Denver.....

[cstwwt]

Hi All,

We will be driving through Denver and could spend a few hours doing something.....any ideas??

We will have been traveling for about 15 hours in the car.....and will need some stretching and fresh air. I can't wait to see the mountains!!

We will be heading to Winter Park after a brief stop in Denver.

Thanks in advance for any replies!! Wendy

 

[Priorityonecb]

The Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Sciences are right next to each other. Both are fantastic, depending on if you want indoors or out. In the summer the museum has a pulsating fountain that the kids can play in as well. Also, if you need a fun meal check out Casa Bonita. They have cliff divers, tropical atmosphere, skits, runaway Ape...super fun! The food isn't the best on earth, but it's good!

 

[marie1203]

Maybe visit downtown 16th street mall, butterfly pavillion, the mint.

 

[momplus3]

I would suggest the Denver Mint or the Zoo.

 

[sadiebug]

If you are going to do the mint then you should go online and see if you can get reservations for a tour. They fill up quickly, as I found out one day after I had already paid for parking down there!

I would also recommend Casa Bonita, especially if you have kids. The food is so-so, but the atmosphere and the **free** sopapillas are the best!!

 

[Dsnymouse]

We use to live in Denver and we miss it very much! I second the Casa Bonita if you have children. It's a fun place full of interesting things to see. Each dining area is themed different and they have cliff divers in the dining area. They have arcades for the kids to play and such. The food isn't the best but you go for the atmosphere. Also try the Denver Aquarium we loved it and went several time. There is a dining area you can sit by the fish tanks but the food is a bit pricey (owned by Landry's). We visited the Mint (with a reservation) and my kids were bored stiff. We've been to Winter Park and trying to remember if you drive through Colorado Springs (not looking at a map) but there is a great area called Garden of the Gods. It's beautiful, kids can run around and you can picnic there.
Also if you get the chance, ride an Alpine Slide in Winter Park. You can find them at hotels and ski resorts. Lots of fun! Hope that helps.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

You can come to my house if you bring some Wisconsin cheese curds!

 

[momabaarjo]

Making me homesick....

If you are doing the mint, you have to make reservations weeks before hand due to national security issues...but a great place to go! Just have to plan ahead for this option.

Wildlife Experience in south Denver is a nice place. I prefer it over the Denver Zoo...but growing up there and always going to the zoo the ahhh factor is gone...and there are better zoos that I have been too. But Denver Zoo is a nice place for someone that does not go to zoos often.

Casa Bonita...so so food, but it is a fun tourist spot!

If you like being outside, there is always Red Rocks above Denver and Look Out Mountain...Coors Brewery , Downtown Golden(I am not a beer drinker, but the tour is interesting).

Butterfly Garden...love the place.

Natural History Museum...great place.

Hammonds Candy Factory...great little tour!

 

[disneypharm]

If you only have a few hours, I agree with the PP about 16 street mall. Great restaurants and shopping.

Real Pirates exhibition at Denver Museum of Nature and Science
http://www.dmns.org/featured-exhibition

Casa Bonita is good with Kids but the food is not that good and the location is not the safest at night!

Great website about Denver attractions
http://www.denver.org/what-to-do

 

[3goofyboys]

I agree with the PP who said their kids were bored stiff at the mint. I found it very interesting, but it is not the best for young kids. If you have older kids they might enjoy it. Casa Bonita is fun (I think the food is gross, but the atmosphere makes up for it). We love the Museum of Nature and Science, it's pretty kid friendly. The Children's Museum is also fantastic and provides some great areas to stretch out after a long car ride.

 

[Coloradomom]

We just did the pirates exhibition last week at the Museum of Nature and Science. It was wonderful but won't be interesting for small children-I'd say kids under age 7 or so would not enjoy it.
If you are looking to be outside, Red Rocks is beautiful -just south/west of Denver off of C470.

The Butterfly Pavilion is unusual and fun for kids.

If you are driving to Winter Park a stop in Georgetown is a nice detour, or Idaho Springs for Beau Jo's pizza.
Another detour is to go to Boulder and go on the Celestial Seasonings tour and try the "mint room". Kids really like that.

 

[Microcell]

Casa Bonita! I would go with or without kids! Don't expect alot in the way of food, but the atmosphere is great! Going during off times (like 4:30 for dinner) gets you a better chance of cliff diver seating!

We also like driving into the mountains a little and having a picnic!

The mountains are the most beautiful thing! We live 10 hours by car away so it is the closest breathtaking natural wonder within a day's drive for us, so we love going to Denver! Have fun!

Oh, and if you are driving I-70 I think it happens to be worth the drive a couple hours south to Kansas City for the best BBQ in the world *Arthur Bryants is the best*

I-80 is the worst drive in the history of man in Nebraska (we drove that when we went to Colorado from Des Moines) and second is I-70 through Kansas.. but at least you would get good BBQ!

 

[jedijill]

Casa Bonita! I would go with or without kids! Don't expect alot in the way of food, but the atmosphere is great! Going during off times (like 4:30 for dinner) gets you a better chance of cliff diver seating!

We also like driving into the mountains a little and having a picnic!

The mountains are the most beautiful thing! We live 10 hours by car away so it is the closest breathtaking natural wonder within a day's drive for us, so we love going to Denver! Have fun!

Oh, and if you are driving I-70 I think it happens to be worth the drive a couple hours south to Kansas City for the best BBQ in the world *Arthur Bryants is the best*

I-80 is the worst drive in the history of man in Nebraska (we drove that when we went to Colorado from Des Moines) and second is I-70 through Kansas.. but at least you would get good BBQ!

Oklahoma Joe's ranks one step above Arthur Bryant's for me. (Former KC girl!)


Back to Denver....if you like trains think about the Railroad Musuem in Golden. Very cool place. Just past Denver is Idaho Springs with a mine tour or drive up to Mt Evans (after Memorial Day!). Also, drive on to Georgetown and take the train ride/mine tour there. Oh, there is also the Coors brewery in Golden and Celestial Seasonings tea in Boulder.

(Sorry...my dad is a steam train freak so I've visited most of the train sites in the US!)

Jill in CO

 

[kaywoody]

We ate breakfast at a place called Snooze. It was really good and different from the usual breakfast!

 

[nchulka]

You have to eat at Casa Bonita if you go through Denver! Also there is a fun little place just outside in Golden called Heritage Square. It's an old-fashioned amusement park. They have some small rides, paddle boats, go-karts, alpine slide etc.

 

[EKW]

Depends on how old your kids are...and your interests. My kids love the art museum...they have hands-on activities for young kids.

They also love the zoo...there are some tiger cubs that are cute as all get-out. www.denverzoo.org

Want a different experience? Tour Hammonds Candies. www.hammondscandies.com They've been featured on Food Network a couple of times. Last time we went we got to see them making candy canes. Free...unusual...and fun.

The Denver Aquarium is very cool...they have a room where you can experience a flash flood. We love the restaurant...it's run by Landry's. A bit spendy, but you can get coupons online. Get the trout...you won't be sorry! You eat sitting by a full wall of aquarium...sharks swim by as you're eating.
http://www.aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver/default.asp

If you have a Lego fan there's a small Lego Outlet at one of the malls, too. My son loves going and filling a cup with parts...just like at Downtown Disney. stores.lego.com/en-us/Denver/location.aspx

As for 16th Street and LoDo...if you have only adults, go for it. There's not much for kids. There's a very cool bookstore down there...and a Lucky Strike Bowling Alley. Opposite ends of the area. They're the only things my kids enjoyed. Sadly, the ESPN Zone there closed a couple of years back.

One idea...it's not in Denver, but if you want to see something VERY cool, go visit Red Rocks up in Morrison. www.redrocksonline.com You can get out, visit the Visitor's center, see the theatre, hike a little. It's worth seeing!

Have fun in Denver!

 

[EKW]

Oklahoma Joe's ranks one step above Arthur Bryant's for me. (Former KC girl!)


Back to Denver....if you like trains think about the Railroad Musuem in Golden. Very cool place. Just past Denver is Idaho Springs with a mine tour or drive up to Mt Evans (after Memorial Day!). Also, drive on to Georgetown and take the train ride/mine tour there. Oh, there is also the Coors brewery in Golden and Celestial Seasonings tea in Boulder.

(Sorry...my dad is a steam train freak so I've visited most of the train sites in the US!)

Jill in CO

But, how is it compared to Gates, lol! "Hi! May I help you????" I always favored Gates over Bryants...especially the one on 40 Highway! Now, if someone wants to know about fun stops in Kansas City, THAT I could cover!

 

[ksantilli]

I'd say if visit Red Rocks. It's free and so fun to get out and let the kids climb up all of the stairs. Depending on when you're here, you may see deer running around as well.
If you go to Casa Bonita, don't expect much in the way of food. Know that it is fun, but old. You will most likely have to wait a while in line if you go on the weekend, at peak dinner times.
If you're going through the mountains and just want a fun mountain town to stop in, we love Idaho Springs. Someone else mentioned Beau Jo's Pizza. It's good and a fun atmosphere. There's some fun rock stores to shop in, which my kids love, and a fun little tourist "chamber of commerce" type place where you can see an old mining cart, and old mining photos. My kids(8,6, and 3) enjoyed it this summer.

 

[kimara3]

I have lived in Denver most of my life.

If your kids are younger, definitely try the Children's Museum or the Denver Aquarium. Both are lots of fun!

For older kids, I would second (third, fourth...) Red Rocks. Or, if you're coming during baseball season, try getting tickets to a Rockies home game in the "Rockpile." They are very affordable, and Coors Field is a great ballpark!

I know lots of people love Casa Bonita, but IMO the food is gross at best (and they force you to purchase a meal) and its getting pretty run down. Another fun experience is White Fence Farm, much better food and still lots of fun!

Enjoy your time here, it's an amazing place to live!

 

[cstwwt]

Thanks everyone! We will be there on a Sunday....so the mint and the candy factory are out.....bummer. We will try some of the other things, like Red Rocks and the restaurants and shopping malls. Thanks again!! Wendy