1. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, Denver
At this amusement park in downtown Denver, ride scream-inducing roller coasters, little-kid-friendly rides and slippery water slides.
2. Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, Cañon City
Cañon City's Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience brings the action with full-scale dinosaur fossil casts, hands-on exhibits, animatronic dinosaurs and more.
3. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Watch an out-of-this-world show at the museum's planetarium and IMAX theater. Tour exhibits about space, gems and minerals, dinosaurs and the human body.
4. GrEAT Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Mosca
The young and young-at-heart love to go sand-sledding and -boarding down the dunes of this national park in Mosca.
5. Meow Wolf, Denver
Unleash your imaginations in the fascinating and brightly colored worlds of Meow Wolf's Convergence Station. Interactive exhibits and otherworldly critters are a guaranteed kid pleaser.
6. Gold Mine Tours, Breckenridge
Head into the mountain town of Breckenridge for guided underground tours of actual gold and silver mines before testing your own fortune while panning for gold.
7. Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, Denver
Discover the important roles Black settlers played in Colorado and the West at this museum with exhibits on Denver’s first Black doctor, Black cowboys and more.
8. Colorado Model Railroad Museum, Greeley
At Greeley's Colorado Model Railroad Museum, examine intricate model railroad layouts, a wooden caboose from the Colorado and Southern Railroad and more than 1,000 railroad artifacts. See actual trains come and go on nearby tracks.
9. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs
See nearly 800 animals — from endangered Amur tigers to moose and mountain lions — in a Colorado Springs mountain setting that makes Cheyenne Mountain Zoo one of the most unique zoos you’ll encounter.
10. Denver Art Museum
Explore, learn and play at Denver Art Museum, where you can get creative with hands-on activities for all ages, relax in one of the family fun areas and discover world-class art.
11. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Discover avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibis, herons and other unique animals at this scenic wildlife refuge in Monte Vista.
12. Winter Park Alpine Slide & Resort Activities
Get the adrenaline pumping in Winter Park with a slew of fun summer activities, like alpine slides, ziplines, scenic chairlift rides, bike parks and more.
13. Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, La Junta
Enter the living museum of Bent's Old Fort in La Junta, where costume-clad guides lead you through a reconstructed trading post once frequented trappers, traders and travelers, including the legendary Kit Carson and Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples. Tip: Check the fort's official website for when it's open while you're planning; its hours can change during different seasons.
14. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
See the more than 3,500 animals that call the 80-acre Denver Zoo home. Monkey Island and the big cats exhibits are among the top crowd pleasers.
15. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum
Climb aboard a vintage steam locomotive that has been carrying passengers along the scenic Animas River from Durango to Silverton since 1882.
16. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Kids love the blend of science, history and culture at this hands-on museum experience in Fort Collins.
17. Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs
In Manitou Springs, travel through more than 2 miles of underground limestone passageways on well-lit, easy tours into the Cave of the Winds' twists and turns.
18. Crested Butte Mountain Resort Adventure Park
Take on the climbing wall, bungee trampolines and an 18-hole mini golf course in summer at Crested Butte Mountain Resort Adventure Park.
19. Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison
Encounter more than 100 fossilized dinosaur tracks and more at Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison.
20. Downtown Aquarium, Denver
Feed a slippery stingray and gaze at hypnotically moving jellyfish, stealthy sharks and frisky fish of every color at the Downtown Aquarium.
21. Walking Mountains Science Center, Avon
Join the Walking Mountains Science Center's trained naturalists for guided hikes where you’ll learn about the wildlife and ecology of Avon and the Eagle River Valley.
22. History Colorado Center, Denver
Kids and adults alike will have a blast learning about the history of Colorado thanks to History Colorado Center’s many interactive exhibits.
23. Epic Discovery, Vail & Breckenridge
At Epic Discovery in both Vail and Breckenridge, you can immerse yourself in nature and challenge yourself with thrilling activities like mountain coasters, zipline tours, adventure courses and much more.
24. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver
See dozens of historic airplanes, space vehicles and interactive exhibits. The Wings Over the Rockies collection includes a rare B-18A Bolo — one of only five remaining WWII-era bombers–five Century-Series fighters.
25. Headwaters River Journey, Winter Park
Discover the wonders of Colorado's rivers and wildlife as you explore the conservation and preservation at the interactive Headwaters River Journey.
