children's museum · $$ · since 1984
Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Hands-on museum for the newborn-to-eight crowd, with a big outdoor Joy Park
On the west bank of the Platte between Elitch Gardens and the aquarium, the Children's Museum is a 9-acre campus built for kids from birth to about eight: a climbing 'Altitude' tower, a real teaching kitchen, a water lab, an art studio, and Joy Park, a wide outdoor play landscape with a stream and zip line that opened with the 2015 expansion. Admission is $19.75 for ages 2 to 59 and $17.75 for one-year-olds and seniors; babies are free, and adults are not admitted without a child. Outside food is allowed, which matters at $20 a head. It is a summer Denver Trolley stop and a short walk from the Downtown Aquarium.
Why go. The best rainy-day answer for small children within a mile of LoDo.
Arrive at 9 when it opens and do the indoor exhibits first, then Joy Park; the free Joy Park Friday nights are the cheap way in on a summer evening.
A short walk from Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
Gates Crescent Park
Riverbank lawn with a straight-on view of the downtown skyline
Auraria & Ball Arena · Children's Museum Dr
amusement parkElitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
$$$A full amusement park and water park inside the downtown loop
Platte Street & the bridge · 2000 Elitch Cir
Downtown Aquarium
$$$A million gallons of fish, a couple of tigers, and dinner beside a tank
LoDo · 700 Water St
NFL stadiumEmpower Field at Mile High
$$$The Broncos' stadium across the river, and the reason LoDo bars open at 9am on Sundays.
A little farther · 1701 Bryant St
Little Machine Beer
$Jefferson Park brewery with trivia, bingo and a food truck outside
A little farther · 2924 W 20th Ave
Fishback Landing Park
Small riverfront lawn on the Platte with benches and trail access
Platte Street & the bridge · 818 Water St