The Looney Tunes-themed Rocky Mountain Play Place at Cherry Creek Mall is good place for your young ones to run off some steam on a cold or rainy day. It offers a large play space with lots of Looney Tunes characters and related scenary where your kiddo can climb, run, jump, slide and play to her hearts content. It was VERY busy and loud the morning we visited -- a rainy day in May -- but there's enough space to accommodate a lot of children. The play surface is a soft & comfortable under foot, the equipment appears very clean, and there are plenty of spots for parents to sit & watch inside and directly outside the play area. I wouldn't necessarily call it a destination, but if you're in the area and need a play break, it's well worth a visit.

Even if you aren't much of a baseball fan, Coors Field offers a family friendly venue to enjoy "America's pastime"... The Rockies mascot Digger is a favorite of many kiddos and the baseball games are interspersed with plenty of entertainment to keep everyone amused. If you need a break from the game action, there are plenty of baseball-oriented activities, concessions, souvenir stands, and even a small playground along the concourse. If you're looking for a kid-friendly meal, don't miss Buckaroo's concession stand with kid-sized portions of all the favorite baseball fare!

We recently attended a Audience of One (Ao1) performance of Beauty and the Beast at the West Bowles Community Church Theatrical Stage. The actors in these shows are youngsters from a local community theater program. This day's event offered a short rendition of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs performed by the youngest members of the acting program (ages 5-7) before the main program and was a bit tough to follow...as could be expected with this age group. The main performance of Beauty & the Beast had older kiddos in the cast and was a much better show, but quality of the acting varied greatly. Its important to remember this is a student cast. :) The performance was much too long for my 3 and barely 5 year old daughters and they had trouble staying interested throughout. My 6 year old daughter and nearly 6 year old niece did enjoy the show. Meeting cast members after the show was a big highlight. All in all, the performance was pretty cute but definitely presented by actors in training. I'm certain its a great experience for these young thespians and worth checking out if you have a theater inclined kiddo, but probably not a top choice for younger kiddos or those with a shorter attention span.

Want something a little more than popcorn, candy and soda with your movie? Cinema Grill may be the solution! You can watch a current movie (including family friendly films offered each day) while dining on a wide selection of American style foods from their menus (including a small childrens' menu). Admittedly, the food was pretty average but the seating was comfortable (though a bit dated) and the staff was friendly. We did have a delay in one of our kid's meals...but once we pointed it out, the situation was rectified quickly. Ticket prices are very reasonable ($2.50 for matinees, $4.00 for evening shows) but if you purchase a meal, expect to spend about what you would in your typical family restaurant. All in all, Cinema Grill is a fun alternative to your typical movie outing!

Located just off I-25 and Orchard Road, Westlands Park is easy to access although a bit hidden -- look for the big stone archway on the west side of Quebec just north of Orchard. The Greenwood Village web site states that it was named Top Playground by the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News three years in a row as well as Editor's Choice Top Playground by Denver magazine 5280 and I can see why! The park offers lots of playing fields, trails, picnic pavilions (available for rent) and a huge multi-level playground with play equipment to satisfy all ages, from toddler to older kids! Our girls favorite piece of equipment was a huge slide based on a play ground surface material embankment along one edge of the playground where kids can climb up and slide down to their hearts content. If you need a place for your kiddos to run off some steam, this park worth a trip on any day!