Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, Denver: Ride scream-inducing roller
coasters, little-kid-friendly rides and slippery water slides. (Check website for
seasonal hours.)

Children’s Museum of Denver: Learn about the world in the museum’s
child-sized grocery market, fire station and construction workshop.
Denver Zoo: See the more than 3,500 animals that call the 80-acre zoo
home. The monkey and big cats exhibits are among the top crowd pleasers.

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Downtown Aquarium, Denver: Feed a slippery stingray and gaze at hypnot-
ically moving jellyfish, stealthy sharks and frisky fish of every color.

Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, Broomfield: Walk through a tropical
rainforest habitat filled with free-flying butterflies. Sniff exotic plants, pet a sea
star and hold a tarantula.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Watch an out-of-this-world show at

the planetarium and IMAX theater. Tour exhibits about space, gems and min-
erals, dinosaurs and the color spectrum.

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Denver Art Museum: Explore, learn and play. Get creative with hands-on

activities for all ages, relax in one of the family fun areas and discover world-
class art.

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Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden: Stroll the museum’s 15-acre railyard
featuring more than 100 railcars. Most Saturdays (and select Tuesdays) you’ll
also find train rides! Check the museum’s train-ride schedule before you go.

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Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver: See dozens of his-
toric airplanes, space vehicles and interactive exhibits. The collection includes

a rare B-18A Bolo–one of only five remaining WWII-era bombers–five Century-
Series fighters.

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The Wild Animal Sanctuary, about 45 minutes from Denver in Keenesburg,
amazes visitors with its Mile Into the Wild walkway that lets you observe lions,
wolves, grizzlies and other rescued exotic and endangered species from above.

Mineral-rich fun, Idaho Springs: Play in the mineral-water swimming pool
at Indian Hot Springs or pan for gold at Argo Mill & Tunnel.

Colorado Model Railroad Museum: In Greeley,
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.

Trout Haven Ranch Trout Pond, Estes Park: Cast

your line in Trout Haven’s stocked pond — a perfect first-
time fishing experience.

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Water World, Federal Heights: Cool off at one of the biggest and best water
parks in the nation.

Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison: Encounter more than 100 fossilized dinosaur
tracks and informative signs.