When school breaks are on the horizon and people begin talking about their vacation plans, you might start wishing you had somewhere to go, too. If you haven’t made plans to travel, but now you’d like to do something out of the ordinary, there are many great ways to have a staycation in the Denver area.
Also keep in mind, a staycation does not need to be one, long local thing. It can be fun to do a different thing each day of the break you are home for. Enjoy being a tourist in your own city!
Great Wolf Lodge
Especially given the unpredictable nature of Colorado weather, it can be a good idea for at least some of your staycation to include indoor activities. We are lucky enough to have a Great Wolf Lodge nearby in Monument. The kids can feel like they got away to a warm destination, playing in the water, even if we have a freak snowstorm! Day passes are available if you only want waterslides to be a small part of your break, or you can book a room for as many nights as you’d like to take full advantage of the resort. Check out our guide to a successful family trip to Great Wolf Lodge!
Hiking around Denver
For the days where the weather is beautiful and you can’t bear to sit inside, pack up the family and go for a hike! Make it a nice, long outing in the beautiful mountains, or even the foothills or canyons around the area. There is no shortage of good hikes in the Denver area as well as into the mountains however far you’d like to venture. From easy trails great for picnicking with toddlers to extreme hikes for older kids, our area has something for everyone. A favorite of mine is Lair ‘O the Bear to meander and enjoy the easy trail on a nice day and plop down beside the gorgeous river for a long picnic as long as the kids will last. Garden of the Gods down in the Springs is also a great one for a group of mixed hiking abilities. 
Museums
Museums are a great way to spend an entire day and make lasting memories. If you would like to stay in Denver, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a large museum complete with a theater and planetarium. Combine that with all of their everyday exhibits as well as their special visiting exhibits and you can easily stay all day. For smaller children who you might like to let explore and touch more, the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is a great option.
Wings over the Rockies is a great option for space and aviation lovers. There are so many planes on display as well as rotating exhibits, you can spend as long here as your heart desires. Including Star Wars displays, your space and aviation enthusiasts will be in heaven. If you start here in the morning and work up an appetite, you are not far from Stanley Market where you can feed a variety of tastes in their food court style set up as well as shop and enjoy some ice cream. Everyone will end the day tired, full and happy.
If you are down near Colorado Springs for other things, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum is a wonderful way to walk down memory lane. Sure to bring back memories of Olympics past, as well as fun new additions thanks to the most recent Paris games, the Olympic Museum is a crowd pleaser for all ages.
Denver Area Zoos
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Another wonderful option for zoo lovers is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Named #5 Best Zoo in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo provides a unique experience most zoos can’t as it is literally on a mountain! Not only are there incredible views, but the exhibits are interactive, and the variety of animals is amazing. This can easily fill an entire day if you want!
Denver Zoo
Denver also has a wonderful zoo that allows you to take full advantage of a beautiful day. You can take a train and carousel rides, pet stingrays, tour the veterinarian building and find several spots to enjoy some food.
A Day of History
If you want a day full of several things that really take you through Denver, consider a day of history. Often times we miss these spots because we think they are for tourists, but they teach us so much and are a lot of fun. Living in the state capital, we have the opportunity to see the Capitol building where our government literally takes place. Free tours are offered Mondays – Fridays and you are able to take a guided tour or take yourself on a self-guided tour. You can find out more here. After a tour of the capitol building, you can walk over to the US Mint to get an up-close look at how our money is made. Check out our tips for touring the Mint with kids (who need to be at least 7 years old). Top off your day with a tour of the Molly Brown House Museum. Famous for being a survivor of the Titanic, touring her house will show you there is more to her and her life. You can find hours as well as ticket and event information here.
Note: The Molly Brown House Museum is closed on Mondays.
Mountain Towns
While getting away to a mountain town is a bit more of an outing than a Denver staycation, it can still be arranged on short notice without much travel time making it cheaper and easier than a big vacation. Some mountain towns like Evergreen, Idaho Springs and Georgetown are even close enough to be enjoyed as a day trip. If you’re up for going a tad further, check out our guides for great tips on enjoying Breckenridge, Avon and Beaver Creek, Grand Lake and Estes Park.
