The kids will experience quite a rush watching adventure seekers brave the rushing waters. Confluence ParkĬonfluence Park is one of the most frequented downtown parks and home to the South Platte River's premier kayak chutes. The Platte River Valley, in the heart of the city and on the west side of downtown, boasts a cornucopia of family-friendly attractions and entertainment. For an extra dose of fun, stop by the information desk in the main lobby to pick up a 'Find the Hidden Elves Scavenger Hunt' sheet (also available online and in both English and Spanish), which will lead you to specific locations throughout the museum and help you find tiny elves hiding within each exhibit. The Discovery Zone has dozens of hands-on activities for kids of all ages, from archaeological sandpits to moving water features. Just adjacent to the zoo is the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where visitors can explore fossils and dinosaurs, ponder the mysteries of space at Gates Planetarium, discover Egyptian mummies and watch larger-than-life films at the Phipps IMAX 3D Theater.

For an extra thrill, take a ride on the Conservation Carousel or aboard the Denver Zoo Railroad. See elephants swim, watch orangutans swing and hear lions roar while enjoying up-close animal experiences that provide moving connections to wildlife. More than 3,000 animals await at Denver's most popular cultural attraction.

Denver ZooĪt the eastern edge of City Park sits the Denver Zoo, where education comes alive. City Park is an expansive greenway boasting tennis courts, picnicking areas, playgrounds, lakes for paddling and City Park Jazz, a free, spectacular summer concert series.

Family friendly attractions