We found a good amount to do for a weekend in Denver, Colorado with the kids despite a number of popular attractions being closed for the season. I would love to bring them back in the summer to try out a few more things.

What to Do in Denver with Kids

We ended up walking from Hotel Teatro to the Children’s museum, which was about a half hour walk. Options to spend a day in Denver were a bit limited in November as many things appeared closed for the season (such as the amusement park).

There are several parks set up around town. Jenn took the kids here one day while I was working and they had fun. It wasn’t crowded and the kids didn’t seem to mind much being all bundled up to protect from the cold—at least when the wind wasn’t blowing.

Also along the way is a small train. During the warmer months, the train runs along the river, making the walk to the Children’s museum a bit shorter. I believe it goes as far south as the sports stadium. It probably would have been a ride the kids would love to take but we only got to see it all locked up for the season. Maybe next time.

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus ended up being a fantastic choice to spend a cold day in Denver. There are plenty of indoor activities here, including playing with bubbles, block building, a construction zone where kids can hammer wood and cardboard together, a firefighter section, and where all kids can live out their fantasy—being a veterinarian. They do have a small food court to eat lunch, but don’t expect hot items aside from the microwave available to use to reheat your meal.

There is also an outdoor section at the museum. There are slides, a sand box, and hula hoops. During warmer months, a large outdoor contraption called Adventure Forest is open. That looked exciting and the kids were intrigued by it so perhaps we will need to return during the summer to check it out. Overall, we were impressed by the Children’s Museum. This is definitely worth the price of admission.

The Children’s Museum is right across the river from the amusement park Elitch Gardens, but naturally the amusement park was also closed for the season. While attractions are a bit more limited during colder months, it wasn’t hard finding things to do with the kids. We also debated going to the Denver Zoo, which was only a short ride away on the light rail, but didn’t find time to go.

Where to Eat in Denver

We had a couple of nights in Denver and decided on eating out as a family for dinner. Thankfully Denver seems to have quite a few options that work with our kids’ tastes.

Jovanina’s Broken Italian

The first place we went was a clear winner: Jovanina’s Broken Italian. The restaurant itself has a very inviting atmosphere and everyone working here is super friendly. The food is also amazing and there are plenty of choices that don’t make you feel like you’ve just gobbled down loads of carbs. The kids had a blast at this family-friendly restaurant. We would absolutely come here again the next time we are in town. Highly recommended.

Bao Brewhouse

Our second night here, we ate at Bao Brewhouse. It appears to be a popular restaurant and they even decorated their vents to resemble dragons, which was a nice touch. While they do serve bao, don’t expect traditional flavors as they appear to cater more to local interests. That’s not to say it tasted disappointing—on the contrary, I still enjoyed it and the kids loved the flavors—but as long as you don’t come here expecting authenticity, I think you’ll be fine. They also serve Peking duck, but again, don’t expect the traditional sauces that come with it. However note that food here is a bit on the expensive side. I probably wouldn’t return on my next visit to town but the kids might request it again.

Where have you been in Denver and where would you recommend for next time?