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9 Best Cheap Things to Do With Kids in Colorado

Budget is a big concern these days, especially for families traveling with kids. If you’re in Colorado, you’re in luck, as this state offers nearly an endless list of kid-friendly fun things to do, from nature centers and educational tours to children’s museums and outdoor adventures. Catering to all types of families, these are the top cheap things to do with kids in Colorado.

Explore the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, Broomfield Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
Credit: Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center by Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center

Explore the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, Broomfield

What Is It? The Butterfly Pavilion is located just 15 minutes from downtown Denver and offers the chance to walk through a 7,000-square-foot tropical rainforest conservatory filled with about 1,200 free-flying butterflies from around the world. 

Why Do It? The facility also hosts hundreds of different plants, birds, turtles, frogs and fish, all of which are sure to fascinate the kids. The Crawl-A-See-‘Em houses unique arthropods too, like scorpions, walking sticks, tarantulas and giant millipedes. 

Good to Know: There’s also a touch tank that’s home to marine invertebrates, and an interactive display where humans are bug-sized and the bugs look like giant creatures.

Take the U.S. Mint Tour, Denver Denver Mint
Credit: Denver Mint by Bigstock.com

Take the U.S. Mint Tour, Denver

What Is It? The Denver U.S. Mint produces more than 50 million coins every year.

Why Do It? While very young ones may not appreciate it, kids over the age of 5 or so are usually mesmerized by the gigantic machines that count, sort and bag the coins, and the huge stacks of hundred-dollar bills. 

Good to Know: A behind-the-scenes tour details the history of money and the coin-stamping process, and you’ll also get to see America’s second-largest deposit of solid-gold bullion, after Fort Knox in Kentucky. But the best part? It’s all free!

Visit the Denver Children's Museum, Denver Denver Children's Museum
Credit: Denver Children's Museum by Denver Children's Museum

Visit the Denver Children's Museum, Denver

What Is It? If your kids need to work off a lot of energy, head to the Children’s Museum of Denver. 

Why Do It? The little ones can play on the three-and-a-half-story climber, step inside a 6-foot bubble, sculpt a clay masterpiece or power a hot balloon. They can also learn important life lessons, like shopping at the child-sized grocery market or building in the construction workshop. 

Good to Know: At the Big Backyard, they can put on a costume and see the world through the eyes of their favorite backyard animal or insect. Joy Park offers a zip line, a sand pile for digging, the chance to build a fort using large swaths of fabric and stacking blocks, and more.

Experience the Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Denver Botanic Gardens
Credit: Denver Botanic Gardens by Denver Botanic Gardens

Experience the Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver

What Is It? The Denver Botanic Gardens features 15,000 species of plants from around the world, including over 700 types that are native to Colorado. 

Why Do It? Located in downtown Denver’s Cheesman Park, visitors can enjoy everything from a traditional Japanese garden with bonsai trees to the exotic plants like calla lilies and red hot pokers that bloom at the South African Plaza. 

Good to Know: While many kids enjoy seeing the various plants and flowers, the highlight for them is the Mordecai Children’s Garden. They’ll get to play and enjoy hands-on experiences using a variety of natural materials in the garden, allowing them to use their imagination and create their own connections with plants.

Catch a Fish at Trout Haven Ranch Trout Pond, Estes Park Trout Haven Ranch
Credit: Trout Haven Ranch by Trout Haven Ranch

Catch a Fish at Trout Haven Ranch Trout Pond, Estes Park

What Is It? If your kids have never fished but want to try it, take them to Trout Haven Ranch Trout Pond in Estes Park, less than an hour’s drive from Denver, and an ideal first-time fishing experience. 

Why Do It? It’s open all year round and is fun for the whole family – plus, there’s no license needed and you pay just a few dollars an inch for what you catch. 

Good to Know: Rod rentals, fish cleaning packing, freezing, and storing is available too.

Ride For Cheap at Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver Lakeside Amusement Park
Credit: Lakeside Amusement Park by Lakeside Amusement Park

Ride For Cheap at Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver

What Is It? This old-school amusement park has been called the best of its kind west of the Mississippi.

Why Do It? It offers the chance to enjoy an inexpensive evening of rides, like an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster, bumper cards, a merry-go-round, all sorts of spinning rides and a miniature steam-engine train. 

Good to Know: Plus, Kiddies’ Playland is filled with rides just for the little ones. You can even bring in your own picnic.

Go Underground at Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs
Credit: Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs by caveofthewinds.com

Go Underground at Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs

What Is It? Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs, a short drive east of Colorado Springs, offers the chance to go underground, exploring more than two miles of limestone passageways on well-lit tours through the cave’s twists and turns. 

Why Do It? This historic natural landmark is filled with impressive formations, and the Discovery Tour is a family-friendly 45-minute tour that’s perfect for those with kids. 

Good to Know: It also hosts the Wind Walker Challenge Course, safe and open to all ages who can navigate a maze of steel beams, swinging ropes and ladders.

Visit North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop, Cascade North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop
Credit: North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop by northpolecolorado.com

Visit North Pole Colorado Santa's Workshop, Cascade

What Is It? You probably never knew you could actually visit Santa in the summer, but at the North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop in Cascade, east of Colorado Springs, you can do just that. 

Why Do It? A visit here includes visits with the man himself, a Candy Cane roller coaster, and over 20 other rides, magic shows, and more.

Good to Know: It’s open from mid-May through Christmas Eve.

Splash Around at Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa, Hot Sulphur Springs Hot Sulphur Springs
Credit: Hot Sulphur Springs by eliduke via Flickr

Splash Around at Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa, Hot Sulphur Springs

What Is It? Who doesn’t like hot springs? The Hot Sulphur Hot Spring Resort and Spa is a place to relax and unwind. 

Why Do It? While spas aren’t exactly a popular spot to bring the kids, at Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa, just west of Rocky Mountain National Park, all of the lower pools are designated for children, while the upper pools are only for adults. 

Good to Know: Arguably the best one for kids is the covered Caribou therapy pool – it’s large enough to paddle around so the kids can have fun splashing around, plus if you go during the winter, the canvas walls block out the wind to prevent an icy chill.

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