11 Family Friendly Attractions in Colorado Springs

Grab the kids and enjoy these family friendly attractions and things to do in Colorado Springs!

Colorado Springs offers a great mix of natural outdoor attractions and exciting urban entertainment. There’s something for everyone to enjoy here, even the kids! Here are 11 attractions and things to do in Colorado Springs you can go with the whole family:

1. Feed the Giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is like no other and is known as “America’s Mountain Zoo.” It’s built right into the mountainside and offers spectacular views of Colorado Springs. We recommend hopping on the Sky Ride chairlift to really appreciate the scenery. At 6,714 feet above sea level, this zoo is the highest in all of North America. It offers many exhibits, events, and animal interactions, such as feeding the goats, chickens, and birds. But the real crowd-favorite activity is feeding the giraffes! The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s giraffe herd is world-renowned and is the largest of any zoo in North America. For just a few dollars you can buy a bundle of lettuce and have the giraffes use their long black tongues to eat right from your hand!

2. Visit The North Pole and Santa’s Workshop (Even in the Summer!)

The North Pole is a charming vintage amusement park full of Christmas cheer. Nestled at the base of Pikes Peak, The North Pole is normally open May through December and is just a 20-minute drive from Colorado Springs. This Christmas-themed amusement park has two dozen unique rides perfect for young families, and several of the rides are even infant-friendly. While at the North Pole, you can also take in a show with Elmer the Elf, visit with Santa, and enjoy plenty of sweet treats.

3. Take a Leisure Hike or Bike Ride Through Garden of the Gods

This is the most popular attraction in Colorado Springs! Garden of the Gods Park features striking red rock formations that enchant visitors from all around the globe. Visitors to the park can hike, take a bike or e-bike tour, book an open-air jeep tour, take a guided-nature walk, book a horseback riding tour, rock climb (with a permit), and more. Guests of the park can also stop by The Visitor and Nature Center. The Park and Visitor Center are both free and open to the public, and The Park frequently hosts classes, activities, and educational presentations.

4. Meet an Olympic Athlete at The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

Don’t miss one of Colorado Springs’ newest attractions, The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, located in the heart of Downtown Colorado Springs. The entire family will enjoy this amazing interactive museum that allows you to actually “compete” against real Olympic athletes via virtual technology. Learn the stories of triumph and hardship of your favorite U.S. athletes you remember watching on television as a kid. This is also one of the most accessible museums in the world as they want to ensure that guests of all abilities have the same memorable experience.

5. Ice Skate Inside or Outside

You can ice skate in Colorado Springs year-round at the indoor Sertich Ice Center. The Center offers public skating, skating lessons for all abilities, and ice hockey leagues. Over the winter, the city also opens an outdoor rink where you can don your scarves and mittens and create fun winter memories ice-skating in the open air at the park. Skate at the Park is located at Acacia Park, hours vary, so check the website before you go.

6. Plan a Getaway Weekend at Great Wolf Lodge

At Great Wolf Lodge, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside, you can have a blast playing in the indoor heated waterpark 365 days a year! There’s so much for kids to do here: waterpark, MagiQuest, ropes course, mini golf, bowling, rock climbing, build-a-bear, mining for gems, story time, crafts, dance parties, and more. With so much to do, it is a great place for a family vacation or staycation for those who live locally.

7. Ride a Train Up Pikes Peak

Take a ride on the highest cog railway in the world. The Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been hauling visitors up Pikes Peak since 1891. This three-and-a-half-hour round-trip journey provides passengers with breath-taking views and incredible scenery as the train ascends over 8,000 feet to reach the summit of Pikes Peak at a whopping 14,115 feet. Once you’re at the summit, spend some time taking in the magnificent views, and then check out the new Pikes Peak Visitor Center before making your way back down the mountain.

8. Visit the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs

Spend some time exploring Historic Manitou Springs! There’s plenty of cute shops and restaurants to enjoy here, but kids will especially love visiting the Penny Arcade. The Penny Arcade has more than 400 arcade games and several of them still only cost a penny to play. The arcade also has a small amusement park with rides that younger kids can enjoy. Once you’re finished at the arcade, grab a bite to eat or sample some famous “healing” mineral water, and then drive over to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum. These fascinating ruins are 800-1,000 years old. The whole family can explore, go inside, and even touch the dwellings.

9. Climb to New Heights at CityROCK

This indoor rock-climbing facility is a wonderful place for kids of all ages to have fun and get some energy out. Along with drop-in climbing, CityROCK also offers classes for kids ages two and up and day camps for kids ages six and up. They also have a yoga studio and a full fitness and training area. Separate from the main climbing walls is a designated play area just for children under six called The Aerie. This fun play area has a slide, cargo net, low climbing wall, and zip line. When everyone gets hungry from all the climbing, you can walk right into CityROCK’s restaurant, Ute & Yeti, for a tasty lunch.

10. Explore Subterranean Wonders at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

Explore what lies beneath at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. This Park is located just west of Colorado Springs near Manitou Springs, and the Discovery Tour is family-friendly. During this 45–60-minute lit cave tour, you’ll journey through 15 different cave rooms, see captivating formations, and learn about the history and geology of the caves. Once you are back at the surface, you can play above the ground on the three-story Wind Walker Challenge Course. Want even more thrills? Try out the Bat-A-Pult! This 1,200-foot round trip aerial ride crosses over Williams canyon at speeds up to 40 miles per hour!

11. Try New Flavors on a Food Tour

Have a budding foodie in your family? Enjoy a culinary adventure in Downtown Colorado Springs on a walking food tour. Rocky Mountain Food Tours (that’s us!) offers a fun and tasty way to explore several restaurants in just a few hours. Our Original Food Tour is family-friendly, and we offer a reduced ticket price for kids ages 5-12 years old. Though some food may stretch the boundaries of what your kiddos have previously experienced, we also serve classics like pizza, burgers, and ice cream that they will be sure to love. This experience also features local history and fun facts about Colorado Springs.

We hope this list helps spark an adventure for you and your family. The hard part will be choosing which activity to do first!

Cheers, Your Rocky Mountain Food Tours Team

(So, what’s a food tour, anyway…?)

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