Centennial is a wonderful place to raise a family because there are great schools, awesome outdoor recreation options, and plenty of family-friendly attractions to visit when you need some seriously good fun. Not all of these places are in Denver, either. In fact, you can find a variety of exciting spots for you and the kids to have a fantastic time. That’s why Crème de la Crème of Lone Tree has put together this list of seven of the best family attractions in and around our hometown.

Family Sports Golf Course

Image via Flickr by Chris Urbanowicz Licensed CC BY 2.0

At Family Sports Golf Course in Centennial, you and your kids can practice your drive and putt whether you’re avid golfers or not. Sign yourself and your children up for some lessons to improve your golfing skills. Then, refine your putting skills on the practice green and hit the driving range, which is heated and lighted, so it’s cozy no matter the temperature and bright no matter the time of day. Finally, book a tee time and play the nine-hole course. You can also hit the 18-hole mini-golf course with your kids if that’s more your speed.

SNÖBAHN Indoor Ski + Snowboard Center

When you and your family want to go skiing but the weather’s not right, you can head to SNÖBAHN Indoor Ski and Snowboard Center here in Centennial. It’s the perfect location to learn how to ski or snowboard and refine your abilities in a more controlled, indoor environment. Plus, if you want to go skiing but don’t have the time or money to make the trip to your favorite spot, SNÖBAHN is a cost-effective option during peak ski season since you won’t have to pay for lodging, lift tickets, and more for your skiing trip.

What’s really cool about SNÖBAHN is that you put on (almost) all of your ski or snowboarding gear (no coats or snow pants necessary) and hop on a giant, treadmill-like “ski slope.” Then, you glide side to side like you would when zooming down a snowy hill. The speed and pitch of the slope can be customized to your experience level, from a bunny slope to a seriously steep slope. If you’re taking lessons, you can get feedback on your technique in real time to become an even better and safer skier.

In addition to accommodating skiers and snowboarders, this facility has a trampoline room, a mini ramp for skateboarders, and trick slopes for safely practicing flips on your skis or snowboard.

Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight

If you’ve got an aspiring pilot or engineer in the family, take them to the Centennial Airport — not to watch planes come and go, though. Visit the Exploration of Flight Museum, brought to you by Wings Over the Rockies. This museum is the newest Wings Over the Rockies site, and it focuses on educating visitors on the science, engineering, and technology of current and future flight trends. You can buy tickets to tour the Boeing Blue Sky Aviation Gallery and see the aircraft they have inside, or you can register for their unique workshops or flight experiences.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

Head into Denver to the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, which features a variety of exhibits on Earth-based and aerospace flight. Your family can see real-life planes as well as aerospace technology and equipment. You’ll even find a few flight simulation machines you can sit in to experience what it’s like to be up that high. The museum also houses a variety of historical artifacts, including a propeller from a Wright aircraft, artwork depicting flight and aerospace technology, and displays that depict the evolution and impact of flight, including its use in various wars.

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

If you’re looking for a children-first destination near Centennial, then the Children’s Museum of Denver is the place to go. This huge museum features a variety of cool, interactive exhibits across four major categories: investigate, imagine, explore, and create. You and your children can work together to complete educational activities on gravity and motion, read stories in the Book Nook, or create an art project. Your kids will also love exploring the outdoor play exhibits, playing pretend as a firefighter or veterinarian, splashing in water, and learning how food is made.

Besides the exhibits, this museum also hosts regular workshops and events for kids and parents on topics like cooking and eating healthy, doing your part to save the planet, and practicing yoga.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a fun destination for kids and parents alike because of the wide variety of exhibits on so many subjects. You can explore permanent exhibits on the historical and cultural practices linked to Egyptian mummies, the fascinating science of the human body, the strange and beautiful sights of gems and minerals, dioramas featuring animals and habitats from around the world (and different points in history), and dinosaur skeletons on display. The museum also has temporary and rotating exhibits on topics like the science and art of musical instruments.

What’s more, this museum has an IMAX theater and a planetarium where they show amazing science, culture, and nature documentaries and programs on a huge screen. You might catch a show featuring stunning images of Earth and other planets taken from space or a documentary exploring the aquatic habitats under the ocean.

Denver Zoo

The Denver Zoo is a must-visit for every Centennial family, especially those with animal lovers or aspiring veterinarians in the house. You can tour exhibits featuring animals from practically every corner of the planet, from birds in the sky to mammals and reptiles on the surface to aquatic life in the deep oceans. The Denver Zoo has hundreds of species, including lions, orangutans, gorillas, penguins, tigers, elephants, emus, zebras, rhinos, bears, sloths, llamas, and many more.

You can also see some of the animals up close when you purchase an Up-close Animal Encounter or catch an animal ambassador showing, where a zookeeper brings out an animal and answers questions about where they live, what they eat, and what we can do to protect them in the wild.

So there you have it, seven awesome family attractions in and around Centennial, Colorado. Did we miss any of your family’s favorite local destinations? If so, contact us. We’ll be sure to add them to our list!