My name is Daianee Galindo, and I am a multimedia journalist for Bucket List Community News. I was born and raised in Denver and have lived in Lakewood for much of my life. I’ve always enjoyed the calm Lakewood environment and the easy access to different areas of Denver, especially the proximity to the foothills. As a parent to an eight-year-old, I have been able to explore family-friendly areas in and out of the community where both adults and children can have a great time.
My family prioritizes places that are accessible, interesting and timeless regardless of age. As parents, we enjoy taking our kids on adventures and exploring but at times you want to avoid the same nearby attractions and try something new. For that reason, I have listed five of our favorite family-friendly locations that I am sure the whole family will enjoy. In addition to being family-friendly, these locations are local and inexpensive because who doesn’t love fun on a budget?
Fun in the Foothills
Tucked away in the small mountain town of Morrison, about 30 miles away from Denver, is the unusual attraction of Tiny Town. This spot is home to almost 100 kid-sized historic buildings and a 15-inch gauge train. It was originally named Turnerville by George Turner in 1915 after he built a miniature town for his daughter. Five years later, Turner had built enough structures where he could open the doors to share with the public.
The tiny village has become a popular attraction among families, offering a unique experience where kids can peek through the building’s tiny windows or feel like giants as they wander around the park. The 10-minute train ride is a highlight, allowing children to marvel at the tiny structures while pointing out their favorites. Parents and children alike can enjoy the small details found in the tiny grocery stores, schools, churches, vintage gas stations and replicas of famous Colorado landmarks.
It’s also an affordable activity; admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children. Although the park offers a snack bar, we enjoy bringing our own lunch and sitting at the picnic tables under the pine trees while taking in the cool mountain air. As Colorado’s oldest kid-sized village, Tiny Town holds a special place for many Colorado residents since many have experienced the park firsthand.
One of our favorite experiences at Tiny Town is watching how much our kiddos have grown through each visit. At first, they measure perfectly to peek through the building windows, but a couple of visits later they are towering over the buildings. However, no matter their size, they still find ways to enjoy everything the park has to offer.
Tiny Town & Railroad, 6249 South Turkey Creek Road, Morrison. HOURS: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last train at 3 p.m.). Weekends and Labor Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last train at 4 p.m.). COST: Adults: $5. Kids (2-12): $4. Train rides: $4. Learn more at tinytownrailroad.com
Endless Fun at Belleview Park
Belleview Park in Englewood isn’t your ordinary park; the spacious area has a few special attractions that make it different from other parks. One is the home to a petting zoo and train for the past 30 years. The red barn sits on the west side of the park housing goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits and llamas. For $3, kids can experience feeding, brushing and petting some of the animals.
As you walk into the barn, a gallery of small animals is displayed; guinea pigs, bunnies and turtles make the barn their home during the summer. In the farm area, the animals are free to roam. The ducks splash in their pond while the calves enjoy their afternoon pasture and the pigs cool down in a trough. Our favorite part about the barn is the calves. Being able to see and pet a baby cow makes for a memorable experience!
Another highlight is that after the kids are done exploring the petting zoo, there is still so much to do, like taking a train ride around the park. The bright green train travels across a bridge, along the beautiful landscape and through a tunnel, which kids love. The park is also perfect for those hot summer days. It offers a wading creek, where kids of all ages can enjoy splashing around or playing with the sand around the creek.
Belleview Park, or “the airplane park,” features a large airplane perched atop two poles at the park entrance. However, the staple piece is not an airplane but rather a Mace Tactical Missile donated to the city of Englewood in the 60’s. The fun doesn’t stop there; the recreational space also offers multiple shaded picnic areas, perfect for enjoying lunch or snack and two playgrounds, perfect for littles to play before heading home for the day.
Belleview Park, 5001 S. Inca Dr. Englewood. HOURS: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. COST: Farm entry: $3 per person. Train: $3 per person per ride. Learn more at www.englewoodco.gov/parks
Homemade Treats in Lakewood
Magill’s has been producing homemade ice cream in Colorado since 1981. The neighborhood shop in Lakewood offers 48 different flavors of ice cream, ice cream cakes and even ice cream treats for dogs. This local parlor has become a staple in the Lakewood community, so be prepared to wait in line for a few minutes because families like mine enjoy gathering here. With ample seating and board games, it’s the perfect spot to escape the heat and enjoy a cool treat.
The scent of creamy goodness hits you as you enter, with flavors like chocolate banana Oreo, horchata or Jack Daniel’s chocolate chip. The hard part is deciding which flavors to try and whether to have it in a cup, waffle cone, shake or ice cream sandwich—the choices are endless. Like many in our community, my family and I enjoy walking down to Magill’s ever so often. When visiting the ice cream parlor, we recommend the cookies and cream ice cream, a strawberry milkshake or a banana split.
While the old-school ice cream shop might get a bit busy, there is no rush when you’re in front of the ice cream case. The friendly staff is there to help with ice cream samples and suggestions if you can’t decide. We’ve never had a bad experience at Magill’s and have enjoyed every flavor we’ve tried, with serving sizes that are plentiful and worth every penny.
Magill’s, 8016 West Jewell Avenue, Lakewood. HOURS: Sunday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. COST: Treats range from $4 to $7. Learn more at magillsicecream.com
Fun in the Sun
One of our go-to’s in the summertime is Pirates Cove. Nominated for Favorite Water Park by the Colorado Parent Magazine 2024 Family Favorites, Pirates Cove offers a clean, fun environment with bright-colored features that will entice the whole family. This smaller-sized waterpark is the perfect place to visit on a hot summer day. The water park offers a lazy river, a lap pool, 35-foot slides and a leisure pool with a large play structure perfect for kids to run through.
Whether you have smaller children or big kids, there is something for everyone. When visiting the water park, we enjoy drifting around the lazy river with our daughter, sliding down the slides and joining the countdown as we wait for the giant water bucket to splash over us. Although the park is designed for younger patrons, as parents, we seem to always have a great time with our daughter. Parents can enjoy the park’s features alongside their kids, especially the shaded lounge chairs. However, finding a good seating area and lounge chairs might be challenging on certain days, so we arrive early to secure a comfortable spot to take sun breaks throughout the day.
Another convenient aspect is that the park allows coolers, enabling us to bring our own drinks, fresh fruit and homemade lunch to keep costs down. They also have a concession stand with decently priced pizza, hot dogs and other treats, as well as the snow cone kiosk that our daughter loves, offering shaved ice and a variety of syrup flavors to enjoy. Safety is a top priority, and Pirates Cove delivers with numerous lifeguards on duty all around the water features, constantly ensuring safety, which also gives parents a peace of mind during their visit. This water park has everything you need for a fun day in the sun.Â
Pirates Cove, 1225 W. Belleview Ave., Englewood. HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. COST: Adults: $19. Kids (2-17): $18. Learn more at englewoodco.gov
Putt Putt Golf
Putter’s Pride Mini Golf Course in Lakewood is a great place for a family outing. The locally owned facility features three 18-hole mini-golf courses, each with quirky obstacles like dragons, windmills and water features. While the courses may not be challenging, the variety will keep children entertained for hours. We enjoy competing with our daughter and finding ways to keep the game interesting as we move along the course.
Although some of the structures may be a bit outdated, the course makes up for it with its beautiful landscaping, flowers, ponds and pine trees that align with the course. As you advance to each hole, there is always something exciting waiting, whether it’s a giant gorilla or a T-Rex. The features keep kids excited to see what’s next and provide great photo opportunities. Putters can be affordable too; they offer unlimited play for $10 for adults and $8 for children so families can enjoy the three courses as much as they like throughout their visit.
The course is open year-round, incorporating decor according to each holiday. We enjoy visiting before sunset when we can still play in the daylight and also experience playing after sunset when the twinkly lights shine and give the course a different feel. My family and I enjoy spending time in this memorable atmosphere and creating a bit of competition while there. Â
Putter’s Pride, 3604 S. Kipling, Denver. HOURS: Sunday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. COST: All you can play: $10 per golfer. 18 holes: Adults: $8.50. Kids: $7. Learn more at putterspride.com
While there are many places to explore with family in and around the Denver area, from museums to outdoor fun to amusement parks, these are a few spots we enjoy visiting as a family. Each location provides entertainment for children and parents alike. As Denverites, my family takes pride in helping local businesses and enjoying the variety of locations offered in our city. By supporting locations like Magill’s and Putter’s Pride, we hope they can continue to be a part of our community for many years to come.
Looking for more recommendations? Check out our guides to lesser-known outdoor destinations and where to find film activities for more exciting outings.
