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Family-Friendly Travel: Staycation in the Denver Tech Center with Kids

By Sarah Hauge, Publisher, Macaroni Kid, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial April 8, 2024

Loaded with tourist hot spots and hidden gems alike, the Denver Tech Center is a great place for families to explore. Whether you've stumbled upon this list as a visitor from out-of-town or you're a local resident seeking inspiration, we hope you thoroughly enjoy all that the DTC has to offer.

Find your family fun® with our list of 30 recommendations for kid-friendly things to do in the Denver Tech Center of Colorado.



Family-Friendly Places to Stay Overnight in the DTC

Hilton Denver Inverness (Englewood) ~ Nestled on an 18-hole golf course, this gorgeous hotel offers unbeatable family-friendly fun. Guests can enjoy pet-friendly rooms, an outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness center, free shuttle service for trips within four miles of the hotel, and sporting goods (like bikes, scooters, longboards, and tennis rackets). On-site dining includes The Breckenridge Brewery which serves up delicious food and pub games including shuffleboard, darts, and billiards.

Cherry Creek State Park Campground (Aurora) ~ Despite Colorado's unpredictable weather, camping at Cherry Creek State Park is offered year-round. There are nearly 150 basic tent sites and deluxe full hook-up sites in total. Campers can enjoy a wide variety of outdoor amenities including hiking trails, horse stables, boat and jet ski rentals, a swimming beach area, and special events. Showers and laundry facilities are also available.

Since the Denver Tech Center is in a suburban part of the Denver metro area, visitors also have plenty of family-friendly options for overnight accommodations using home-share apps like Vrbo and Airbnb.



Indoor Activities for Families in the DTC:

Urban Air Adventure Park (Aurora) ~ What do you get when you put all of your childhood dreams under one roof? Urban Air Adventure Park! Attractions include trampolines, a ropes course, sky rider, go-karts, virtual reality, a large tube-climbing playground, a ball pit warrior course, climbing walls, and so much more. Adults can play too, so grab some socks at the front kiosk to get started on your ultimate indoor play adventure.

Family Sports Center (Centennial) ~ There's something for visitors of all ages at the Family Sports Center. Family-friendly entertainment includes ice skating, bumper cars, arcades, laser tag, mini-golf, a driving range, and a full-service restaurant and bar that overlooks the sheet of ice where the Colorado Avalanche practice.

Kids Wonder (Centennial) ~ Perfect for the youngest of kids (ages 0 to 8), Kids Wonder is dedicated to physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development through play. Guests can enjoy an interactive tiny town, age-appropriate climbing structures, inflatables, and special events throughout the year.

The 1 Up Arcade Bar (Greenwood Village) ~ Bring your roll of quarters (or exchange your money for tokens at the arcade) to indulge in old-school arcade games, skeeball, and pinball. Family-friendly hours are offered daily from 11am to 7pm. Most games are $0.25-$0.50. Pinball machines are $1 per game.

Candeeland (Greenwood Village) ~ Candeeland, one of the DTC's newest play places, is home to an incredible indoor playground paradise for kids, along with a world-class candy store, arcade, and restaurant.

Escape Rooms & Puzzle Rooms ~ Work as a team to solve puzzles and brain teasers before the time runs out. You'll find a variety of themed rooms at Clue Room Colorado (Centennial), Epic Escape Game (Greenwood Village), and Paradox Escape Rooms (Denver). Difficulty levels and age-appropriate themes will vary by room, so we recommend calling the venue before your visit if you plan to bring young kids with you.

Sports & Athletics ~ Colorado is known as a go-to destination for outdoor recreation. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that locals have found ways to bring the great outdoors inside too.

The fun doesn't end here! For even more indoor places to play (like movie theatres, bowling alleys, art spaces, and recreation centers) in the Denver Tech Center, visit the Macaroni KID: A to Z Indoor Play Guide.



Outdoor Activities for Families in the DTC:

Pirates Cove (Englewood) ~ Typically open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Pirates Cove offers a leisure pool with a large interactive play structure, a six-lane pool with a plunge slide and diving board, a 35-foot tower with three slides, a large lazy river, a spray garden, a sand area for castle building, concessions, special events, and lots more for your summer fun.

Museum of Outdoor Arts (Englewood & Greenwood Village) ~ Take yourself on a self-guided tour of incredible outdoor artwork throughout Englewood and Greenwood Village. Some of our favorite works of art include the murals at Fiddler's Green and the sculptures at Marjorie Park. The permanent installations at Englewood Civic Center are thoroughly enjoyable too! Take a peek around after visiting the library or catching a special event at the amphitheater. 

The Streets at Southglenn (Centennial) ~ Shop til you drop at this outdoor shopping center. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy family-friendly amenities such as a movie theatre, local library, indoor skiing and snowboarding center, spas, and special events throughout the year.


Parks and Playgrounds for Families in the DTC:

The Denver Tech Center area is loaded with the best parks and playgrounds around. Check out our three Parks & Playgrounds Guides for Englewood, Greenwood Village, and Centennial to see photos of each playground and learn more about the available amenities.




Not sure which DTC park to visit first? These parks are our absolute favorites:

Belleview Miniature Train & Children’s Farm (Englewood) ~ If you're looking for a park with more than just your average playground, Belleview Park is the one to visit! Special features include a petting zoo and miniature train ride (which are available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend), a wading creek, sports courts, a baseball field, and numerous picnic areas. Plus, it's right next door to Pirates Cove, so you can easily extend your next outdoor adventure.

Westlands Park (Greenwood Village) ~ From toddler to teen, there is a special feature at Westlands Park for every kid! Dig in the sand, splash in some natural fountains, traverse a ninja-warrior-style obstacle course, host a bbq, compete in a friendly game of basketball, and let your imagination go wild. It's 28 acres of family fun!

Centennial Center Park (Centennial) ~ Enjoy one of three climbing walls, two expansive, age-appropriate play areas, and the Nautilus water play area in the center of the park. Wander along one of two educational paths: 1) The “Colorado Statehood Walk” displays interesting facts about Colorado and 2) The “Viewfinder Walk” highlights unique points of interest both inside and outside of the park.

Washington Park (Denver) ~ With over 2 miles of walking, running, and biking paths, and well over 100 acres of green recreational space, there is surely something here for everyone in the family. Get out on the lake, climb the playground, or simply wander the picturesque park. If you're feeling active, rent a 4-wheel Surrey cycle, water trike, or another fun water or road vehicle from Wheel Fun Rentals.



Family-Friendly Places to Eat in the DTC:

Grange Food Hall (Greenwood Village) ~ Don't let a picky eater stop you from enjoying the food you love. The Grange Food Hall is home to 8 food stalls (plus one additional space for rotating concepts) with a large variety of menu items. Foodies can fill up on delicious eats and then play shuffleboard and other games under the watchful eye of a ginormous chicken sculpture.

The Perfect Landing (Englewood) ~ Located on the Centennial Aiport campus, The Perfect Landing may seem like an unusual place to grab a meal, but locals consider this one of Denver's hidden gems. In addition to delicious scratch-made meals, guests can watch planes take off and enjoy live music entertainment in the evenings.

Pindustry (Greenwood Village) ~ Pindustry is one of the area's newest (and most exciting) venues for food and fun. Along with an incredible lineup of Italian-inspired eats, visitors can take in breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and try out a wide range of games and activities such as duckpin bowling, arcades, billiards, and cornhole. Be sure to check their calendar for live music throughout the year as well. 

Dave & Buster's (Denver) ~ Enjoy arcade games and American food at this family-friendly sports bar. Found in nearly every state across the country, Dave & Buster's has proven itself as a fun, reliable place for food and entertainment.

Punch Bowl Social (Denver) ~ With delicious food and family-friendly entertainment, Punch Bowl Social is becoming a household name for "foodertainment." Foodies will appreciate an exciting menu of elevated American cuisine alongside bowling, old-school arcades, games, and karaoke.

Craving something sweet? Try these:

Heaven Creamery (Centennial) ~ The Tropical Banana Split is absolutely divine... and HUGE! See for yourself in the photo above. We tried three different ice cream flavors and split the sundae between the 4 of us. With over 500 flavors in rotation, there's bound to be a favorite for you.

Bahama Buck's Centennial (Centennial) ~ When it comes to shaved ice, do you prefer to stick with one flavor OR mix and match? Either way, you can't lose! Top with gummy bears for an added treat of excavating some sweet morsels within your Sno.

NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop (Greenwood Village) ~ Savory or sweet? You pick! Indulge your inner child with a rainbow bagel. We've never seen bagels quite as fun and colorful as these. Call ahead to add sprinkles to this wildly imaginative creation.

Additional resources for foodies in the DTC:
Restaurant chains you'll only find in Colorado... for now!
DTC area restaurants with indoor playgrounds.



Note about the photo above: You can find this fun sculpture at Westlands Park in Greenwood Village.


Even More Fun Things to Do:

To plan around your travel dates or to discover special events and activities in the Denver Tech Center, check out the Macaroni KID Englewood-Greenwood Village-Centennial event calendar.