While the kids have returned to school and you’re busy working at the office, it can be easy to fall into a repetitive, uninteresting routine. But the weekends are the perfect opportunity to go out with the kids and explore the bustling city around you. Colorado Springs has plenty of fun, family-friendly activities that everyone will love. From museums to parks to arcades, there’s something for every kid and parent here. Need some suggestions? Check out our list of the top 10 things you can do with kids in Colorado Springs now!
On the hunt for the perfect gift for your loved one? Surprise them with a virtual GiftYa card! Within seconds, you can text your loved one a virtual gift card to one of their favorite destinations in Colorado Springs! You can find GiftYa cards for dozens of different restaurants, shops, and rec centers around the city, including the ones we featured below. If you want to further customize your card you can even add a special note before sending it. Check out our full selection of options and purchase a card for your loved one today!
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd | Colorado Springs | cmzoo.org
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is popular among both kids and adults alike. Named #4 Best Zoo in North America by USA Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will offer your children an unforgettable experience that they will always cherish.
Across the zoo’s 146 acre landscape, you’ll be able to visit wild animalsanimas like hippos, penguins, elephants, tigers, giraffes, and more! You can even see some of the animals up-close at the interactive exhibits and hands-on loft. Want to take a piece of the zoo home with you? Before you leave, make sure you visit the gift shop for some fun memorabilia!
“I hardly give 5 star reviews but wow this zoo was amazing. Be prepared to walk because the zoo is placed on the side of a mountain and each animal has tons of room to freely live. It reminded me a lot of a safe haven for animals. The cool part was feeding the giraffes and seeing the monkeys play around.” - Yelp Review
201 S Fairview St | Woodland Park | rmdrc.com
Is your child an avid dinosaur fan? While Jurassic Park still has yet to come into existence, you can still take them to the nearby Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park. This family-friendly science museum is home to a breathtaking array of dinosaur, marine reptilerepitle, and fish exhibits.
The exhibit’s massive fossil skeletons are supplemented by graphics and life-restoration sculptures to help guests visualize these prehistoric animals that once roamed the earth. During your visit, you can stop by the museum’s working fossil laboratory where scientists are busy unearthing specimens and restoring them. A special children’s area featuring a dig box, library, rubbing station, and movie area is also available.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself spending the whole day here!
“A very good place to take your kids, especially if they are into dinosaurs like ours!!! We lucked and got a really friendly and very knowledgeable guide that took an interest in our little guy’s curiosity. I must say she gave him and the rest of us the grand tour and explained everything he had questions about.” - Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for Dinosaur Resource Center.
900 Manitou Ave | Manitou Springs
Penny Arcade is a fun, low-cost attraction that people of all ages will love. Located in nearby Manitou Springs, Penny Arcade is home to over 400 games, including 20 pinball machines and 30 racing games. Most of the games are located inside. However, some are placed outside under a covered area.
Skeeball, pool tables, boxing machines, and more entertaining games can be found at this extensive arcade. Many of the games date back to the 1930s, making Penny Arcade the perfect spot for anyone wanting to experience some nostalgia. Costs for the games have stayed low. Games cost anywhere from $0.50 to $1.50. Game on!
“This is a great arcade to spend a few hours in. They have vintage games, modern games, and everything in between. I have come here a few times with friends and we always have a great time.” - Yelp Review
710 Rock Creek Canyon Rd | Colorado Springs | coloradospringsbugmuseum.com
Did you know that the world’s largest private insect collection is located right in Colorado Springs? Featuring over 7,000 species of butterflies, beetles, spiders, and other fascinating bugs, May Natural History Museum is the perfect spot for young and curious scientists!
The May Museum is open from May 1 to October 1. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for children. Kids who are 5 and under can come in free with their family! Discounted rates are also available for groupsgroup of 10 or more. Check it out with your family now!
“A little off the normal beaten path, on your way to Penrose, is this awesome little natural history museum. It holds the largest bug collection, I believe they said largest in the world. The collection is also worth millions. Bananas!! A lot of these bugs were also over 100 years old. It's truly amazing to see.” - Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for May Natural History Museum.
400 S 21st St | Colorado Springs | ghosttownmuseum.com
Have you ever wanted to visit a ghost town?
Ghost Town Museum offers an authentic and entertaining Wild West experience for families. During your visit, you can examine authentic Old West buildings and artifacts, play antique arcade games, practice shooting in the gallery, and even churn some butter! From May to September, you and the kids can also pan for gold. They’ll show you how to pan just like the old settlers did!
Want a memento from your visit? Make sure you stop by the gift shop before you leave!
“Loved visiting this very interesting roadside attraction. Lots of history on display showing the buildings of an old western town as well as its interiors and decor. Took about an hour to walk through.” - Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for Ghost Town Museum.
3550 W High St | Colorado Springs | cospringstrails.com
Whether you and your family are avid outdoors people or you just want to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, you’ll love Red Rock Canyon.
This popular hiking spot is suitable for people of all exercise levels. You will have to hike up a hill, but the difficulty level isn’t so extreme that you’ll feel winded once you'reyour done. Red Rock Canyon is dog-friendly, so you can bring your four-legged friend with you and the kids! A free riding bicycle area is also available.
Whatever you decide to do, just remember to take some family photos while you’re there!
“This is one of my favorite spots. I love going on my own or when friends visit from out of town. It's perfect for everyone including kids! It's beautiful and has multiple trails that range from advance to beginner! Some trails are bike and stroller friendly.” - Yelp Review
2512 Airport Rd | Colorado Springs | springsadventurepark.com
Getting tired of sitting around in the house all day? Rather than letting your kids get their pent up energy out by running around inside, take them to Springs Adventure Park! This massive indoor family center features 60 trampolines, 32 arcade games, and 80 feet of ninja warrior, a heart-pounding course designed to test your strength and stamina. Springs Adventure Park also has a Battle Joust arena, Wipe Out game, and Virtual Reality area. There’s something for everyone here!
Due to limited capacity restrictions, the park does recommend families to book a reservation prior to arrival. To make a reservation, just head to the website and select a date and time that works best for you!
“We were really appreciative to learn about toddler day and time. Our kiddos were just excited to get back to some type of normalcy and have fun. The staff were really down to earth; went above and beyond to organize and take the stress off.” - Yelp Review
1750 E Woodmen Rd | Colorado Springs | skyzone.com/coloradosprings
Need something to help your kids get out all their pent up energy? Take them to Sky Zone! Located on Woodmen Rd, Sky Zone boasts a massive indoor trampoline park built for games, tricks, and freestyle jumps. Your kids can stealthily dodge shots at the trampoline dodgeball zone, try new flips in the freestyle jump area, dunk a basketball at the basketball court, and more!
Sky Zone also offers nightly deals and specials. Family Fun Night is hosted every Tuesday from 4pm-8pm with discounted tickets. Little Leapers, a program designed for children 5 and under, is perfect for bonding with your little ones and encouraging important social skills. Check out their full offerings now!
“My grandson had his birthday party here. It was so much fun! He was so excited and ran from room to room! Everything was open. Staff was readily available everywhere! The price was reasonable. Even the parents joined in on the fun!” - Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa card for Sky Zone.
9494 Federal Dr | Colorado Springs | greatwolf.com
Great Wolf Lodge Water Park is the ultimate destination for families looking for a thrilling and unforgettable vacation. Many families come from out of town to stay at the resort, but you can also get day passes if you’re a local and don’t want to shell out extra money for lodging.
The water park features slides, pools, and other fun aquatic activities designed with varying “thrill” levels. Various attractions are also offered outside the park, including a rock climbing wall, mini golf, bowling, and a ropes course. What are you waiting for? Grab some passes, pack your gear, and get ready for the family vacation of a lifetime!
“This place was super fun. We spent 2 nights here with our 9 year old and 13 year old. They loved the water slides and the other things like the rock wall, mining and ropes course. Room was nice and staff was friendly.” - Yelp Review
Colorado Springs is filled with tons of fun and exciting attractions that your kids will love. Which spots on the list do you plan to visit with your kids? Let us know!
