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My Simple Wild

a motherhood & simple living blog

May 17, 2018 / Colorado life

Best Playdate Spots in Denver

 

School is almost out and the long days of summer are almost here! If you are wondering how you are going to keep your kids occupied and your sanity, I recommend weekly playdates.  Playdates with your momma friends can be so vital for our sanity! Who else can relate and not be disgusted when you casually bring up your child’s weird bowel movements? Or laugh about the inappropriate thing our kids said and we had to try to be mad instead of cracking up?! Mommy friends are a must, and whether you have your solid tribe or you are new here to Denver and looking for places to meet new mommies, trying to keep a social life is necessary while also keeping your kids entertained. Though playdates at home or your local park are fun, sometimes you just need to get out and go somewhere new that both the kiddos and parents can actually enjoy. I’ve put together a list of my favorite playdate spots in and around Denver!  If I have missed any places you think are kid and momma date friendly, let me know!

The Clubhouse at the Apex Recreation Center

Location: 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada

Price: Free!! 

Hours: Mondays through Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 5 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturdays, 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Website: Apexprd.org

Phone: 303-424-2739

The Apex center is a great place to go when the weather isn’t great and is for kids ages 1-10. There are tubes, ladders, and slides for the kids to burn that energy. My son loves the giant treehouse and hollow logs. It can get quite loud in here, especially on the weekends. But if you are use to yelling over children to catch up with your bestie, than you will be just fine. 

best playdate spots in denver

Little Monkey Bizness

Location: Four Colorado locations in Westminster, Parker, Colorado Springs and Denver

Price:  $10/children ages 3-8; $7/walkers 2 and under; $5/crawlers

Hours: Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m.-noon

Website: Monkeybizness.com/

Phone: 303-252-9999 for the Orchard Town Center location

Those days that are unbearably hot are good for Little Monkey Bizness. You can order a pizza or a coffee and sit while your kids run wild. There are locations in Parker and Centennial and food options may vary. Children under 8 years old can play in the inflatable jumps, slides and obstacle courses. They also have a  special area set aside for toddlers – designed for kids 2 years and younger. Mommy tip: The Orchard location is a great way to get some shopping done while bribing your child to behave. At Christmas time I tell my son we can go jump around at Little Monkey Bizness if he is well-behaved the whole shopping trip. Don’t judge me, it works!  Don’t forget to bring socks for the kids!

Java Mamma

Location: 8350 Colorado Blvd, Unit 180 Firestone, CO  80504

Price: Kids play FREE with purchase of two food or beverage items

Hours:
Website: https://www.javamama.com/firestone/
Phone: 720-502-3999
When the weather is bad or unbearably hot,  Java Mama is usually the place where me and my momma friends head. We can enjoy some coffee and breakfast bagels while the kids run wild in an enclosed play area complete with slides, playhouses, shopping carts and balls. The owner is super sweet, they often have special events and classes, and the prices are very reasonable. We usually order the bottomless drip coffee and I recommend the bacon egg and cheese bagel sandwich. 
best playdate spots in denver
Liam went down this slide probably 30 times

City Park Playground

Location: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205

Website: https://www.denver.org/listing/city-park/6822/

City Park is a really great park for when your kids need to burn some energy but you still want to be able to catch up with your gal pals. The toddler area is enclosed so you don’t have to worry about little escape artists. This park can get quite busy on the weekends but is quiet during the week. The old wood playground brings back memories of a simpler time and the kids really love climbing the large towers. My son makes a friend every single time we go to this park. Just don’t forget to grab your coffee before you get there, there are no shops close by to walk to !

best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

 

Second Star to The Right Bookstore

Location: 4353 Tennyson St. Denver, CO 80212

Price: Story times are FREE! Special events and classes may charge a small fee. Check their calendar for current events.

Hours: Monday – Thursday  10am – 6pm, Friday  10am – 7pm, Saturday 9:30am – 6pm, Sunday  10am – 5pm

​Website: https://www.secondstartotherightbooks.com

Phone: 303-455-1527

I have gushed about my love for this children’s bookstore in previous posts. I can say I have never had anything but a great time here. The staff is incredible and their love for books and children really shines. They offer free daily story times 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., as well as multiple special themed story times and classes. You can have your kiddos birthday party here or attend one of their amazing parties. (Liam STILL talks about the Bug Party we attended two years ago!) You can sit in comfy wing backed chairs while the kids play with the train table and other small toys or sit outside in their garden while the kids run around.  They also have a Rumpus Room that is a dedicated space for kids to play and offer free coffee for the parents! 

 

best playdate spots in denver

Liam at the Bug Party two years ago
best playdate spots in denver
The backyard of the bookstore is a perfect place for a picnic

 

Little Man Ice Cream

Location: 2620 16th st Denver, CO 80211

Price: $1.35 and up. A childs size cup or cone is only $2.75

Hours: 11AM-10PM Sunday-thursday | 11am-11PM Friday-Saturday

Website: https://www.littlemanicecream.com

Phone: 303-455-3811

The iconic Little Man Ice Cream is such a perfect place to spend an afternoon. You can grab some deliciously fresh ice cream and sit on one of their many tables, slide down the metal slide (be careful, this thing gets HOT in the summer!) or walk right across the street to eat your ice cream at the Hirshorn park. They often have special events at Little Man such as live music and there is plenty of space for the kids to run. best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

 

Zook’s Coffee and Ice Cream

Location: 3156 W. 38th Ave., Denver, CO 80211

Price: Drink prices vary

Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Closed Mondays

Website: https://www.zookscoffeeshop.com

Phone: 303-517-2010

On rainy days, Zook’s is a great place to meet up for a cup of coffee (or a cocktail) and play one of their many kid-friendly board games. If the weather is nice, I recommend grabbing your drink and heading straight to their beautiful garden patio where you can find plenty of tables and chairs, a beautiful water fountain, and plenty of space for the kids to explore. 

best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

 

César Chávez Park

Location: 4147 Utica St, Denver, CO 80212

This playground is in the perfect location! Across the street on Tennyson is The Pasty Republic  where you can grab a delicious hand-held pasty (a pastry casing filled with meat and vegetables) and have a little picnic right at the park. My favorite is The Shephard, and they also have ice cream and a to-die for Cobbler. Or if you are feeling a coffee is all you need, walk right down the street to Allegro Coffee and grab your favorite coffee drink to-go. They also have a very tempting pastries case filled with fresh treats. At the park, grab a table under a tree or bring a blanket to lounge while the kids play at the playground and you and your mom friends catch up. 

best playdate spots in denver

best playdate spots in denver

 

What is your favorite spot for a playdate in or near Denver? I would love to know!

Have a beautiful day!

New Momma Survival

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Comments

  1. Reese Woods says

    May 17, 2018 at 11:30 pm

    You seem to know all the best spots to go for fun in your area! What a great list!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      May 18, 2018 at 6:38 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Erica says

    May 18, 2018 at 1:22 am

    That ice cream looks so good! Lots of great places to spend a few hours with the kiddos. I love that the Clubhouse at Apex is free. That looks like it would be a lot of fun for the little ones.

    Reply
  3. Jenn says

    May 18, 2018 at 4:47 am

    The clubhouse looks like a really cool place to go. And it’s free? Even better!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      May 18, 2018 at 6:38 pm

      Yea! It’s so fun!

      Reply
  4. Ashish says

    May 18, 2018 at 5:03 am

    Kids are so lucky these days, they get so many cool options to choose from when they want to go play outside. When I was a kid in the late 80s and early 90s, I got to choose from a basketball court or a rinky dink playground in my apartment complex. I’m really jealous now!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      May 18, 2018 at 6:38 pm

      Right?! So true! We just rode our bikes around the neighborhood and climbed trees lol

      Reply
  5. sarah camille says

    May 18, 2018 at 10:32 pm

    There are so many great options! The java mamma seems like my cup of tea. Moms could totally catch up with each other while they enjoy something to eat and their little ones play – I love that idea!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      May 24, 2018 at 8:53 pm

      Yea ! It’s really great I wish there were more locations!

      Reply
  6. Kelly says

    June 6, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Just the thing I was looking for! Newly moved to Denver and lack of friends definitely is a pull back but your post did the magic. Ryan and Cherry will love the Club House and the Little Man’s ice cream looks so adorable.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 7, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      Welcome to Denver! I’m so glad I could help. There are so many great things for kiddos to do here. 😀

      Reply

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