These are Fun Things to Do in Boulder With Kids
👉 Jump to: Best Things to Do in Boulder with Kids | Sites & Attractions | Outdoors
I’m a Colorado mom of four, and in this article, I’ll share some of the best things to do in Boulder with kids. Bonus: many of them are free!
I’ll help you get wiggly kids out of the house, no matter their age or interests. This Boulder guide features outdoor attractions, educational experiences, and unexpected outings your little ones will love. For more Boulder fun, check out our main list of things to do in Boulder after you read this guide.
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25 Best Things to Do in Boulder with Kids
Eldora Ski Resort
Enjoy a family and budget-friendly day on the slopes!
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 440-8700 | Eldora Website | Lift Tickets: From $99 adults, From $79 under 16
Eldora is one of the top Colorado ski resorts! It features several green runs for young skiers and riders. Children’s lessons are also available, with small classes that include lunch.
Pearl Street Mall
Eat, drink, and play in this open-air shopping and dining center.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 449-3774 | Pearl Street Mall Website | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
Exploring Pearl Street Mall is a must when you visit Boulder. It’s in the heart of downtown, which is one of the best places to stay in Boulder.
This outdoor mall has lots of retailers, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. It also has play spaces for kids, with stone animals to climb and a pop jet fountain for cooling off in the summer.
WOW! Children’s Museum
Learn at this museum where kids are encouraged to play with the exhibits.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 604-2424 | Children’s Museum Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tues – Sat, Closed Sun & Mon | Entrance: $7 adults, $13 under 12
The WOW! Children’s Museum is all about hands-on fun. It includes an art space, a bank, a wind exploration exhibit, an area for bubble fun, and a mock health clinic. The museum also has a special space for newborns to three-year-olds.
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Learn about the study of weather.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 497-1000 | NCAR Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm Mon-Fri, 9 am – 4 pm Sat & Sun | Entrance: Free
Kids (and adults!) can learn about the study of weather and atmospheric processes at NCAR. The NCAR Mesa Lab Visitor Center is open on weekdays. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon, guides lead a free tour of the center. Reservations are not required, but are a good idea!
Sites & Attractions
Lyons Classic Pinball
Play vintage pinball games in this small-town arcade.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 837-2677 | Lyons Classic Pinball Website | Hours: 5 pm – 10 pm Thurs, 4 pm – 10 pm Fri, 12 pm – 10 pm Sat, 12 pm – 9 pm Sun, Closed Mon-Wed
Lyons Classic Pinball features over 35 pinball machines with games from the 1960s through today. It’s such a cool place that I included it on my list of the best kid-friendly things to do in the state!
The arcade is family-friendly and also hosts tournaments for more serious players. Lyons Classic Video is next door, in the basement of Oskar Blues, where you’ll find arcade games from the 1980s.
Boulder Book Store
Support a local bookstore and discover some great children’s literature.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 447-2074 | Book Store Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm Mon-Sat, 11 am – 7 pm Sun
The Boulder Book Store on the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder has been a fixture since 1973. Let kids find their next great read while you browse books for yourself!
The bookstore features local authors and hosts community events. It also supports area schools with book fairs, author visits, and discounts on school materials.
Fiske Planetarium
Inspire wonder and see galaxies far away.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 492-5002 | Planetarium Website | Hours: Showtimes vary | Entrance: $12 adults, $8 under 18 & students
Attend a star talk, concert, laser show, or film screening at this unique planetarium. During celestial events like eclipses and rocket launches, it hosts big public gatherings. You can also pop by the Sommers-Bausch Observatory next door for stargazing open houses.
Shredder Indoor Ski School
Get kids ready to hit the slopes!
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 396-1754 | Shredder Website | Hours: 8:30 am – 7 pm Mon-Fri, 8 am – 6 pm Sat & Sun | Entrance: from $15 | 👉 Browse Ski Rentals on Viator
Help your kids get ready to ski before they hit the slopes with classes at this indoor ski school. Shredder offers ski and snowboard classes for kids from nine months to ten years old. There is also an open gym period, allowing students to practice on their own.
When they’re ready, consider taking your family to Keystone Ski Resort, considered one of the best for young skiers and riders!
Bowling at The Connection
Head to CU for a fun evening of family bowling.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 735-2695 | Connection Website | Hours: 12 pm – 9 pm Sdaily | Cost: $5 per game, $3 shoe rental
The University of Colorado Boulder has a very reasonably priced bowling alley that’s open to the public. Spend an evening knocking down pins with the family, or enjoy the ping pong and pool tables on-site.
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
Explore interactive exhibits that teach kids about the past.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 492-6892 | Museum of Natural History Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Weekdays, 9 am – 4 pm Sat, 10 am – 4 pm Sun | Entrance: Suggested donation $3 adults, $1 under 19
⚠️ Closure Note: The CU Museum is closed until January 8, 2026.
The galleries at this natural history museum help kids learn about paleontology, trees, anthropology, and more. Kids can view museum specimens, do puzzles, make art, and read books about the different topics in the museum.
There are spaces for eating as well. But plan to pack a lunch, as there is no food available at the museum. Looking for more museums to explore with your kids? These nearby Denver museums are a great place to start!
Boulder Public Library & Playground
Get a great book and play on the creekside jungle gym.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 441-3100 | Library Website | Hours: 9 am – 7 pm Mon-Thu, 9 am – 5 pm Fri, 10 am – 5 pm Sat, 12 pm – 5 pm Sun
Enjoy two kid-friendly attractions on this free Boulder outing! Start at the library and browse the kids’ section for some great books to read.
Then, hit the Creekside Play Area just outside the library near Boulder Creek. Kids can climb to a tree house and enjoy other park features.
Day in Denver
Take a short trip to the Mile High City for an exciting. action-packed itinerary.
Take a day trip to experience the many things to do in Denver with kids! Hit up the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the zoo, the botanic gardens, and other kid-friendly attractions in Colorado’s biggest city.
If you want to make this an overnight trip, there are lots of great places to stay in Denver for a night!
ABC Kids Climbing
Let them climb like the little monkeys they are.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 443-5437 | ABC Kids Website | Hours: 12:30 pm – 5 pm Sat & Sun (Summer) | Entrance: $20
Of course Colorado has climbing gyms for kids! We like to start ‘em early on one of our favorite sports around here.
ABC Kids Climbing has over 7,200 square feet of climbing space, available to those ages 2 ½ to adult. A special area is designated for 2 ½ to 5-year-olds, while older kids can challenge themselves on harder courses.
Into The Wind
Browse colorful kites, fun toys, board games, puzzles, and more.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 449-5906 | Into the Wind Website | Hours: 10 am – 9 pm Mon – Sat, 10 am – 7 pm Sun
This engaging shop on the Pearl Street Mall features fun kites, whirligigs, flags, and educational children’s toys. It’s a fun spot for browsing and a great place to nab a souvenir of your trip!
Outdoor Attractions
Eldorado Canyon State Park
Run off some energy on one of the many park trails.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 494-3943 | Eldorado Canyon Website | Hours: 6 am – 8 pm daily | Entrance: $10 vehicle pass
Eldorado Canyon State Park is one of the best state parks in Colorado! Kids will enjoy the gentler hiking trails like the Streamside Trail, after which you can settle down for a picnic. You can also fish in South Boulder Creek, or snowshoe in the park during winter.
👉 Pro Tip: We love these monster snow shoes for kids because they make fun tracks when you walk!
Brainard Lake
Hike, fish, or snowshoe at a gorgeous alpine lake on a fun day trip from Boulder.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 541-2500 | Brainard Lake Website | Entrance: Summer – $16 vehicle pass, Winter – $10 vehicle pass
Brainard Lake is one of the best day trips to take from Boulder. You can go hiking with kids around the water, try fishing, or pack a picnic and just let everyone run around a bit. In winter, there are also snowshoe and cross-country trails.
Gateway Park Fun Center
Spend a day go-karting, mini-golfing, or hitting the batting cages.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 442-4386 | Gateway Park Website | Hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Attraction prices vary
Gateway Fun Park features a maze, an arcade, mini golf, go-karts, and other family-friendly activities. Since there are both indoor and outdoor spaces, it’s open year-round. Even in bad weather, this is a great spot for a variety of ages.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Watch for elk, take an easy hike, and learn about history at this iconic Colorado destination.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 586-1206 | Rocky Mountain National Park Website | Vehicle Pass: $30 | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best places to visit in Colorado. It’s located just an hour from Boulder and is well worth the trip!
A few of my favorite kid-friendly activities in the park include the walk around Sprague Lake and the flat, one-mile Coyote Valley Trail. The Holzwarth Historic Site is a great stop for families. It has hands-on activities for kids as they learn about life in the area more than 100 years ago.
The drive over Trail Ridge Road is also exciting. Watch for elk, and stop at the visitor center at the summit for exhibits and souvenirs.
Chautauqua Park
Enjoy trails, a playground, and the nature center at this historic park.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 413-7200 | Chautauqua Park Website | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily | Entrance: $2.50/hr on summer weekends & holidays, free the rest of the year
Chautauqua Park has trails that take hikers to great views of the Flatirons. You’ll also find a playground, tennis courts, and an open grassy area where kids can run. The ranger station has a nature center with maps and brochures about the park.
Valmont Bike Park
Challenge kids on a large variety of terrain — including a toddler track!
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 413-7200 | Valmont Bike Park Website | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily | Entrance: Free | 👉 Family Small-Group E-Bike Tour
The Valmont Bike Park has 42 acres of varying terrain. It’s suitable for a variety of abilities, and even has a track dedicated to toddlers. Whether your kid shreds on a mountain bike or wobbles on a Strider, there’s something for them here!
Boulder Creek Path
Walk or bike this scenic waterfront trail.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 413-7200 | Boulder Creek Path Website | Hours: Sunrise – Sunset daily
This gentle path runs 5 ½ miles through Boulder. It passes several sites, like the library, Civic Area Park, and the Dushanbe Teahouse. Wander along Boulder Creek with kids, or take a family bike ride. During warm weather, you’ll often spot families tubing down Boulder Creek!
Boulder Reservoir
Swim, waterski, bike, and watch for wildlife at this scenic lake.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 441-3461 | Boulder Reservoir Website | Hours: Winter 10 am – 3 pm daily, Summer 6 am – 9 pm | Fall & spring – $5 individual fee, Summer – $12 adults, $7 under 19
The Boulder Reservoir is one of the best lakes in Colorado, and kids will have a blast spending the day here! You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes on-site. Kids can also fish, walk the area, and watch for wildlife.
Scott Carpenter Park
Get some fresh air at a playground featuring a rocket ship.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 441-4406 | Park Website
This community park has a skate park, an open grassy area, and a playground. Most notably, it features a climbable rocketship that kids can’t get enough of! The park is also a popular spot for sledding in the winter.
Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing Pond
Cast a line in a space designed just for kids.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 413-7200 | Evert Pierson Fishing Pond Website | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily | Entrance: Free, for use only by kids under 13
The Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing Pond is only available to kids 12 and under. The pond was originally a University of Colorado gravel pit but was developed into a fishing pond in 1949.
It’s stocked with around 3,000 fish every year between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This pond is a great spot for a first fishing outing and allows kids to learn the basics.
Sunflower Farm
Spot goats, sheep, cows, llamas, and even peacocks at this Longmont attraction.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 774-8001 | Sunflower Farm Website | Hours: varies, visit website for details | Entrance: $18 adults, Free under 1
Sunflower Farm in Longmont is an Educational Demonstration Farm that has preschool through elementary school programs. The general public can also visit during Farmfest hours, and the farm hosts live music and food trucks during the summer.
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Thanks for reading this article on the best things to do in Boulder with kids! What will you do first? Let me know in the comments! And for more family fun, see our guide to Colorado’s top activities to do across the state.
