# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Colorado Springs: the parent guide

> Colorado Springs is easy with little kids: a mountainside zoo with giraffes, free red-rock walks at Garden of the Gods, and free storytimes across the Pikes Peak Library District.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 16 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Poor Richard’s (Downtown, 320 N. Tejon St.)

- A long-running downtown café with pizza, salads and sandwiches, next door to its own Little Richard’s Toy Store.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri–Sat 11am–9pm
- Good for: An easy, casual lunch downtown, then a peek in the toy store.
- Skip if: you want breakfast; the restaurant opens at 11.
- Website: https://poorrichardsdowntown.com/

### Urban Egg (Downtown) (Downtown, 28B S. Tejon St.)

- A bright breakfast and brunch spot downtown with a kids’ menu of pancakes, waffles and scrambles.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Mon–Fri 7am–2pm; Sat–Sun 7am–2:30pm
- Good for: An early breakfast before the zoo.
- Skip if: you want lunch after 2:30; it closes early.
- Website: https://www.urbanegg.com/location/downtown-colorado-springs/

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Penrose Library (Downtown, 20 N. Cascade Ave.)

- The downtown Pikes Peak Library District branch, with Toddler Time and Storytime.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Free storytimes downtown.
- Skip if: you need a weekend storytime.
- Website: https://ppld.org/

### Library 21c (North, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr.)

- A big north-side library with a children’s room and baby, toddler and preschool storytimes.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Several storytimes a week for every age.
- Skip if: space is limited; arrive early.
- Website: https://ppld.org/

### Little Monkey Bizness (Briargate, 1015 Kelly Johnson Blvd.)

- Drop-in open play for 9 months to 8 years, with a cheaper crawler rate and $12 Tuesdays.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids $17 walkers 8 and under; $9 crawlers; $12 for all kids on Tuesdays
- Hours: Sun 9am–4pm; Mon–Thu 9am–3pm; Fri 9am–6pm; Sat 9am–1:30pm
- Good for: A snowy weekday morning with a toddler.
- Skip if: it’s a Saturday afternoon; it closes at 1:30pm on Saturdays.
- Price source: https://www.littlemonkeybizness.com/location/colorado-springs (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.littlemonkeybizness.com/location/colorado-springs

### Kids Empire Colorado Springs (1922 Southgate Rd.)

- A big padded maze with slides and ball pits, plus a toddler zone with mini slides, soft blocks and a small ball pit. Open every day, with free parking out front.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 1–12 $19.90 all day; adults 2 adults free per child; Under 1 free with a paying sibling
- Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–8pm; Fri–Sun 10am–10pm
- Good for: A snowy or windy day when everyone needs to run.
- Skip if: you forgot socks; they’re required.
- Price source: https://www.kidsempire.com/store-locator/kids-empire-colorado-springs (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.kidsempire.com/store-locator/kids-empire-colorado-springs

### We Rock the Spectrum Colorado Springs (4412 Austin Bluffs Pkwy.)

- A sensory-friendly gym built for kids of all abilities; a parent stays with the child.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids $18; siblings $16
- Hours: Mon–Thu 9am–7pm; Fri 9am–5pm; Sat–Sun 9am–3pm
- Good for: A calmer play session for a kid who gets overwhelmed in big play places.
- Skip if: there’s a private event; hours vary around them.
- Price source: https://werockthespectrumcoloradosprings.com/open-play/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://werockthespectrumcoloradosprings.com/

## Parks and outdoor play

### Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Southwest, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd.)

- A mountainside zoo known for its giraffe herd, with a new Giraffe Center where you can feed them from above.
- Price level: $$$
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (8am–2pm on Boo at the Zoo days); timed tickets required
- Good for: Giraffe feeding with little ones.
- Skip if: you haven’t booked; timed tickets are required.
- Website: https://www.cmzoo.org/

### Garden of the Gods Park (West side)

- Red-rock formations in a city park that’s free forever, with a free Visitor and Nature Center.
- Price level: Free
- Hours: Park daily 5am–9pm (Nov–Apr), 5am–10pm (May–Oct); Visitor Center daily 9am–5pm in winter
- Good for: A short stroller-friendly walk among huge red rocks.
- Skip if: it’s windy and cold; it’s very exposed.
- Website: https://gardenofgods.com/

### Monument Valley Park (Colorado Springs)

- A city park with a playground, walking and biking paths and the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail at the north end, and fishing ponds and picnic shelters at the south end.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free
- Good for: A playground stop and a stroller walk on the trail.
- Skip if: you want everything in one spot; the playground is in the northern part and the ponds in the southern part.
- Price source: https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/monument-valley-park (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/monument-valley-park

### Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site (3105 Gateway Rd.)

- A living-history ranch where kids can make a cornhusk doll at the 1860s Homestead Cabin. The grounds are free and open dawn to dusk year-round; ask for the free youth activity packet.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Grounds free
- Hours: Grounds open dawn to dusk year-round
- Good for: A free wander with farm-curious kids.
- Skip if: you want the buildings open; check their posted hours first.
- Price source: https://www.rockledgeranch.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.rockledgeranch.com/

### Bear Creek Nature Center (245 Bear Creek Rd.)

- A county nature center in the foothills: scrub oak, ponderosa pine, meadows and a mountain creek, where you can search for mule deer.
- Price level: Free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 9am–4pm
- Good for: A short foothills walk with a carrier.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday or Monday; the center is open Tuesday to Saturday.
- Website: https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/nature-centers/bear-creek-nature-center/

### Fountain Creek Nature Center (Fountain Creek Regional Park, off Cattail Marsh Rd.)

- Ponds, marshes and cottonwoods about 15 minutes south of downtown, with a 0.7-mile loop trail around the nature center pond.
- Price level: Free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 9am–4pm
- Good for: A flat, short loop for little walkers.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday or Monday; the center is open Tuesday to Saturday.
- Website: https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/nature-centers/fountain-creek-nature-center/

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### Space Foundation Discovery Center (West side, 4425 Arrowswest Dr.)

- A hands-on space museum with planets, rockets and a Mars rover area, a short drive from Garden of the Gods.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 4–15 $7; adults 16+ $13; 3 and under free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–4pm
- Good for: A rainy-day space fix for preschoolers.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday or Monday; it’s open Tuesday to Saturday.
- Price source: https://www.discoverspace.org/visit (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.discoverspace.org/visit

### Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum (Downtown, 215 S. Tejon St.)

- The city’s history museum, inside the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse. Admission is always free, no tickets needed.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Always free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm
- Good for: A free, short museum stop downtown.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday or Monday; it’s open Tuesday to Saturday.
- Price source: https://www.cspm.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.cspm.org/visit/

### Western Museum of Mining & Industry (225 North Gate Blvd. (I-25 exit 156))

- Mining history with gold panning included in admission, free guided tours at 10am and 1pm, and outdoor exhibits on a historic campus.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 4–12 $7; adults $14; 3 and under free with a paid adult
- Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–4pm
- Good for: Gold panning with a preschooler who likes digging.
- Skip if: it’s Sunday; it’s open Monday to Saturday.
- Price source: https://wmmi.org/plan-your-visit/admission-hours-tours-location.html (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://wmmi.org/plan-your-visit/admission-hours-tours-location.html

## Free things to do

- Penrose Library
- Library 21c
- Garden of the Gods Park
- Monument Valley Park
- Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
- Bear Creek Nature Center
- Fountain Creek Nature Center
- Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

## Best for under 3s

- **Penrose Library**: Toddler Time.
- **Library 21c**: Baby Time.
- **Space Foundation Discovery Center**: 3 and under are free.

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Baby Time** (Pikes Peak Library District): Mondays at 10am and 11:15am · East Library. Birth to 12 months. Songs, rhymes, and stories for babies ages 0-12 months, and their parents or caregivers. https://ppld.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming
- **Baby Time** (Pikes Peak Library District): Mondays at 9:30am and 10:30am · Library 21c. Birth to 12 months. Songs, rhymes, and stories for babies ages 0-12 months, and their parents or caregivers. https://ppld.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming
- **Baby Time** (Pikes Peak Library District): Thursdays at 9:30am · Penrose Library. Birth to 12 months. Songs, rhymes, and stories for babies ages 0-12 months, and their parents or caregivers. https://ppld.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming

### Babies get in free

- **Kids Empire Colorado Springs**: Under 1 free with a paying sibling. https://www.kidsempire.com/store-locator/kids-empire-colorado-springs
- **Space Foundation Discovery Center**: 3 and under free. https://www.discoverspace.org/visit
- **Western Museum of Mining & Industry**: 3 and under free with a paid adult. https://wmmi.org/plan-your-visit/admission-hours-tours-location.html

## Library storytimes

- **Pikes Peak Library District**: Weekday mornings. Free Baby Time, Toddler Time and Storytime at libraries across El Paso County. https://ppld.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming


## Happening this week

- **Pumpkins in the Park** (Sat Noon–6pm) at Bancroft Park, Old Colorado City. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/#e-pumpkins_in_the_park
- **Trunk or Treat at Garden of the Gods** (Sun 1–4pm) at Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/#e-trunk_or_treat_garden_of_the_gods
- **Jack-o-Lantern Trail at Fountain Creek Nature Center** (Sat 5:30–7:30pm) at Fountain Creek Nature Center. $5 per person; members $4; prepaid registration required. https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/#e-jack_o_lantern_trail_fountain_creek
- **Venetucci Farm Pumpkin Fest: Witches & Wizards Weekend** (Fri 9:30am–2pm; Sat–Sun 9:30am–4pm) at Venetucci Farm. $8 grounds admission; ages 3 and under free; pumpkins $10. https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/#e-venetucci_pumpkin_fest
- **Boo at Briargate** (Sat 3–5pm) at The Promenade Shops at Briargate. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/#e-boo_at_briargate

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Colorado Springs: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Colorado Springs for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo good for toddlers?
Yes. Giraffe feeding is a highlight, and children 2 and under pay only a small fee at events like Boo at the Zoo.

### Are there free things to do with little kids in Colorado Springs?
Yes. Penrose Library, Library 21c, Garden of the Gods Park, Monument Valley Park, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site and Bear Creek Nature Center and 2 more are free or have a free entry. See [the free list](https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/guide/#free).

### What can we do in Colorado Springs on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Penrose Library, Library 21c, Little Monkey Bizness and Kids Empire Colorado Springs. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.

### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Colorado Springs?
Penrose Library: Toddler Time. Library 21c: Baby Time. Space Foundation Discovery Center is also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: Kids Empire Colorado Springs (Under 1 free with a paying sibling), Space Foundation Discovery Center (3 and under free) and Western Museum of Mining & Industry (3 and under free with a paid adult). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Colorado Springs?
Pikes Peak Library District: Weekday mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [COS weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/colorado-springs/).

### How do you choose the places in the Colorado Springs guide?
Every one of the 16 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 8 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).