With the snow piled high, you may find yourself looking for a warm place for the kiddos to play. This list of indoor play areas around Denver should come in handy.
I’ve included all sorts of activities, some free and some with an admission fee. For some of the pricier attractions, I noted if there’s a Groupon available (and you should always check Groupon yourself for those not marked, as new Groupons pop up from time to time). Also keep in mind memberships are a great way to save big.
This list is by no means comprehensive as there are a gazillion spots across the metro area. A few spots have closed in the last year, others are still to re-open. Know of something that should be in the list? Just email laura@milehighonthecheap.com.
Free Play Areas and Activities
Apex Clubhouse Adventure Playground:
The multi-level play area at Arvada’s Apex Center is “paradise” for kids ages 1 to 10 (older siblings are allowed with their younger brother or sister too). There are tubes, rope ladders, slides, pogo poles, climbing structures and much more.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Even though all other activities at Apex Center carry a fee, the Adventure Playground is FREE and open to all — even those who do not live in the district. 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada.
Chick-fil-A:
Just about every location have an enclosed play area where little kids (usually up to the age of 5) can climb and slide. Outside of each play area is bin full of Purell wipes, so little hands can stay clean before and after playtime. Keep in mind all Chick-fil-A establishments are closed on Sundays.
Libraries:
Most local libraries have a children’s area with toys, games, puzzles and other fun activities, plus story times for all ages. Even better, librarians no longer “shush” noisy kids (or kids at heart). Next time you go, ask the librarian for some book recommendations to help get your kids reading at home too.
Make sure to check out Douglas County Library‘s playscapes. These play areas feature interactive, indoor adventures designed inspire imaginative play and self-guided learning. Each location offers something different, from play mail boxes to stuffy vet clinics to a pint sized farmers’ market.
Playscapes can be found at various Douglas County Libraries. Photo courtesy of Douglas County Library.
Lookout Mountain Nature Center:
A super way to connect with the natural world on top of Lookout Mountain. Offers a hands-on play room with tons of activities and observatory. Currently the space is only open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McDonald’s Indoor PlayPlace:
More than a dozen locations in the metro area house indoor PlayPlaces for ages 3 to 9. You’ll spend a little on lunch or a drink, but you have to eat anyway.
When you use the website’s restaurant locator, be sure to click on “Show More” and then check the “Indoor PlayPlace” box to find the restaurant closest to you.
Colorado Mills Mall:
Visit the Mars Outpost, a play area for kids located in the heart of the Lakewood mall. The space is sponsored by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, gets cleaned twice daily, and is FREE, including gratis mall parking.
Pay Attractions
The play area at The Butterfly Pavilion. Photo by Linnea Covington.
Butterfly Pavilion
While the venue celebrates the outdoor world, there’s a great indoor play space too. Admission runs $9.95 to $14.95, with kids 2 and under FREE. It’s a small space, but if you bop between the butterfly house and the play area, which also features story times, it’s easy to wear out kids and spend a couple hours there. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus:
Source: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Located in the heart of Denver, this kid spot has so much to do inside you can go again and again. There’s art to be done, a firetruck and fire safety area to explore, vet’s office complete with stuffed animals, plenty of STEM activities, a water feature and more.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, and you need to book tickets in advance. It costs $18 for those 2 to 59, and $16 for ages 1 and 60-plus.
The best bet to save some money at this amazing attraction is to get a membership or come on one of the free nights. 2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver.
CU Museum of Natural History:
Has everything from dinosaur fossils to cool current scientific research. Open daily, the Discovery Corner is a hands-on exhibit for young children and their favorite adults to explore together. Touch real museum specimens, play with puppets, color pictures, and read books.
Admission is free (a donation of $3 for adults and $1 for children/seniors is appreciated). Henderson Building, 15th & Broadway, Boulder.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science:
There’s so much to see at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Phot by Linnea Covington.
Sure it’s fun to wander around and look at dinosaur bones, dioramas and Egyptian mummies. But, there’s also the Discover Zone at the museum, perfect for toddlers and up. Explore how water moves objects, dig for bones in the rubber sand, make art and have a good time.
Admission to the kid area is included in the ticket cost, which ranges between $19.95 and $24.95, with kids 3 and under free. Get a membership to save money. Just make sure to book your tickets in advance. 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver.
Kids Dig:
This truly is a sandbox of fun complete with cars, trucks, buckets and plenty of shovels to go around. Geared toward kids 7 and under, play starts at $15 for a half-hour, and goes up to $28 for two hours, but up to two adults can get in for FREE. The play space is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 8601 W. Cross Drive, Littleton.
WOW! Children’s Museum:
A giant Lite Brite is just one of the things geared toward younger kids at Wow! Children’s Museum. Photo by Linnea Covington.
The museum offers story times, hands-on science activities and performances. Kids can pretend to be a pirate, milk a cow, shop the supermarket, create ginormous bubbles, practice their medical skills in The Little Clinic and much more.
Admission is FREE for children under 1, $13 for ages 1 to 11 and $7 for adults. Memberships available. 110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette.
Active Fun
Dress up and fight a pretend fire in the fire truck at the Denver Fire Fighters Museum. Photo by Linnea Covington.
Activate Indoor Park:
Offers trampolines, bounce castle, laser tag, slack line, rock climbing and more. Check website for prices which vary by day and the jumper’s age. 9979 Wadsworth Pkwy., Westminster.
Archery Games Denver:
Archery Games Denver
Offers archery dodgeball (instead of throwing a ball you use a bow and foam tipped-arrow) for ages 7+ and Nerf Wars for ages 6+. Archery dodgeball sessions are 75 minutes long. This includes 15 minutes on the practice range, followed by 60 minutes of gameplay in the arena. Nerf Wars last 60 minutes.
Price is around $30 per person, per game. But there are often promo codes on the website. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations required. 5405 W. 56th Ave., Unit D, Arvada.
Bounce Empire
Photo: Bounce Empire
The latest place to play is Bounce Empire in Lafayette. It’s a huge space filled with dozens of inflatable slides, games, obstacle courses and more. The ultimate bounce pass for ages 2 to 64 runs $29 to $34 and includes everything. Seniors and chaperones of kids 7 and under cost $19.
Don’t want to bounce? No problem, for $10 you get admittance to the park and full access to the upstairs, adults-only lounge with a view of the whole park, screens to watch your kids on, and epic massage chairs. 1380 S. Public Road, Lafayette.
Denver Fire Fighters Museum
Though there are a lot of things to look at the this downtown museum, it’s structured for play too. There’s a fire truck to explore (complete with costumes) and a whole play space on the second floor.
Visit Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 to $9, with kids 2 and under FREE. Bonus, use your library card to book a FREE family pass. 1326 Tremont Pl., Denver.
Kookalooz Space Playground (aka KidSpace):
Don’t let the name change fool you, this is the same indoor children’s playground as it was before. Once there, little ones can run, jump, crawl, slide, and bounce, all while enjoying a hands-on STEM museum, including a planetarium. Plenty of fun for the kids.
Kids 3 to 12 are $16.50, 6 mos. to 2 years are $9.50. Adults and babies 6 months and under are $4. Planetarium shows included in ticket. Open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 6805 W. 88th St., Broomfield.
Kids Wonder:
Play rooms such as home, school, grocery stores, post office, fire stations, theater, animal hospital, parks, and more that encourages kids to use their imagination. Puppet space, tumbling area, bounce house. Open play all day every day. Suited for kids 8 and younger.
Pricing depends on day (higher or weekends and holidays). Kids $14. First two adults are FREE (each additional $5) and crawlers and infants are free. And, on Wednesdays it’s Grandparents Day, which saves $2 on admission. Check website for hours which vary by day, and to make the required reservation. 7562 South University Blvd., Suite GG, Centennial.
Lava Island:
An 40,000-square-foot indoor park with so many trampolines, ladders, slides, mazes and more. Open everyday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Entry passes are $12.50 per person for one hour. Save money by bringing your own grippy socks. Bonus, if it’s not busy they may let you play longer at no extra charge. 452 Sable Blvd., Aurora.
Little Monkey Bizness Parker:
Play areas feature inflatable obstacle course, jumps and slides, special toddler area, play structures and more. Open play admission is $13.95 from 9 months to 2 years, $16.95 for ages 2 to 10.
The first adult is free, but extra grownups are $2 each. Open play starts at 9 a.m. everyday and goes until 1 p.m., save the weekend when it closes at 12 p.m. for parties. 10430 S. Progress Way, Parker.
Little Monkey Bizness Westminster:
Play areas feature inflatable obstacle course, jumps and slides, special toddler area, play structures and more. Open play admission is $13.95 for under 2 to 10 months, and $16.95 for ages 2 to 10. Kids 9 months and under are FREE, and one adult per family is also FREE ($2 for other adults in the group). Visit every day at 9 a.m., until 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday, til 5 p.m. Fridays and until noon on the weekend. 14693 Orchard Pkwy.,Westminster.
Miller Activity Complex (MAC) in Castle Rock:
Miller Activity Complex (MAC) in Castle Rock
This is a huge, two-story facility housing an indoor leisure pool with slide, zero-entry section, water table and vortex whirlpool. Also batting cages, children’s play structure with 23-foot-tall slide, BEAM interactive floor games, 18-hole golf simulator, indoor full-sized synthetic field, trampoline with 16 trampoline beds ($15 to $18) and a lounge with LEGO table and train table.
Daily admission is $7 to $8 for adults, depending on your place of residency. Discounts for children and seniors. Extra fees to use trampoline, batting cages and golf simulator.
Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1375 W. Plum Creek Pkwy., Castle Rock.
Paul Derda Recreation Center:
Not too long ago this Broomfield rec center decided to revamp the playground and make it indoors. Now kids 3 and under can play for free, and it’s just $6 for ages 4 to 7 (the oldest you can be in the kid’s zone).
Bonus, this spot also sports an indoor pool complete with a lazy river, water slide, toddler water slide and family “spa” area. 1 DesCombes Dr., Broomfield.
Play Street Museum:
Kids have fun imagining and pretending in the Town Square or exploring the many interactive exhibits and kid’s activities in the educational play space. Adults can join in on the adventure, or sit back and relax while their children discover a world that is just their size.
Admission is $13 per child age 1 and older (and it’s charged for those under 1 if they don’t have a paying sibling with them). Keep in mind this space is a shoe-free zone, so plan accordingly.
Open play from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. 9370 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. A-2, Highlands Ranch.
SkyZone in Arvada:
This trampoline center features a Foam Zone, obstacle course, wall-to-wall trampolines, jousting, aerial basketball, trampoline dodgeball and more. Check website for hours and prices which vary by day, time and the jumper’s age. 7330 W. 52nd. Ave., Arvada.
SkyZone in Aurora:
Though it’s called Defy Denver, this busy spot is actually in Aurora. Inside there are 50,000 square-feet of connected trampolines (60 tramps in all), plus a Ninja obstacle course, slackline, trapeze, aerial silks and foam pits. Check website for prices which vary by day and the participant’s age. 1400 S. Abilene St., Aurora. Groupon deal on 90-minute or All-Day pass here.
SkyZone in Parker:
This trampoline center features a Foam Zone, wall-to-wall trampolines, aerial basketball and volleyball and trampoline dodgeball. Check website for hours and prices which vary by day, time and the jumper’s age. 9851 S. Parker Rd., Parker.
SkyZone in Thornton:
Has 50,000 square-feet of connected trampolines (60 tramps in all), plus a Ninja obstacle course, slackline, trapeze, aerial silks and foam pits. Check website for prices which vary by day and the participant’s age. 9925 Grant St., Thornton.
Indoor Swimming
Apex Center:
Houses a 23,000 square feet Indoor Water Park with multiple pools, water slides, a vortex, “beach” play area and lap pool. Daily admission starts at $5.50 and goes up to $10 depending on age and resident status. Bonus, the admission includes use of the entire Apex Center and activities except ice skating. 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada.
Aurora Central Recreation Center:
Features a lap pool, an indoor wave pool, a lazy river, an interactive water slide, Kid Zone with fountains and shipwreck slide. Drop-in admission is $4 to $5, depending on your age. They also sell monthly or 10-visit passes. And, if you’re a resident of Aurora it’s even less. 18150 E. Vassar Pl., Aurora.
Lone Tree Recreation Center:
Boasts an 88-foot body/tube water slide, leisure pool with lazy river, spray features, children’s slide, basketball hoop and hot tub. Daily admission is $5.75 to $7.75 for adults, depending on your place of residency. Discounts for children and seniors. Punch cards and a Household Pass (2 adults and 3 children) also available. 10249 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree.
Ridge Recreation Center:
Has a body flume slide with splash-down area, current channel, floor geysers, bubble bench and children’s play structure with tot slide. Daily pool admission is between $4.25 to $7.75 depending on age and place of residency. Those who can’t walk yet are free. 6513 S. Ward St., Littleton.
Trails Recreation Center:
Facility has leisure pool with lazy river, lap pool, activity pool, water slides and hot tub. Daily admission is $5.50 to $8 for adults, depending on your place of residency. Discounts for children and seniors. 16799 E. Lake ave., Centennial.
Westminster City Park Recreation Center:
Features three indoor pools with slides, a current channel, rope swing, jumping platform, rock climbing wall, a play feature, hot tubs, steam room and sauna. Men’s and women’s locker rooms and a spacious family changing area with four individual changing rooms. Admission is $5 to $8 per day depending on your age place of residency. Those 3 and under are free. 10455 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster.