Family Fun at the Mile High

When you think of Colorado vacations, winter weekends spent swooshing on the powdery slopes of the Rockies may come to mind. But Colorado’s Mile High City is a playground of summer fun for kids of all ages.

In this Old West Neverland, a grown-up zest for play and exploration has nurtured a kid-friendly atmosphere. Take the 300 average days of sun per year, add 850 miles of paved off-road city bike and walking paths, throw in a downtown loaded with hundreds of great family attractions, and it all adds up. Denver is a place to play hard with the kids and channel your own inner Peter Pan.

Day One: Get to Know Denver

Begin your trip with a ride on Denver’s free 16th Street Mall shuttle and a climb to exactly one mile high. After a healthy family breakfast, ride the MallRide to the south end of 16th Street. Continue south on foot for a visit to the Colorado State Capitol Building (303-866-2604; www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/CapitolTour/tourwelcome.htm ). As you climb the steps to the door, stop for a family photo by the step marked “One Mile Above Sea Level.” Tour the Capitol, and if you are up for a hike, head to the top of the Capitol Dome for stunning views of the 120-mile mountain panorama (Advanced reservations required for Dome Tours. 303-866-3834; www.Capitol.tours@state.co.us ).

From the State Capital, walk back to 16th Street to pick up sandwiches from a variety of eateries for a lunch picnic at City Park. Then drive or catch the RTD bus to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, 303-322-7009, www.dmns.org ), where you can enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch in City Park behind the museum.

After lunch, enter the museum and take a Prehistoric Journey, blast off into Space Odyssey, view Egyptian Mummies, or enjoy an IMAX film or planetarium show. Brand new to DMNS is Expedition Health an interactive exhibit that takes visitors on a virtual journey to the summit of one of Colorado’s famous peaks, Mount Evans. Created to appeal to visitors of all ages, Expedition Health also explores the inner workings of the human body. Pick up a Peak Pass at the beginning of the exhibit and record information about your health and body along the way. As you exit, print a souvenir Personal Profile featuring data logged at the interactive stations.

When you’re done exploring the museum, return downtown and enjoy some down time before the big game. On tonight’s schedule: get rowdy at Coors Field cheering on the Colorado Rockies. Forget the pricey reserved seats and grab Rockpile seat. (4 ticket limit per game for Rockpile seats. www.rockies.mlb.com ). For reasonably priced ballpark food, head to section 149 and visit Buckaroos for special child-sized items. Just next to Buckaroos in section 147 is a playground in case the little ones get antsy before or during the game.

Day Two: Fun in the Sun

Warm up your outside voices; day two is an outdoor day. Depending on your family’s age and interests, plan one of these options:

Spend the day twisting, turning and screaming on the rides at Elitch Gardens, Denver’s downtown amusement park (2000 Elitch Circle, Denver. 303-595-4FUN (4386); www.elitchgardens.com ). Admission to Elitch Gardens includes admission to Kingdom Water Park.

For active families, Denver is the perfect place to rent bikes and spend the day on a trail. Begin your ride at Confluence Park, the birthplace of Denver. From here, ride either south along the South Platte River Greenway or east along the Cherry Creek Regional Trail. The trails reach far into the suburbs and can be shortened simply by turning around and retracing the route back to Confluence Park. It’s best to start early in the day. Mile High mornings feel cool and pleasant. As afternoons wear on, the weather can turn very hot or produce one of Denver’s signature afternoon downpours. Plan to arrive back at Confluence Park in time to take a breezy ride on the Platte River Trolley before dinner. The trolley runs Friday through Sunday, departing from the REI flagship store. (303-458-6255; www.denvertrolley.org).

For tiny tots, take a trip to the Children’s Museum of Denver (2121 Children’s Museum Drive, Denver. 303-433-7444; www.cmdenver.org ) for a chance to romp, roll and explore. Although it’s not an outdoor venue, outdoor voices are encouraged.

Tonight, enjoy dinner and an undersea adventure at Denver’s Downtown Aquarium (700 Water St., Denver, 303-561-4450; www.aquariumrestaurants.com ). Eat at the Aquarium Restaurant right beside the 150,000-gallon aquarium tank full of fascinating sea life. Afterward, show your dinner receipt for discounted admission to the aquarium and free parking (after 6 p.m.).

Day Three: A Day with the Animals

Wind up your three days in Denver with a trip to its most popular family attraction, the historic Denver Zoo (2300 Steele St., Denver, 303-376-4800; www.denverzoo.org). The RTD bus stops near the zoo entrance.

In 1896, an American brown bear named Billy Bryan was given to Denver’s mayor and became the first resident of the Denver Zoo. Today, the zoo is home to nearly 4,000 animals, including the world’s only rhinoceros that paints with a brush! Stroll around Primate Panorama, Predator Ridge and Tropical Discovery. Ask about the zoo’s daily activities and feeding times (you can also check online before you go). Don’t miss lunchtime for the gorillas or the entertaining antics of the sea lions.

For dinner, return downtown and have a fun evening at one of Denver’s many family-friendly restaurants around the 16th Street Mall: Hard Rock Café, The California Pizza Kitchen, The Old Spaghetti Factory or The Cheesecake Factory.

As the kids drift off to sleep later on, take time to watch the Rocky Mountain sunset. As that big yellow ball sinks behind the majestic purple mountains, you might want to start planning your next trip back to Colorado.

If You Go …

With its unique location and climate, there are a couple things to remember during your trip to Denver:

Be prepared. While Denver boasts more than 300 days of sun each year (more annual hours than Miami and San Diego), sudden downpours can surprise you. Always pack rain gear.

Wear sunscreen. Because there is 25 percent less protection from the sun at one mile above sea level, the sun shines intensely on Denver. Be sure to generously slather the family with sunscreen at least 20 minutes before heading out. Remember to reapply throughout the day. Consider wearing hats and sunglasses, as well.

Don’t be fooled by warm days. With hot dry days come much cooler evenings. If you plan to be out at dusk or after dark, bring a light jacket or sweater.

Drink plenty of water. Denver residents know that it’s easy to become quickly dehydrated in the dry Colorado air. Purchase or pack water bottles, and keep the family drinking water throughout the day. Yes, even if you don’t feel thirsty!

Adopt a high altitude attitude. The air is thinner at 5,280 feet above sea level, so don’t be surprised if the family gets winded or tires faster than normal. Just take it easy. Sit and relax in the humidity-free shade for a bit, and remind yourself that you are on vacation.

Getting Around

If you have the family car, the metro area is easy to navigate. Two major interstates meet within minutes of the downtown area – I-25, covering the North-South corridor, and I-70, taking you East-West. The interior of the city may be a little more challenging, but a car really isn’t necessary in the heart of downtown. It’s easy to get around downtown with a good pair of walking shoes and public transportation.

Metro Denver’s public transportation system RTD will take you just about anywhere you need to go in the metro area. Adults. Day passes and discounted 10-ride ticket books are available. (303-299-6000; www.rtd-denver.com).

Light Rail runs from Downtown to many Denver attractions and into the southern suburbs and the Tech Center. Fares vary by zone. (303-299-6000; www.rtd-denver.com)

The 16th Street Free MallRide transports riders up and down a bustling pedestrian area covered with shops and restaurants. The shuttle also connects with the LightRail and RTD and stops within minutes of major attractions. (303-299-6000; www.rtd-denver.com/SpecialRides/MallShuttles/)

Car or van rentals are plentiful for day trips outside of the city.Helpful Websites 

For bus, LightRail or 16th Street MallRide information – www.rtd-denver.com .

For Denver Tourism information – www.denver.org .

For general Denver city information – www.denvergov.org/ .

For Colorado family-friendly information, shopping and a calendar of family events – www.coloradoparent.com .

To download a copy of the Denver Carbon-free Hike and Bike tour map booklet – www.greenprintdenver.org .



Deborah Mock is the editor of Colorado Parent magazine.