Affectionately called “Eggs and Bacon” by my kids, the indoor play area at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center has replicas of fake breakfast foods where children can slide down some bacon or jump off a waffle. It can get extremely crowded during bad weather days and almost every Saturday. The best time to visit is first thing in the morning especially Sunday morning (when everyone is at church and the play area has recently been cleaned). The area is best for kids 6 and under.

This the only bank in the country (and possibly the world) designed just for kids. Ok, so you do need some money to open up the bank account but once it is open there are plenty of free things to do. Kids learn all about money and how to manage it through quarterly work shops, classes and activities. My kids love to bring their coins in and use the special coin counter. An account can be opened at any age (even newborns) but it is best for children 4 years and older when they start grasping the concept of money.

Located in the Stapleton neighborhood, this park opened in 2007 and is one of the most popular parks with people on the east side of town. From rubber purple mountains to musical instruments to a large sand pit, this park has plenty to do. There is also a bike path for easy access around the area. Great for all ages; however, the limited shade make the park very hot during summer days (the water mister and synchronized water fountains do help).

Located in the middle of the neighborhood, Wash Park is a beautiful area anytime of the year but especially in the summer when over 50 flower beds are in bloom (you just need to teach your kids not to pick the flowers). Great for all ages, the park has two playgrounds, several trails and two lakes.

This is a top park on our list and the kids love running around this park in the summer. From watching the ducks in the lake to playing on the playground to listening to Sunday evening jazz concerts to playing in the water fountain, it’s a great place to hang out on hot summer days. They also love it on snowy days when they can sled behind the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Great for all ages, there are two playgrounds in the park.

Constructed of white granite in 1890, the State Capitol sits prominently downtown and is a popular tourist stop. Tours of the Capitol, Dome and Legislature are offered throughout the year but check website for information on reserving a spot. Tours are great for all ages, but best suited for children 6 years and older since there is a lot of walking involved.

The Mint offers tours on the history, describes the process for manufacturing coins and shows the production process from an observation deck. A bonus is that everyone receives a newly minted coin at the end. Tours must be reserved well in advance since they fill up quickly. They are best suited for children 4 years and up, but babies can come along in a carrier.

More than a mile long in downtown Denver, this outdoor shopping area is full of restaurants and shops (unfortunately, mostly chain stores). We love to people watch, take advantage of summer activities and ride the shuttle that cruises up and down the 16th street. Avoid the mall at night (especially with kids) since the mall tends to attract a rougher crowd.

The short informative tour tells about the company’s history, allows viewing of the candy making process from an observation area and offers free candy samples (ok…so they are actually candy rejects). Even though the tour is free it maybe hard leaving the gift shop without spending a dime; my family’s addiction is the ribbon candy. If you get a chance, don’t miss the fun winter festival in December. Tours are fun for all ages.

Are your kids interested in dinosaurs and the outdoors? Then this activity is for you. Located along West Alameda Parkway, the 1.5 mile trail has dinosaur tracks, fossils and bones along with descriptive signs and information. Best bet is to start at the visitor’s center and then park on West Alameda to walk all or part of the trail. This activity is great for all ages. A stroller can be used along the trail but watch your kids since the trail is along a busy road.

Located in the foothills in Morrison, Red Rocks is a majestic place surrounded by large sandstone boulders that is completely different than anything you will see in Denver. The visitor’s center gives a brief history about the area while the natural carved amphitheatre and walking trails are great places for kids to explore. Make sure to clear out well before a planned concert (especially any String Cheese concert) and bring a rain jacket since the weather can turn quickly. Red Rocks is best geared for children 5 and above or for small children that can be toted in a carrier since there is a lot of stairs.

Located on the top of Table Mesa with incredible views of Boulder and the surrounding area, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is a research facility with a small weather-related museum with fun activities for the entire family. Not to be missed is the short short weather trail behind the facility; it is informative and can accommodate strollers. For those with more ambition, a series of trails connect to the weather trail allowing for longer hikes.

For a fun and educational activity, check out the goat farm and cheese processing plant. Free tours and cheese samplings are offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays to individuals from noon to 2:00 p.m. Haystack is great for all ages.

Check out this great tour which starts off with a free tastings in the sampling room, shows a short film about the company, describes the company’s history and walks visitors through the manufacturing and packaging process. Don’t miss the mint room where you should take bets on who can stay in the room the longest. Tours are available to children 5 years and older but younger children are allowed in the sampling room, cafe and gift shop.