Family Fun for Your Denver Weekend

Miami Herald

13-05-2025

Sometimes a long weekend suffices for a quick escape, especially given limited PTO, school days and generally busy modern lifestyles that make weeklong vacations hard to squeeze in. If you're looking for a weekend away with the family, this perfect long weekend itinerary in Denver will inspire your family fun.
Portions of this trip were hosted.
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Why Here: Casa Bonita, a Denver mainstay since the 1970s, featured kitschy decor, cliff divers and somewhat terrible Mexican food. South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker purchased the restaurant and now offer the same nostalgia with a safer, cleaner, tastier venue.
What Not to Miss: Although hidden activities abound, the cliff divers really steal the limelight with dive intervals every 20 minutes. So rest easy, eat your burrito, interact with the restaurant characters and catch a show when you can.
Where to Eat: Obviously, you've come for some food but the specialty drinks stand out: indulge in at least one!
Money Matters: Our group of four (two adults, two kids) spent right around $200 on lunch. We each had a specialty drink and an entree. The sopapillas come free with every reservation! While somewhat expensive for mediocre Mexican food, you pay for dinner and a show when it all shakes out. The arcade and some activities incur a small upcharge.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Make reservations 2-4 months in advance – you can only dine here if you have a reservation.
Why Here: The Downtown Aquarium, one of several nationwide managed by Landry's (of Rainforest Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp, and several Walt Disney Resort restaurants fame), drew us in with the dive/snorkel program. We likely would skip this stop without the extra in-water program.
What Not to Miss: You can actually book snorkeling and scuba diving adventures (which we did) through a local dive shop, A-1 Scuba. In water guides make interacting with cow nose stingrays, guitar fish, jacks and more super chill and fun. All gear is provided and showers are on-site.
Where to Eat: Aquarium Restaurant, with a fantastic ambiance and resembling a themed Applebee's in quality, quantity and taste. The drinks really stood out – I recommend the Shark Bite. Quite a juxtaposition: separately, all the ingredients presented nothing special, but the whole experience made for quite a good time.
Money Matters: Two snorkelers and two scuba divers cost $700. The price included our aquarium visit and a souvenir t-shirt. The behind-the-scenes scuba and snorkel experience really elevated our aquarium visit. Without this elevated experience, the restaurant might have just been a mediocre, crowded itinerary stop. At the on-site restaurant, drinks, meals, and dessert for four totaled around $250.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The in-water programs book fast. Make a reservation a few weeks in advance, at least. You have to do so separately from the aquarium, through the scuba shop. Anyone not in the water will need to purchase admission to the aquarium. The restaurant didn't prove terribly hard to secure reservations, but to do so helps plan for a successful day!
Why Here: Meow Wolf boasts several locations throughout the USA, including this one, part art exhibit, part amusement venue. It ranks among those life experiences demanding firsthand experience. Featuring four levels, Convergence Station transports you through areas recalling a frozen glittery land, bright pizzascapes reminiscent of 1990s-era Nickelodeon illustrations, spots feeling intergalactic, and even a laundromat. Sounds accompany the visual experience. Our ten-year-old loved the experience most of all.
What not to Miss: Pinpointing what we missed is difficult. During your briefing, you hear that 'no correct way exists to explore' and that 'if you feel lost, you're doing it right.' I would say, you do need to interact by opening doors, pushing buttons, and really immersing yourself in the fun.
Where to eat: While a lounge and cafe exist, we opted to eat before visiting Meow Wolf, so we cannot comment much on the food situation. However, after exploring the mind-blowing exhibits and walking through the lounge on our way out, I actually mistook a display of half-eaten food and drink on an abandoned table for art!
Money Matters: Reserve an entry time online. For the four of us, ticket prices would have totaled around $200 for an afternoon of adventures in art. Parking costs $10 with plenty of space in a surface lot.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Wear comfortable shoes – you'll "feel" the concrete floors as you walk and try to find all the exhibits' nooks and crannies.
Why here: Fun for a special dinner or date night, sharing tapas with a small group works perfectly at Linger. This popular restaurant, occupying an old mortuary building, has no kids menu, but the kids enjoyed some "eating adventures" while trying menu items including wagyu sliders and bison kebabs. We ordered several plates and shared them around the table.
What not to Miss: The bao bun trio remains my favorite go-to menu item at this spot. A good action plan involves everyone ordering something different and then just sharing bites. The mimosas also delight for a Sunday brunch. You really can't find bad food.
Where to eat: You're here to savor Denver's flavors. Maybe let them linger a while… Our server mentioned that the restaurant occupies the part of the building where the hearses parked – which makes sense considering the large garage door-style windows on one wall. Whether seated upstairs or downstairs, no bad spot exists.
Money Matters: This dining experience won't break the bank with on-average $20 entrees. Special menus appear at times, and expensive options, like any menu, run $40-$50. Our party of four ate dinner for about $100.
SheBuysTravel Tip: You MUST make a reservation if you don't want to stand in the street waiting for an hour. A crowd-pleasing small-batch ice cream joint operates on the street level next door to Linger for a little dessert, if you have any room at all!
Why here: The VīB in Denver's artsy River North (RiNo) district offered a super convenient basecamp for our long weekend. Centrally located, about 20 minutes from all the adventures we had planned, and with easy access to the Colorado Rockies games.
What Not to Miss: Special events like Trivia and Bingo occur on the rooftop patio (or inside when chilly) – check for information on these free and well-attended events. The energy suits any crowd with a vibe all its own.
Where to eat: The food on-site worked perfectly for starting our day and provided a fun spot to chill in the evenings. The hotel features a breakfast and coffee shop for mornings and McDevitt Taco Supply, a cool rooftop patio bar/restaurant.
Money Matters: A night here costs around $150-265 depending on season and day of the week. The taco restaurant proves affordable, and you will save in the end by its central location for rideshare costs or even driving and time.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Streetside parking exists FREE and limited. About eight coveted parking spots are available; otherwise, easy ramp parking exists.
Coors Field: Home of the Colorado Rockies. Catch a tour or see a game during baseball season. I recommend the lobster roll – a bold choice in a landlocked American ballpark, but you won't regret it!Denver Zoo: Lots of exhibits, many newly renovated, and for grown-ups – stands selling cold beers in eco-friendly cups.The Big Blue Bear: Near Denver's Convention Center in the heart of downtown. Great photo op but with tricky parking. We made a quick run to the giant azure oso, snapped our selfies, and ran back to the car. You may not want to take my advice on repeating this operation!One Mile High step: At 5,280 feet above sea level, the step on the Denver Courthouse. Great photo op also in downtown. While we were there, one of the biggest protests in Colorado history was taking place, so we didn't go for the picture. Rocky Mountain National Park: 90-minute drive northwest of Denver. Make sure to check the weather, so you're able to get as far up into the mountainous landscape as you can. In 2025, prepare for the usual locations to be unstaffed or have some services lacking.Renegados: Tacos and elote near the airport on Tower Road. I can confirm the delicious nature makes this a perfect stop before flying out.
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