Ahead of our upcoming family reunion that will take place in Colorado Springs this summer, I have been researching the area for food, fun, and accommodations. There is so much for families to see and do in the Springs-- you'll definitely want to stay and play awhile. I can't wait to explore and fill you in on all the family fun we have with our troop of ten kids ages 3 to 12.
If you're planning a daytrip or overnight getaway in Colorado Springs with kids, here's a great place to start. I've rounded up some ideas to help get the inspiration flowing.
Fun Places To Stay:
Between the numerous campsites, home rentals, and hotel accommodations, deciding on sleeping arrangements is an adventure in itself. We ultimately decided to stay in a private vacation rental that is big enough for all four of the visiting families, but here are five other overnight accommodations we considered:
Fun Places To Explore for FREE:
Sometimes the best things in life are free, just like this list of five places to explore with kids that are in (or near) Colorado Springs.
- Black Forest Regional Park: playground & hiking trails
- Focus on the Family: indoor playground & book store
- John Venezia Community Park: playground & splash ground
- America the Beautiful Fantasy Playground: playground & water feature
- Garden of the Gods: visitor center & hiking trails
Fun Places to Play for a FEE:
Here are ten suggestions for places to play with kids that are in (or near) Colorado Springs. Keep in mind that venues may require advance registration and pricing may change without notice.
- Scheels: Indoor Ferris wheel, playground, aquarium, arcades, bowling. Pricing is under $5 per activity.
- Lost Island Colorado: Mini-golf, ninja course, indoor playground. Pricing is under $10 per activity.
- Space Foundation Discovery Center: $10/adults, $5/kids. Children ages 3 and under are free.
- WhirlyBall: Bowling and Whirlyball. $15/WhirlyBall participant.
- Manitou Springs Penny Arcade: $0.01 to $1.50 per game.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: $30/adult and $25/kid (under 12)
- Cave of the Winds: $25/adult and $17/kid (under 12)
- The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway: $75/adult and $60/child (under 12)
- North Pole Colorado: Free park admission. $15/limited rides, $25/unlimited rides.
- Great Wolf Lodge: Full-day passes are $90 per person
- The Summit Interquest: Bowling, laser tag ($6.50/game), arcades. During the summer, bowling is FREE for kids via KidsBowlFree.com.
Fun (and Delicious!) Places to Eat:
Take a break from all the fun with a hardy meal from a local restaurant. Here are ten dining options that serve fun food and/or have fun themed atmospheres, making the dining experience an adventure in itself.
- Dog Haus Biergarten: Hot dogs & burgers
- Mama Pearl’s Cajun Kitchen: Cajun cuisine
- Edelweiss German Restaurant: German & European cuisine
- Ninja Bowl Xpress: Hawaiian poke bowls
- Birdcall: Chicken sandwiches & salads
- Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar: TV dinners, American cuisine
- Fargo’s Pizza: Where Italy meets the Wild West
- Flying W Ranch: Chuckwagon dinners
- The Airplane Restaurant: American food served in a real airplane
- Brakeman's Burgers: Burgers, pizza, & milkshakes inside an old train depot
Fun (and Tasty!) Places to Eat a Sweet Treat:
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a tasty treat of cookies, donuts, ice cream, candies, or pastries from a local sweet shop.
- Josh & John’s Ice Cream
- Decadent Colorado Springs
- Amy's Donuts
- LuLu’s Frozen Yogurt
- Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
- Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery
- Sasquatch Cookies
- Marigold Cafe & Bakery
- Icing on the Cake
- Little London Cake Shoppe
- Crumbl Cookies Colorado Springs
Even More Fun Things to Do:
For special events and activities, visit the Macaroni Kid Colorado Springs Event Calendar or send a note to the local publisher for age-appropriate recommendations.
Family fun awaits in Colorado Springs!
Hop in the car and head south for a nearby getaway that's PACKED with family fun.
