A parent in Denver must have a membership to the Denver Zoo (appr. $70/year for the family). This is a fantastic place to run, run, run without running into cars. The train is a favorite for kids, and the caroussel is fun for them, too. Sometimes we just go for a quick visit to see Mimi and Dolly the elephants and ride the train. Of course, kids love to feed the birds during the summer. You can buy nectar for $1 and have the birds sit on your hands while they drink. The bug toss in the aviary is also cool for little guys.

My favorite time is December when the zoo is open until 9 p.m. for the zoolights. Hot chocolate and popcorn is not optional for us…