It’s never too early to help your children develop a love of learning. Lone Tree, Colorado, has many fun and engaging educational spaces for kids of all ages, including museums, bookstores, gardens, and historical sites. Many of them have events and activities specifically designed for different developmental stages. Here are six of the coolest educational destinations for kids and families near Lone Tree.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Image via Flickr by lightwrite

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science at 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver is an interactive museum that invites visitors to engage and explore the relationships between culture, nature, and science. Their permanent exhibits include Space Odyssey, Egyptian Mummies, wildlife dioramas, prehistoric fossils, Russian gem carvings, Native American cultures, and minerals. The Genetics Lab is visible to guests in the Expedition Health exhibit, so your kids will be able to learn how scientists work every day. The museum also has an official scavenger hunt and special experiences for children under 3 years old in the Expedition Health exhibit and wildlife halls.

In addition to the general admission exhibits, the museum houses an IMAX theater, a planetarium, and the Discovery Zone for children 3 to 5 years old. The Discovery Zone helps your child build strong science skills through guided activities, presentations, and play. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, and open until 9 p.m. on Friday nights. Admission is $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for children ages 3 to 18, and free for children younger than 3 years old.

Hudson Gardens

Hudson Gardens is an expansive display of the best Colorado foliage at 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. The lake and its island are perfect spots to enjoy a picnic and take pictures. Your kids will love the Sticks and Stones play area, which is built from re-purposed stones and logs. And art-lovers in the family can look in awe at the public art sculptures positioned throughout the Gardens. Plus, the new Colorado Garden features landscaping that uses climate- and pollinator-friendly plants, so you can see plant-saving science in action! Other areas include the Songbird Garden, Monet’s Place, the River Garden, and Evelyn’s Garden.

This spectacular property has 30 acres of trails for adventurous and scenic hikes. Hudson Gardens also hosts classes, including birding and painting, and special events, such as concerts and festivals. The Gardens are picturesque and perfect for family photos, learning about nature, and how culture and the environment interact. Admission to the Hudson Gardens is free, and it’s open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Schweiger Ranch

Right in the heart of Lone Tree is the Schweiger Ranch, located at 10822 S. Havana St. This homage to local history and culture is a living legacy to the hard work and dedication of ranch life. The ranch was established in 1874 and restored in the early 2000s with close attention to historical accuracy. Now, it serves as a functioning ranch and a direct connection to the historical development of the West. The Schweiger Ranch opens to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month, and you and your family can tour the ranch to see costumed demonstrations, historic buildings, and ranch animals.

It also hosts community events, including winter lights, festivals, and markets. All events are free to the public, but some do require registration.

The Tattered Cover Bookstore

The Tattered Cover is a local Denver bookstore established in 1971. Over the years, they have expanded to four locations, including the Aspen Grove store at 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This bookstore hosts events like author meetings, storytimes, and book clubs. The Shelf Awareness blog keeps you up to date on events, book reviews, and giveaways, while the Books of the Month for fiction, non-fiction, picture books, and cookbooks are a great way to build your family’s library.

Your kids will love browsing the shelves and reading to you while they connect with the community.

Lone Tree Arts Center

The Lone Tree Arts Center is a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly venue for performing arts, classes, and gallery space at 10075 Commons St. The Lone Tree Arts Center hosts the Passport to Culture program for children 12 and younger. This program features engaging workshops and performances to build a love of culture, science, and the arts. Its Seedlings program is for toddlers to kindergarten-aged children to have playful sensory experiences that get them involved in music, art, and culture. The arts center also offers sensory-friendly programming for children and families with special needs.

The Lone Tree Arts Center also hosts community theater, chats with musicians, and the Colorado Symphony.

SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium

SeaQuest at 8501 W. Bowles Ave. in Littleton is an aquarium where kids can learn about animals, their ecosystem, and their habitats through hands-on activities and playful tours. SeaQuest exhibits include an Icelandic Fishing Village, the Amazon River, and the Great Wall of China. Children can hand-feed sharks, birds, and tropical animals, too.

Go on the Animal Whisperer Tour and take your family behind the scenes of the aquarium to learn all about caring for the animals, how to prepare the animals’ food, and how the facility ensures water and habitats remain clean and comfortable. You can even snorkel with stingrays and reef sharks, walk in the aviaries, and feed caimans!

SeaQuest is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily admission is $16.95 for anyone 12 and up and $10.95 for children 2 to 11 years old.

Educational trips can help expand children’s experiences and build a deep love of learning about nature, science, history, and the arts. At Crème de la Crème of Lone Tree, CO., we are dedicated to fostering whole-child development, including problem-solving, civic engagement, and an appreciation for nature. What is your child’s favorite educational destination? Let us know in the comments!