Denver / COME TO LIFE Or head west to the city of Golden’s Colorado Railroad Museum , where more than 100 locomo-tives, cabooses and HO model railroad attractions make the state’s rail history seem larger than life. 3 FROM LEFT: LITTLE MAN ICE CREAM; DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE. this adventure in City Park takes visitors on a globe-trotting safari. The new grizzly bear habitat, Harmony Hill , allows visi-tors to better understand how to live in harmony with wildlife. Plan ahead to Bunk with the Beasts (in-the-zoo sleepovers) or participate in up-close animal encounters like penguin feedings and tiger training sessions. Pack a picnic lunch and spread out in City Park , the largest in Denver, with 330 acres of refreshing green space and an abundance of fresh-air activities. Find a spot in the area around Ferril Lake to take in the best views of Denver’s skyline and the Rocky Mountains. Museum options for today include the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (4) , also in City Park, to see enormous dinosaur skeletons in the Prehistoric Journey exhibit, watch an IMAX feature or transport into space at the planetarium. Pro tip: The terrace behind the museum has a play fountain kids love. The Denver Art Museum is one of the nation’s best for kids programs, includ-ing the Just for Fun Family Center, gallery games and Create-N-Takes — and it’s always free for kids 18 and under. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts hosts many kid-friendly performances each year, including the Colorado Symphony ’s Family Series (Halloween Spooktacular and Drums of the Word are faves), as well as performing the scores while screening “Fanta-sia” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Dinner calls for a trip to Casa Bonita , which is not your average Mexican restaurant. This longtime Denver favorite is a great place to end your Denver adventure. Known less for its food and more as an indoor amusement park, it entertains little ones with cliff divers, mariachi bands, puppet shows, a pirate cave, magicians and more. After this packed weekend, you might consider treating yourself to one of their fa-mously large margaritas. Other popular family spots include Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs , Sam’s No. 3 , Punch Bowl Social (bowling, table games and vintage arcade), Ace Eat Serve (Southeast Asian food and pingpong hall), the Cherry Cricket and Little Man Ice Cream (3) . 4 Aquarium Adventure Exhibit • Aquarium Restaurant • Mystic Mermaids • Carousel Train • Swim with the Sharks • Stingray Reef • Weekend Events ADVENTURE DIVE INTO 700 Water Street • 303.561.4450 • downtownaquarium.com OPEN DAILY • MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE COLORADO.COM / 101
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