Spring Break Activities for Colorado Families with Young Children

By Call Emmy Team · February 3, 2026

Last week, my 12-year-old son asked me what we're doing for spring break, and I nearly choked on my coffee. Already? I thought. Where did the time go?

If you're in the same boat (and judging by the panicked texts in my mom group chat, many of you are), you might be scrambling for ideas that won't drain your energy or your wallet. After experiencing several Colorado spring breaks as both a mom and the founder of Call Emmy, I've learned that the best memories often come from the simplest adventures.

I've gathered some of our family's favorite spring break activities around Colorado, from when my son was younger to now, plus recommendations from other local parents who've been there, done that, and have the souvenir sippy cups to prove it.

Local "Staycation" Adventures

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

When my son was younger, I still remember his face when he uncovered his first "dinosaur bone" in the Discovery Zone's dig pit. He talked about being a "real paleontologist" for weeks afterward!

The museum has saved many rainy (or surprise snowy) spring days for us over the years, especially since they usually offer extended hours during spring break. Pro tip: go on a weekday right when they open at 9 am. You'll practically have the place to yourself for the first hour.

Now that he's 12, he's graduated from the Discovery Zone to being fascinated by the Space Odyssey and the temporary exhibits. The museum grows with your child, which makes it worth revisiting year after year. https://www.dmns.org/

Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

When my son was in preschool, we accidentally spent FIVE HOURS here one spring break. No regrets.

Back then, he could have stayed in the bubble area all day, while bouncing between the Art Studio and pretending to shop in the market area. While he's outgrown this now at 12, it remains one of our favorite memories and a top recommendation for families with younger children.

If you're taking little ones, bring a change of clothes if they might play in the Joy Park water area. Mine always did, despite promising he'd "just watch." https://www.mychildsmuseum.org/

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

My son used to call this "the place with the giant red rocks" when he was little, and it's become our go-to half-day adventure when we need a break from Denver. Even now at 12, he still appreciates the dramatic landscapes, though his interests have shifted from simply running around the rocks to learning about their geological formation.

When he was a toddler, the main paved path worked great with strollers. As he grew, we graduated to the more challenging trails. We always brought a little notebook so he could draw what he saw, and it kept him engaged longer than you'd expect.

After hiking, we head to the visitor center where, when he was younger, he would press every button on the interactive exhibits while asking impossible geology questions I couldn't answer. Now he reads the displays himself and occasionally still stumps me with questions. Tip: pack a picnic to enjoy at one of the designated areas, because the café prices made me gasp audibly last time. https://www.gardenofgods.com/

Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

When my friend visited with her toddler who refused to sit in a stroller but also complained about walking, Wonderland Lake saved us. The flat loop is perfect for little wobbling legs, and we spotted ducks, prairie dogs, and even a hawk.

Now that my son is older, we've graduated to more challenging trails in the Boulder Open Space system. The Mesa Trail and Chautauqua area offer more engaging hikes for tweens and teens while still being manageable for families. https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/open-space-and-mountain-parks

Local Library Events

Honestly, local library spring break programming has been a secret weapon for many families with younger children for years. My son enjoyed many of these when he was smaller – from reptile handlers bringing in snakes and lizards to craft sessions and coding workshops.

Now that he's 12, he still benefits from library programming, but gravitates toward the tech workshops, gaming events, and book clubs designed for older kids. Most libraries publish their spring break schedules about a month in advance, and the popular events fill up fast.

Home-Based Activities for Variable Colorado Weather

Colorado Dinosaur Dig

When my son was about five, he became obsessed with dinosaurs following a trip to Dinosaur Ridge. We created our own "excavation site" in a plastic storage bin filled with rice. I buried some dollar store dino figures and gave him paintbrushes to carefully uncover them.

This activity bought me 45 blissful minutes of quiet focus—a spring break miracle. The rice went everywhere, but it was still less messy than slime. I later upgraded to kinetic sand which was slightly less likely to be found in socks three months later.

While at 12 he's outgrown this particular activity, it sparked his interest in paleontology that continues today, though now it manifests as documentaries and more sophisticated science books.

Indoor Camping

Two springs ago, many Colorado families got hit with that ridiculous late March blizzard the day after promising kids camping. Cue the tears. When my son was younger, we dragged mattresses into the living room, set up tents indoors, and made s'mores in the microwave.

It turned into one of those magical nights where everyone forgot about screens. We strung up some twinkle lights, read stories with flashlights, and shared increasingly absurd "when I was a kid" stories that had him in stitches.

Even though he's 12 now, a version of this tradition continues during unexpected spring snowstorms—though now it involves more elaborate fort-building techniques and streaming movies rather than picture books.

Start Garden Seedlings

When my son was in elementary school, after some failed attempts at gardening in our weird Colorado climate, I finally broke down and called the CSU Extension office. Life-changing advice! We started making it a spring break tradition to plant seedlings indoors, which gave him a science project and taught him about patience.

We used egg cartons, potting soil, and seeds that actually grow in Colorado (learned that lesson the hard way). He made little plant markers from popsicle sticks and was in charge of the watering schedule.

Now at 12, he's graduated to more complex gardening projects, including designing our vegetable garden layout and researching companion planting. What started as a simple activity has grown into a true hobby and life skill. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/

Colorado Bird Watching

This activity started as a desperate attempt to entertain my son during a particularly cold and rainy spring break day when he was around 7. We smeared pine cones with peanut butter, rolled them in birdseed, and hung them outside the kitchen window.

Two days later, we had regular visitors—mostly chickadees and finches, but occasionally a stunning blue jay that sent him running to the window shouting. He named it "Mordecai" after a character in a show he wasn't supposed to watch (thanks, friend's house).

We printed a simple Colorado bird identification sheet from Denver Audubon, and it turned into a fun game of spotting different species. Even now as a tween, he still notices and identifies birds on our hikes, a small skill that has stuck with him through the years. https://www.denveraudubon.org/

Day Trip Ideas

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs

Yes, it's a haul from Denver. Yes, it's worth it. This isn't just "another zoo"—it's built into the side of a mountain, for one thing. When my son was little, I remember his face when that giant giraffe tongue grabbed lettuce from his tiny hand—absolutely priceless.

The skylift that runs through the zoo terrified me but delighted him when he was younger. We splurged on the carousel rides, which I initially thought was wasteful until I realized how much he needed that seated break halfway through our visit.

Now that he's 12, we still enjoy the zoo, but his interests have shifted to the conservation stories and behind-the-scenes details. The zoo has grown with him, offering more sophisticated experiences for older kids while still being magical for the little ones. https://www.cmzoo.org/

Great Sand Dunes National Park

This is still on our Colorado bucket list! Many Call Emmy families have shared their experiences with me, and it sounds incredible for kids of all ages. It's about 3.5 hours from Denver, so most families stay overnight in Alamosa.

The dunes themselves sound mind-blowing. You can rent plastic sleds at the Oasis store just outside the park entrance for kids to slide down the smaller dunes. While younger kids enjoy the sensory experience of playing in the sand, older kids and teens appreciate the adventure of hiking to the higher dunes and the physical challenge they present.

If you time it right (usually late May), Medano Creek flows at the base of the dunes, creating a perfect natural water park. Definitely call the visitor center for flow conditions before going. And don't forget SUNSCREEN. So much sunscreen. https://www.nps.gov/grsa/

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

When my son was about 5, he asked, "Mommy, are we really walking on this TINY bridge?" as we approached what is definitely NOT a tiny bridge. The Royal Gorge Bridge is massive, but everything looks different when you're a child staring down into what seems like the center of the Earth.

For height-nervous kids, the gondola is the perfect alternative—enclosed, smooth-riding, and still offering those jaw-dropping views. My thrill-seeking son, even at a young age, begged to try the zipline (the minimum age is 10, thank goodness).

We ended up spending most of our time in the Tommy Knocker playland after the initial bridge walk when he was little, which gave him a chance to burn energy while I actually enjoyed the views with a coffee in hand. Now at 12, he's more interested in the historical aspects and engineering of the bridge itself—a testament to how these attractions can grow with your child. https://royalgorgebridge.com/

Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden

When my son was younger and went through his intense train phase, this place was basically paradise. He could identify several types of train cars by age four, and this museum catered perfectly to that obsession.

What surprised me was how we both enjoyed the historically preserved station house and the scavenger hunt they offer for kids. The indoor model train exhibit saved us during a surprise rain shower.

Now that he's older, he appreciates the historical context more than just the trains themselves. The museum offers content for all ages, making it a place we've returned to through different developmental stages. https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/

Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster

This place saved spring break the year I had a tight work deadline and needed a compact but engaging activity for my then 6-year-old. It's small enough to navigate easily but interesting enough to fill a solid 2-3 hours.

My son initially gave me serious side-eye about the butterfly area, convinced one would land in his hair and get stuck forever. Twenty minutes later, he was standing perfectly still with his finger extended, begging butterflies to land on him.

The tide pools where kids can touch starfish and sea cucumbers were another unexpected hit. And yes, he held Rosie the tarantula, while I stood back and took photos with a zoom lens because NOPE. Now as a tween, he's more interested in the scientific classification aspects, but still enjoys revisiting for the hands-on exhibits. https://butterflies.org/

Parent Sanity Saver: Call Emmy

As the founder of Call Emmy, I created this service precisely because I experienced firsthand the challenges of balancing work, household management, and keeping my son engaged during school breaks. The excitement of no school quickly turns into the reality of juggling multiple responsibilities at once.

That's exactly why I started Call Emmy—because I saw so many parents (myself included) struggling with this balancing act, especially during school breaks when regular routines are disrupted.

Our caregivers can help with:

One of my favorite stories is from a mom who had a work deadline coincide with spring break. Her Emmy helper took her two boys to the Dinosaur Ridge and Children's Museum over two days, brought them home tired and happy, and even helped them create a "dinosaur museum" in their playroom to show mom when she finished work.

As my son has grown from a preschooler to a tween, our needs for support have changed but not disappeared. Now our Emmy helpers might take him to a climbing gym, help with transportation to activities with friends, or assist with more complex projects at home. That's the beauty of flexible support—it grows with your family.

Our caregivers are background-checked, experienced with children, and genuinely love what they do. And because they're available on-demand, you can book help just when you need it. https://callemmy.com/

Tips for Colorado Spring Break Success (Learned the Hard Way)

Navigating the Spring Break Shift with a Call Emmy Babysitter

I'm still learning how to navigate spring break with my son in our beautiful but climatically unpredictable state. The activities have evolved from toddler-friendly to tween-appropriate, but the need for planning, flexibility, and patience remains the same. Whether you’re braving a muddy trail or pivoting to an indoor museum day, the "mental load" of managing a week-long break is a lot for any parent to carry solo. This is where a proactive babysitter can be a game-changer. By booking a babysitter for even just a few hours, you can divide and conquer: one parent can tackle a "tween-approved" mountain bike session while a babysitter manages the younger siblings' analog play at home, or you can simply reclaim a morning for yourself while a reliable babysitter handles the local logistics. Even if the day ends with a "hiking mishap" or a "spectacular parenting fail," having a babysitter as part of your spring break village ensures you have the backup you need to turn a disaster into a good story.

What spring break adventures are you planning this year? Any Colorado gems I've missed? Share your experiences in the comments—we're all in this together!