Aurora is a vibrant and diverse city located just outside of Denver, Colorado. With a population of over 380,000 people, Aurora provides plenty of opportunities for families to connect and create lasting memories. From exploring nature parks to hands-on museums and cultural experiences, Aurora has something fun to offer everyone.
There is no shortage of family-friendly places where you can spend a day immersed in activities like hiking, biking, mini golfing, historic exploration and so much more. In this article, we will explore 12 amazing activities and destinations perfect for a family outing in Aurora. With so much to see and do, your family is sure to make memories that will be treasured for years to come.
Explore the Wildlife at Cherry Creek State Park
Cherry Creek State Park spans a massive 880 acres area just south of Aurora and offers gorgeous views and an abundance of activities for families of all ages. Meander along the 12 miles of trails by bike or foot and observe white tail deer grazing in open spaces or great blue herons nesting in the wetland reservoir.
The park also features a swim beach during summer, paddle boat and kayak rentals on the lake and over 200 campsites if you want to turn your day trip into an overnight camping adventure under the stars. With its natural prairie landscape and wide open spaces surrounded by the Front Range, Cherry Creek State Park is an idyllic place to connect with nature just minutes from downtown Aurora.
Step into History at Aurora History Museum
The Aurora History Museum is a wonderful place for families to immerse themselves in the history and culture that helped shape this vibrant Front Range city. Located in the historic 1903 Hedgewood building, the museum features numerous hands-on exhibits spanning over 10,000 years of human habitation and development in the region.
Kids can try grinding maize in a Ute Indian replica or operate early 20th century printing press equipment while adults explore the Modest Home, a 1912 Sears Catalog kit house that educated visitors on what early suburban living looked like. With plenty of activities and replica furnishings to keep the younger ones occupied, the Aurora History Museum makes local heritage come to life for visitors of any age.
Mini Golf Fun at Family FunPlex
An afternoon of mini golf is a quintessential family bonding experience, one that’s even better when paired with additional fun attractions like the Family FunPlex along Alameda Avenue in Aurora. This entertainment center goes far beyond mini golf with things like bumper boats, go karts, thrill rides, batting cages and an expanded arcade zone to keep energy levels high.
Let the kids run around the 18 hole mini golf course designed to mimic classical wonders like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Then take a cruise around the bumper boat pond trying to soak each other amid laughs and squeals. With so much to do under one roof, Family FunPlex is ideal for families looking to make lasting memories together in Aurora.
Hands-On Exploration at Children’s Museum of Denver
Learn while you play at the Children’s Museum of Denver, an innovative children’s museum boasting 70,000 square feet and dozens of interactive STEAM based exhibits. Budding builders can don a hard hat and climb a thrilling three story climber replica or assemble walls, bridges and structures using real tools and lumber at the Build Zone.
Aspiring veterinarians can examine lizards, rabbits, turtles and other creatures with kid-sized medical instruments while little ones will delight at the splash fountains and sensory play stations created just for toddlers. From adventure zones to art studios and even pretend grocery stores, parents will love watching their kid’s curiosity emerge across these enriching exhibits in Aurora.
Pedal Along the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Trail
For an active family adventure, grab some bikes or put on your walking shoes and hit the refreshing paved trail along the Sand Creek Regional Greenway. This ribbon of burgeoning riparian habitat winds along the prairie grasslands northeast of Aurora for nearly 9 miles out and back. Pedal or power walk past herons wading the creek waters as swallowtail butterflies flitter amid wild indigo plants and rattlesnake master flowers lining the path.
Benches allow you to stop for a snack or simply take in peaceful creek views bordered by an abundance of wildlife. Whether biking, walking, running or meandering in a wheelchair, the stunning nature corridor along this trail is a gorgeous way to soak in open spaces with family.
Live Music & Dancing at Havana Street Fair
Summertime weekends are cause for festivities at the Havana Street Fair, a community centric gathering in Aurora’s Havana Exchange Neighborhood. Families will love meandering through this artisan market checking out handmade crafts from local vendors while kids can enjoy amusement rides and carnival games like balloon darts, ping pong fishbowls and a bean bag toss.
Multiple stages feature vibrant dance acts and live music from bands putting their own spin on ragtime, jazz and western classics. From blues to funk to salsa, the beats have everyone out dancing amid colorful streamers for a true taste of multicultural Aurora. And with authentic Mexican fare joining staple carnival bites like funnel cake and corn dogs, the Havana Street Fair promises a fantastically fun time for families.
Climb, Jump, Slide at HangTime Trampoline & Climbpark
For high-flying family fun in Aurora, a trip to HangTime Trampoline & Climbpark is an absolute must. This massive complex bursting with trampolines showcases multiple attraction zones featuring everything from open jump courts primed for impressive flips to battle beam jousting for a competition between siblings.
Feel the adrenaline rush taking on towering climbing walls before making a thrilling plunge into an expansive foam pit below. With attractions for all ages and abilities, kids and parents will delight in this indoor parkour style playground that encourages hearty exercise wrapped in giggles and grins. HangTime delivers gravity defying enjoyment that will give your family stories to tell for years on end.
Immerse in Art at The People’s Building
Nurture your family’s creative spirit at The People’s Building along Colfax Avenue in Aurora. This non-profit art gallery and shared community space seeks to uplift diverse voices through artistic expression. Families can explore the current art exhibitions highlighting thought provoking works from local minority artists as well as join in one of the many hands-on art workshops.
Kids will love getting messy hand building clay creatures before parents try their hand at print making or acrylic pours on canvas. From live model drawing sessions to jewelry making, families can learn new techniques from talented artists, perhaps discovering budding Picassos or O’Keeffes in their midst. However you choose to engage, The People’s Building invites families to open their minds through art.
Cheer on the Home Team from D’Backs Stadium
Take your family out to the ball game for an exciting day cheering on Aurora’s own minor league baseball team, the Rocky Mountain Vibes, at beautiful D’Backs Stadium. Enjoy an afternoon catching pop flies and stealing bases against Front Range mountain views beyond the outfield fences.
Kids will love chasing down autographs from players or greeting furry mascots like Ratt McNastey who make their way through the stadium firing up crowds between innings. And with hot dogs and ballpark staples lining concession stands, families can root for the home team while creating special memories they’ll carry with them for a lifetime.
Learn About Sustainable Living at EarthWays Center
Dedicate an afternoon to learning about sustainability as a family at Aurora’s EarthWays Center. This living building and environmental education center teaches visitors about renewable energy through interactive exhibits and inspiration home concepts. Journey through the building’s interior examining solar thermal panels, composting systems, xeriscaping and green design elements that reduce environmental impact.
Kids can investigate the Children’s Energy Zone to learn how pedal power generates electricity before climbing a spiral staircase sheathed in recycled denim insulation. With regular workshops and special events from arts and crafts using recycled materials to nature walks and gardening demos, EarthWays Center makes climate consciousness approachable and engaging for all ages.
Picnic & Playtime at Utah Park
No family trip to Aurora is complete without quality time spent at the lush and lively Utah Park. Unfurl your picnic blankets on the sprawling south lawn and fuel up on favorite finger foods between romps up climbing boulders and trips down twisting slides. Challenge your kids to conquer the climbing wall or race them on swings as the sounds of laughter and delight fill this charming park.
Cool off splashing under interactive water jets near the fascinating outdoor musical instruments like steel drums and wind chimes. Utah Park also hosts free events like yoga classes, musicians and movies in the park giving your family even more ways to make magical memories picnicking on these vibrant grounds.
Walk Back in Time at Morrison Nature Center
Immerse your family in nature’s wonder at the gorgeous Morrison Nature Center, an open space park filled with old curiosity and new discovery. Meander through butterfly gardens abloom in black-eyed Susans and coneflowers while keeping watch for bull snakes sunning themselves upon rocks. Embark on the half-mile Trail Through Time crossing through various eras and ecosystems showcasing Aurora’s landscape transformations across millennia.
From a nascent 15,000 year old Tundra zone to the Ancestral Rockies and grassy plains, kids will love identifying different species that define each geological age. With babbling creeks, historic homesteads and unforgettable foothills vistas, Morrison Nature Center gives families a glimpse into Aurora’s roots through the lens of our intrinsic bond with nature.
Conclusion
With its diversity of landscapes and activities, Aurora offers engaging experiences for visiting families of all ages and interests to enjoy quality time together.
Whether climbing towering jungle gyms, admiring handcrafted local art or cheering at an exciting baseball game, the opportunities for lasting memories are endless. Parks and nature areas provide the perfect picnic spots between adventurous trail hikes or lazy afternoons simply playing in the grass.
Groups can even learn something new about renewable living or Aurora’s storied past while relishing these family bonding moments. When visiting this Front Range region, be sure to try some of these top 12 attractions conducive to carefree laughter and simple joy with your family.