Colorado Vacations
Vacation Planning Guide for Visiting Colorado with the Kids
Visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens with Kids
When visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens with kids, families can enjoy 23 acres containing more than 30 gardens with plants from around the world.
Don't miss the Tropical Conservatory and the Children's Garden, too.
Don't miss the Tropical Conservatory and the Children's Garden, too.
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 Photo: Kids love the dinosaur bones
at the Denver Museum of
Nature and Science
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has a mission: to inspire curiosity and excite the minds of all ages through the discovery, presentation and preservation of the world's treasures. DMNS offers incredible adventures for kids and their parents. Read our short article on the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for more information.
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Did You Know? Colorado is famous for its quaking aspen trees. It is said that local American Indians referred to them as spirit trees because their leaves seem to always move.  A member of the poplar family, the aspen's leaf stalk is flattened perpendicular to the plane of the leaf. This allows the leaves to flutter in the slightest breeze. The Latin name for this tree is Populus tremuloides. It is this tremulous quality that causes aspen-covered hillsides to shine with such an unusual, glimmering light. |
Photo Credit: Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
Humid and still, the
air seemed thick in our lungs. Sweat droplets slid down our backs and
legs, tickling us as they fell. We found shade beneath some foliage and
paused for a moment. Suddenly I noticed that the giant leaves overhead
looked exactly like a houseplant, except that they were larger than I.
In the Tropical Conservatory of the Denver Botanic Gardens, you come
face to face with the scale of equatorial plant life.Here, trickling streams wind around a huge, man-made Banyan Tree and the water pools under its leaves to shelter tropical fish. An elevator within the tree lets visitors take strollers up for a bird’s eye view. Winding paths below drop into a (relatively) cool grotto and subtly guide visitors back to the main entrance of the Conservatory. As you explore, you begin to understand with nearly all your senses what it is like in a rainforest. And you can’t help but notice the wide variety of plants, elbowing each other aside for a piece of the sun.
The Denver Botanic Gardens is home to more than 15,000 different plant species. Its 23 acres contain more than 30 gardens of the world. Seeing it all is a daunting task with preschoolers, so study the Map and Visitor Guide when you arrive to choose the spots that will most appeal to you. Our little ones enjoyed the Children’s Garden thoroughly, but the tropical rainforest in the Conservatory remained their all-out favorite.
The Botanic Gardens rents Discovery Backpacks to schoolteachers and chaperones during the week and to families on the weekends. They are designed to extend classroom learning in a hands-on environment. We tried the Family Fun Science Pack, which is billed for all ages, but felt it was a little too structured for our 3-year-old. You can rent the packs at the information desk. Call 720/ 865-3577 to reserve them.
The best thing about the Denver Botanic Gardens is that it provides a place for the kids to steer their own learning in a relaxed setting with plenty of room to run and explore. They can’t help but notice the plants and the different habitats, asking questions as they go. They’ll never know they are practicing two key learning skills: observation of their world and a keen curiosity about what they see.
When You Go:
Phone Number: 303/ 331-4000
Website: www.botanicgardens.org
Address: 1005 York Street, Denver.
Directions: From I-25, take the 6th Avenue Freeway east to Josephine Street. Turn north on Josephine and go 3½ blocks and look for the parking lot on the left. The parking lot is between Josephine and York Streets. Cross York, to the west of the parking lot, and see the main entrance just north of 9th Avenue.
Season: All year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Hours: Winter hours (October through April) are 9am to 5pm daily. Summer hours (May through September) are 9am to 8pm Saturday through Tuesday, and 9am to 5pm Wednesday through Friday.
Cost: Winter admission is $5.50 for adults, $3.50 for seniors, and $3.00 for students and kids ages 6 to 15. Kids 5 and younger are free. Summer admission to The Denver Botanic Gardens is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors, $4.00 for students and kids ages 6 to 15. Kids 5 years old and under are free. Members receive free admission. Parking is free.
Facilities: Bathrooms for both men and women both have diaper decks. Most indoor and outdoor facilities are wheelchair and stroller accessible; pick up a visitor guide with accessibility routes at the main entrance. Arrangements can be made for hearing and visually impaired visitors. During warmer months, food is available in outdoor dining pavilions. A gift shop offers a beautiful array of garden-related toys, games, books, soaps, clothing, and other gift items.
Special Considerations and Notes: The gardens host lots of curving paths that wind through foliage, making it easy for small children to get lost. Keep careful track of toddlers. Also, the paths in the Children’s Garden are not very hospitable to strollers. A backpack carrier would work better for those little ones too tired to walk.
For pre-kindergarten school groups, the Botanic Gardens offers the Sprouts Program, a hands on gardening program geared for younger kids. It is offered in April, May, June, and September. One chaperone is required for every 8 children, with a maximum of 50 kids per school group. Call 720/ 865-3577 for details.
Related Links at FamilyTravelColorado.com:
Explore Denver with the Kids