Visiting Boulder Colorado: Things To Do In Boulder With Kids

One of the things we love when visiting Boulder, Colorado, is that no matter where you go, you can see the flatirons. Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and just north of Denver, Boulder offers visitors the best of outdoor adventure and city amenities. Visiting Boulder, Colorado is perfect for hiking, biking, and dining. We’re highlighting our top kid-friendly Boulder attractions and destinations.

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Things to do in downtown Boulder

Downtown Boulder is family-friendly and fun all year round. There are so many things to do, but we think you’ll especially love the three following activities!

Walk Pearl Street Mall

The Pearl Street district is a great place to explore and experience Boulder as a family. There are lots of specialty shops and a ton of great restaurants—many of which are kid friendly. When BabyQuip Quality Provider Amy Mahan is on Pearl Street, her favorite place to eat is West Flanders Brewing Co. They have a great kids menu, games, and a bin of Legos for the littles to play with. 

Pearl Street is a great place to see street performers during the warmer months. And the unique play structures located about every block are just begging to be climbed on. Kids can practice their bouldering skills on one of the large animal statues or boulders. During the summer months, be sure to splash in the pop-jet fountain on Pearl and 14th Street.

Ride the Electric Train

All Aboard! Do you have a child obsessed with trains? Then you won’t want to miss the FREE rides on the Pearl Street Mall’s 100% Electric Tebo Train! Summer rides start Tuesday, June 1, 2021 and run Monday – Friday mornings through September 3rd. 

Children ages 10 and under (along with accompanying adults) can chug along Pearl Street in this one-of-a-kind experience. The Summer Tebo Train boards in front of Wells Fargo Bank at the corner of 13th and Pearl. The rides start at 9:30 am each day and the last train leaves the station at 11 am SHARP. Sit back and enjoy the ride! 

During the holiday season the Tebo Train magically transforms into the Snowflake Express providing rides on Saturdays during St. Nick on the Bricks! 

Best kid-friendly shops on Pearl Street

Kids will love the kite and toy shop Into the Wind. Whether you’re looking for a simple beginner kite, a stunt kite, or supplies to build your own kite, Into the Wind has it all. They also have a huge selection of toys—a great souvenir idea! The curated toy selection includes STEM toys, books, and games.

If you have an hour or two to spare, stop by Color Me Mine and create your ceramic masterpiece—drop-ins are welcome! Staff can help you select a technique—we think kids will love using shaving cream to create a unique design. Pieces are then finished and fired by staff and ready for you in about a week. If you’re from out of town, your finished piece can be shipped to your home. This family-friendly art project is best for littles two and older.

Explore the Museum of Natural History at CU Boulder

The Museum of Natural History on the University of Colorado Boulder campus is located just one mile south of Pearl Street. The museum is open seven days a week (closed holidays) and admission is free. There are numerous kid-friendly programs including Mornings at the Museum for littles 2–5 years old. Don’t miss the Discovery Corner exhibit, located on the lower level, where the youngest museum visitors can explore in a hands-on activity space. Visiting Boulder, Colorado with older kids? Check out the Family Days schedule of events. 

When you’re done learning about natural and human history at the museum, take a walk over to the Fiske Planetarium. The exhibit space is open daily with public planetarium show times Thursday through Sunday.

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Best outdoor activities for kids visiting Boulder, Colorado

There is definitely no lack of outdoor activities when visiting Boulder, Colorado. With miles of hiking trails, water activities and parks galore, it’s almost impossible to not stay active during your entire visit!

Go for a kid-friendly hike at Chautauqua Park

The history of Chautauqua Park dates back to 1898 when residents of Boulder approved a bond to preserve wild lands for public use. Today, visitors can explore the miles of trails in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks. Parking at Chautauqua Park is free but can be a challenge during good weather and busy seasons, so arrive early. We recommend visiting the Ranger Cottage where you can pick up a free Nature Discovery Pack. Rangers can also help recommend a hike that’s perfect for your family.

Go for a swim at Boulder Reservoir

When you are visiting Boulder, Colorado, it can get HOT during the summer months. After you work up a sweat hiking one of the area trails, cool off at the sandy beach at Boulder Reservoir. Located just north of Boulder, the swimming beach is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you’re looking to get out on the water, boat rentals are available. For lunch or dinner, we recommend the nearby Avery Brewing Co. Request a table on the patio and let your kids run around the adjacent field while you sip on a beer.

Go for a bike ride at Valmont Bike Park

The 42-acre, natural surface cycling terrain park, Valmont Bike Park, is a must-visit destination for mountain biking enthusiasts. Park in the lot on Airport Road and let your little explore life on two wheels in the Tot Track. When they get tired of riding, check out the adjacent playground. Rent a bike from University Bicycles (for humans at least four feet tall). Bring your own balance bike or tricycle.

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Indoor adventures in Boulder

Don’t fret if the rain or cold impacts your outdoor plans. Boulder is home to some one-of-a-kind indoor gyms for kids of all ages.

Learn how to climb at ABC Kids Climbing

Visiting Boulder, Colorado isn’t complete without a little rock climbing or bouldering. Introduce your kids to climbing at ABC Kids Climbing, a 7,200 square foot climbing gym built to help kids develop mental and physical climbing muscles. You can pop in during open gym hours on Tuesday, Saturday, or Sunday. This activity to best for little ones two and older.

Burn off some steam at CATS Gym when visiting Boulder, Colorado.

You and your little ones will have a blast jumping on the trampoline, scaling the climbing wall, and somersaulting on the spring floor at CATS Gym. There are a number of open gym options for all ages. 

For kiddos under five, check out the Wednesday and Friday Tumbling Tots Open Play—your first visit it free! Open gym on Saturdays is for the six and up crowd. And for an interesting date night excursion, there’s an adults-only open gym, Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Scott Carpenter Park

Scott Carpenter Park and Pool is a community park located in the heart of Boulder that provides visitors with a wide variety of recreational facilities. Here, you’ll find a swimming pool, skate park, open turf field, diamond field, and the iconic Rocket Ship Scott Carpenter playground.  

Visiting Boulder, Colorado in the winter? Sledding is approved! Though Scott Carpenter Park and Pool is well equipped with programmed and structured recreational activity, children often play along the buffers of the park and on the playground, which contains crater and rock play structures that emulate features found in nature. The Boulder Creek bike path also runs along the perimeter of Scott Carpenter and you can easily bike downtown to Pearl Street and beyond. 

Having one of the largest grassy knolls in Boulder, Scott Carpenter Park is perfect for families young and old to fly kites against the backdrop of the Flatirons.  

Gateway Fun Park

At Gateway Fun Park, families can enjoy many fun and entertaining activities, such as miniature golf, batting cages, a driving range, inline hockey, and a human maze. In their arcade you’ll find games such as Jurassic Park, Skee Ball, NFL Throw, Flappy Chicken, Fruit Ninja, and air hockey! Win tickets and redeem them for prizes! A crowd favorite here is the go-carts, where you and your family can enjoy a ride on Colorado’s longest go-kart road track. Gateway features both single and double seat karts, as well as a separate kiddie kart track. 

Want to do everything at Gateway? Then the Value Card is just for you! This card is good for all the attractions within the park, can be used by more than one person, and gives you the freedom to pick your activity as you go (Approx 20% savings per card). This is a great flexible option for families!

Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing Pond

Enjoy a relaxing outdoor activity at Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing pond, where only kids 12 and under can fish. Originally an old University of Colorado gravel pit, this area was redeveloped into a children’s fishing pond in 1949 by the Boulder Fish and Game Club. The Boulder Fish and Game Club stock approximately three thousand fish each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Children can bring their own fishing pole and bait and catch a maximum of three fish per day each. Though there is no swimming or wading in the pond permitted, this is surely to be a fun relaxing experience for kids and families who enjoy fishing. 

Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory Tour

Does your family enjoy drinking tea? Boulder is uniquely positioned to be a tea hub, given that it’s surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Many wild herbs and flowers can be sourced from Boulder’s backyard to naturally flavor your favorite tea blends. Enjoy the Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour which is just 45 minutes of a multi-sensory experience, including a walk through the art gallery featuring tea box art, tea sampling of over 90 teas and an up-close view of the factory where 8 million tea bags are produced daily. 

You’ll even make a stop at the famous Mint Room. This would be a great place to stop at the Celestial Cafe for lunch and participate in their tour while you’re there. Tours are free to the public, however it is worth noting that children under 5 are not permitted on the factory portion of the tour. 

Easy Family Hike at Heil Valley Ranch’s Lichen Loop

Located several miles north of Boulder, the Lichen Loop is a short and easy 1.6 mile loop. Some of the other trails in the area can be pretty heavily trafficked with mountain bikers and people with dogs, however on this trail, mountain bikes and dogs are not allowed. With several boulders for climbing and playing on, they also make great stopping spots for a snack break. Also, it’s an added bonus that this trail does have restrooms if needed! 

Note: If arriving on a weekend, parking can be tricky as it is a popular spot. Be sure to start the day earlier if possible so as to get a parking spot.

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Summary—Visiting Boulder, Colorado with kids.

• Explore Pearl Street Mall, ride the Tebo Train, check out the local shops, and eat at West Flanders Brewing Co.
• Visit the Museum of Natural History and Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
• Get outside at Chautauqua Park, Boulder Reservoir, Valmont Bike Park, Gateway Fun Park, Scott Carpenter Park, Heil Valley Ranch’s Lichen Loop, Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing Pond
• Check out these indoor gyms: ABC Kids Climbing and CATS Gym.

Let us know what fun things you like to do in Boulder with your kiddos! Share in the comments below.