Children's Museum of Denver453

Inside the funky orange, blue, and yellow building off I-25 is Denver's best children's museum, winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best museum for little kids in Denver. The Children's Museum is both educational and just plain fun.

The museum is divided into several different "playscapes" and you should plan on at least two hours to see and do a little of everything.

On the first floor of the museum you will find the Center for the Young Child. This playscape is for children newborn to age four. However, if you are bringing older siblings along they can entertain themselves on the many computers situated around the room. The large area contains several child-oriented thematic play areas. Newborns can lay on the big lily pad and gaze up at the stuffed bugs flying over head. Toddlers can fish for stuffed fish, play house, or tend the garden - just to name a few things.

The first floor also includes the Anna Jo Haynes Parent Resource Center, which provides parenting information, links to community resources and parent educational sessions.

The second level of the museum is for children ages four to eight. The ARTS a la Carte playscape is a place where children can dance, sing, act, become an artist or put on a puppet show. Drop-in art programs happen daily, and facilitated programs are offered every Wednesday and Friday. A real hit is Making the Team; here kids can play basketball on a kid-sized court!

The Assembly Plant is a hands-on workshop that provides a variety of tools and recycled materials for designing and building objects. This area is definitely not for children under four, since children use real tools. There is no museum staff directly supervising kids in this area, so parents and caregivers should be prepared to watch their children closely.

In My Market children role-play in a grocery store, deli, and bakery. After they find their groceries they can wait in line to check out.

WillitWorks is a place where kids help the museum try out ideas for future playscapes and programs. The room is a chameleon and the activities, programs, and exhibits that are always changing.

Parties: The museum is available for parties on Saturdays and Sundays. Call the Museum's party consultant for more information. The museum is also available for after-hours facility rentals.

Gifts/Cubbies: A gift shop near the entrance sells books, toys, and much more. Cubbies - "no lock" and lockable - are available for storing items.

Snacks: Eat Street Cafe, with a large seated dining area inside and outside, is located on the first floor. Sandwiches, fruit, juices, milk, cookies and other snacks are available for purchase. Visitors are welcome to bring a bag lunch.

Restrooms: Restrooms are available on both floors with changing tables in the men's rooms and ladies' rooms. Family restrooms are now open in The Center For The Young Child, on the first floor, also with changing tables.

Family Membership in the museum is available with cost based on the number of children you'd like to include.

Parking in the Children's Museum lot is free. There may be a small fee for non-members during museum special events. Rates vary in surrounding lots.