16. Color Me Mine
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 443-3469
Address: 1938 Pearl Street
Description: Boulder doesn’t have many rainy afternoons, but this is a sure bet if you find yourself with a little time on your hands and you want to help your children express their creativity. Kids can pick from ready-to-be-painted pottery in sizes ranging from small enough to hold in your hand to too large to carry. Most children want to paint a miniature animal or a plate they can use for a “personalized dining experience” once they get it home. The pottery is fired after it’s painted, meaning it will be a week before the finished piece is available for pickup.
17. Cu Wizards!
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 492-6952
Description: Typically on the last Saturday of the month, September through June, the University of Colorado presents its CU Wizards! program. Wizards give free morning lectures that pack science lecture halls with laughing, learning kids. This is a great, informal introduction to astronomy, chemistry, biology, and physics for students in grades five through nine. Each program lasts about an hour and includes several lively demonstration experiments. The shows begin at 9:30 a.m.
18. Gateway Park Fun Center
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 442-4386
Address: 4800 28th Street
Description: Ask Boulder kids to name one of their favorite spots, especially for a birthday party, and Gateway Park will be the answer you get. The park is a great place to let your kids run free while they enjoy the video arcade and snack bar, the go-karts, miniature golf, batting cages, and the human maze. The roller hockey rink is always popular. For parents with younger kiddos, Gateway also has a play area for children younger than age seven, including kiddie carts and a kiddie train. There’s a fee for each activity, with a discount for children younger than age seven.
19. Gymboree
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 546-0081
Address: 2525 Arapahoe Avenue
Description: For little tykes only, this is a great place for toddlers to play, and the equipment is designed to keep them busy enough that parents have time to chat and possibly meet other new parents. There are regular free introductory sessions.
20. Lois Lafond And The Rockadiles
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 444-7095
Description: This group packs young fans in wherever they play, entertaining their audiences with funky, high-quality songs with kid-pleasing lyrics. They appear at such events as Halloween parades in the metro area, the Taste of Colorado in Denver, Boulder’s Out to Lunch series, and others. Watch for them!
21. Munson’S Family Farm
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 442-5330
Description: Before frost hits, you and the kids can tromp into the field and twist a pumpkin off the vine. Choose amongst giants and jack-o’-lantern pumpkins, pie pumpkins, and winter squash, including Delicata, a sweet, buttery-tasting winter squash that the Munsons say they’ve made famous. Munson’s farm stand at this corner is a great place to let the kids help you buy produce all summer.
22. Pearl Street Mall
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 449-3774
Description: The gravel-lined pits and small climb-upon boulders (just west of the courthouse) make the Pearl Street Mall as popular a playground for children as it is for adults. Permanent climbing sculptures in the 14th Street block feature a snail, beaver, and bunny rabbit that never fail to delight toddlers. The well-maintained flower gardens are a visual delight.
23. The Pottery Cafe
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 413-9300
Address: 2460 Canyon Boulevard
Description: This is the place to paint your own pottery, buy beads, and drink espresso all at the same time. As a result, it’s the perfect hangout for kids and adults alike. Wait one week for your pottery to be fired and voilà, you have beautiful artwork the whole family can enjoy creating.
24. Boulder Parks And Recreation Program
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 441-3388
Address: 1777 Broadway
Description: This is the largest program in the city, with children’s classes in everything from arts and crafts to yoga. They include one-day workshops, multiweek sessions, and options in between. Gymnastics, dancing, and swimming are popular. Or try child/parent pottery classes given at the city’s Pottery Lab. A new brochure is published four times a year and is available free at all three of the recreation centers. Don’t dawdle with the registration—many of these classes are extremely popular and fill up quickly.
25. Boulder Rock Club
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 447-2804
Address: 2829 Mapleton Street
Description: Great practice for eventually scaling the Flatirons, this club has an indoor rock-climbing wall and a variety of children’s programs. They start with “ABC for Kids” for children ages two through six to help develop physical, mental, and social skills. There are separate programs for youths ages 6 through 14. Summer camps are offered as well.
26. Boulder Suzuki Strings
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 499-2807
Address: 2705 Stanford Avenue
Description: This group specializes in string instrument instruction for kids from age four through high school. Boulder Suzuki Strings offers private and group lessons, note reading, performances, recitals, and workshops.
27. CU Science Discovery
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 492-7188
Address: 3400 Marine Street
Description: This is a wonderful program for children. It introduces kids to all facets of science—from computers to rocket building, to studying the great outdoors. There are after-school programs during the school year and terrific camps during the summer.
28. Music Together
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 530-0434
Description: Boulder children and their families enjoy these music classes that include singing, instrument play, rhythm chants and movement activities in a non-performance-oriented setting. Classes are offered near downtown and in north Boulder locations.
29. Northern Colorado Fencers
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 443-6557
Address: 1949 33rd Street
Description: Always wanted to give this a try? Northern Colorado Fencers boasts nationally and internationally ranked fencers who give high-quality instruction to children; lessons include respect for the rules and safety.
30. Stir It Up Cooking
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (303) 494-2665
Address: 1140 South Lashley Lane
Description: Carol Wiggins, the owner, started her cooking career by teaching gingerbread classes. When she witnessed the joy cooking brought to kids, she created Stir It Up Cooking. She offers classes for kids, teens, and families. Kids love the birthday parties offered by Stir It Up!