am to sunset.

The Marina at Cherry Creek offers jet-ski, power boats, sail boats, and stand up paddle boards for rent at the Cherry Creek Reservoir with prices ranging from $20–$200 per hour. If you prefer to relax instead, then they also offer mid-day and late-afternoon cruises aboard “The Princess Laura”, 65′ long, 15′ wide riverboat. Make a rental reservation online in advance or call (303) 741-2995 for same day reservations.

Up-Close Animal Encounters

There are many ways you and your kids can encounter animals up-close this August!

Denver Zoo is currently offering a special “Up-Close Animal Encounters” program. The program provides guests with a one of a kind experience by combining exclusive animal encounters, intimate keeper interactions and guided tours.

Featured animal encounters include penguins, rainforest animals, orangutans, gorillas, hippos, rhinos, elephants, sea lions, lorikeets, giraffes and more. Encounters range from 45 minutes long to 90 minutes long (depending on the encounter chosen), and also features a look behind-the-scenes at their habitats and feedings, a photo opportunity, and a souvenir.

Encounter prices start from $50 per person and can be individually booked. Learn more about each encounter and make your reservations online.

Butterfly Pavilion offers guests the opportunity to experience up-close encounters with 1,600 butterflies from rainforests around the world at their “Wings of the Tropics” habitat. Witness butterflies emerging from their chrysalides and released into their rainforest habitat during their butterfly encounters. Guests can also touch Rosie the Tarantula at their “Crawl-A-See-Em” exhibit, and multiple opportunities for guests to hold or touch popular invertebrates, such as worms and beetles a “Dug out” touch station.

Museum admission is $11 for adults, $9 for adult Westminster residents and seniors ages 65+, $6 for children ages 2–12, and free for children 2 and under.

Downtown Aquarium offers two marine “Scuba and Snorkel Adventures” that both offer up-close encounters with marine animals. The “Swim with the Fish – Snorkel Adventure” is for adults and children ages 6 and up, and allows guests to swim with Giant Groupers, Moray Eels, Guitar Fish, Rays, Green Sea Turtles and more. The “Dive with the Sharks – Scuba Adventure” is for adults and children ages 10 and up (that are also dive certified), and allows guests to swim with 10ft Sand tiger Sharks, Sandbar Sharks, Zebra Sharks, Guitarfish, three 12ft Sawfish, Green Sea Turtles, a Napoleon Wrasse and more. They also offer a scuba diving with a fish experience as well that allows uncertified divers.

The encounters prices are $80 for snorkeling, $185 for scuba-diving for certified divers, and $195 for uncertified divers. Prices also include admission to the aquarium, a t-shirt, and a coupon for the aquarium’s restaurant. Learn more information on the Downtown Aquarium encounters, including reservations, online.

Downtown Aquarium also offers up-close encounters with terrestrial animals such as porcupine, sloth, serval, binturong, hawk, eagle, snakes, tortoises, or parrots. Some encounters also include animal feeding, touching, training, and/or getting your picture taken with the animal. These encounters cost $45 for a group of 5 people or less $75 for 6 or more. Book your animal encounter by calling (303) 561-4486.

Challenge your Kids with Games & Matches

If your kids are more on the competitive side and love family challenges, there are many game and play centers in and around Denver for you to choose from.

Boondocks Food & Fun is a family fun center that will allow you to challenge your kids to a multitude of games and activities! Boondocks features attractions such as bowling, a two-story laser tag, bumper boats, miniature golf, Go-Karts, arcade games and more. During your family fun day you can also keep all of the family members’ energy levels high by ordering food from their full restaurant menu and grill.

They offer many different priced packages ranging from unlimited attractions packages to a “Pick-Your-Own” packages. Package prices range from $16.95 to $29.95 per person. They also offer a special $12 unlimited laser tag, bowling and video games package on Tuesdays and Thursdays (with an $8 outdoor attractions upgrade available as well).

 

Hyperspace Arcade is a great place to challenge your kids for a match of pinball and arcade games which you have the upper hand. Hyperspace is an authentic 1980s-themed arcade that features over 100 arcade and pinball games from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Revisit games you know well and introduce them to your children. What’s also great about this arcade is that no quarters are needed for the games, admission is $10 for a full day of unlimited game-playing, allowing your kids the opportunity to try a few times and eventually “beat you at your own game” too!

Rock’n & Jam’n is a rock climbing gym for all the adventure-seeking families, who also want to let their kids release some energy! Rock’n & Jam’n has two locations to choose from, one in Centennial and one in Thornton, and both gyms feature some of the steepest and tallest overhanging climbing terrain, bouldering, top rope climbing, a fully adjustable system wall, lead climbing, and even cardio and weight equipment. Instructors can also teach you how to use the autobelays and then you and your children can enjoy climbing together.

Unser Karting & Events offers families, with children ages 6–13, the opportunity to take their kids go-kart racing! Let your kids enjoy the thrills of driving around a high performance track all on their own in a junior kart. All of their junior karts feature adjustable steering wheels, seats, and pedals that provide a comfortable fit for racers as young as 6 years old. Children also get to experience the responsibility that comes along with driving, by needing to complete a training session prior to racing and earning a “Junior License”.

Junior licenses are $45 and are valid until the child’s 14th birthday. After receiving their license, kids can race on the track for $15 each, with a special $12 rate for Wednesdays.

So many ways to enjoy a family fun activities in Denver with your loved ones this August. Happy Family Fun Month Denver!