COME TO LIFE / Kid-Approved Weekend in Denver MORE IDEAS FOR FAMILIES ELITCH GARDENS THEME & WATER PARK Mind-blowing rides for those taller than 48 inches (including the seven-story Brain Drain), plenty of slower family rides for those who aren’t, Island Kingdom Water Park, lots of places to eat and a summer concert series, “dive-in” movies and other events make the nation’s only downtown theme park a must visit. WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Expe-rience the rush of flight in the museum’s simulation center, climb into cockpits and wonder at the collection of military and civilian aircraft and the country’s only X-wing Starfighter. WATER WORLD One of the biggest and best water parks in the nation, with acres of refreshing summer-time fun. Nearly 50 rides and adventures offer something for all ages. BUTTERFLY PAVILION 1,200 free-flying butterflies make their home at this one-of-a-kind attraction in West-minster, fluttering around visitors in a re-creation of a tropical rainforest. THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY This 720-acre rescue/educational facility 30 miles outside of Denver is home to nearly 350 large carnivores (including lions, tigers, bears and wolves!). They roam the massive refuge while you walk above them on the Mile Into the Wild walkway. DINOSAUR RIDGE Compare footprint sizes with giant prehistoric beasts on a 1.5-mile nature walk in Morrison. You’ll encounter more than 100 fossilized dinosaur tracks, including those of stegosaurus, apatosaurus and allosaurus. IFLY INDOOR SKYDIVING Lone Tree’s smooth-riding vertical wind tunnel literally sends you soaring. A stellar training program and instructors make it great for families. KID-APPROVED WEEKEND IN DENVER Your kids will be grinning from ear to ear whenever they’re in the Mile High City, thanks to Denver’s wide array of kid-friendly attractions. COLORADO 16TH STREET MALL, VISIT DENVER; CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF DENVER; SKATEBOARD, ISTOCKPHOTO; THE WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY; WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, BETH SCHNEIDER; ELITCH GARDENS THEME & WATER PARK. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: SEA TURTLE, ISTOCKPHOTO. BUTTERFLY PAVILION; WATER WORLD, BETH SCHNEIDER; DAY 1 More than 500 species of ocean-dwellers roam landlocked Denver, thanks to the Downtown Aquarium , the region’s largest. Have close encounters with sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and even Sumatran tigers as they swim in more than a million gallons of water. Down the street is the Children’s Museum of Denver (2) , an imagination-stimulating journey for kids 8 and under. Along with playing at more than a dozen “playscapes,” including a hands-on fire department, an assembly plant and a tot-size veterinary clinic, they can create bubbles more than six feet long in the Bubble Booth. Older kids will want to check out a few of the city’s urban adventure parks for skateboarding, BMX, mountain biking, skiing/boarding and more right in town. Downtown Denver Skatepark and Evolve Action Sports Park are a couple to scope out. More: denv.co/ extremesports . End your first day on the 16th Street Mall (1) , a mile-long promenade and one of the Mile High City’s most visited attractions. It’s a great spot for dinner, with plenty of kid-pleasing choices. Every block boasts a landmark or one of many public art sculptures, a perfect scavenger hunt as you make your way around. 1 2 STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Aurora (page 196), Arvada , Brighton (page 198), Castle Rock (page 199), Centennial (page 199), Commerce City , Denver (page 201), Englewood (page 202), Evergreen (page 203), Glendale , Golden (page 205), Greenwood Village (page 206), Highlands Ranch (page 207), Lakewood (page 207), Littleton (page 208), Morrison (page 210), Roxborough (page 211), Sedalia (page 212), Wheat Ridge (page 214) 104 / COLORADO.COM
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2017: Page 104
