5 Fun and Free(ish) Winter Activities for Kids in Colorado Springs
It’s official: Colorado Springs’ “first winter” has arrived! That means that it’s time to get out the winter coats and gloves, and to dust off all of our winter-worthy Colorado activities! As a mom of 3 littles under 6, I’ve collected a handful of favorite activities that are kid-friendly, and often free to do around Colorado Springs – these keep us from feeling too cooped up inside, and are something nice to look forward to (both for the littles and grown ups)!
Kid-Friendly Winter Activities in Colorado Springs
- Pikes Peak Libraries: Storytime, Play Spaces, Create & Play, and more!
- Chick-Fil-A Kids’ Club
- Explore Scheels
- Focus on the Family
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
1. Pikes Peak Libraries: Storytime, Play Spaces, Create & Play, and more!
The library is our number 1 favorite place to go as a family any time of year, but it’s especially nice when it’s winter and cold outside! Our local Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) currently has 15 different locations (+ rumors of them getting on along the Powers, and each of them is unique and so much fun to explore (and free!). Most libraries host free children’s programs regularly: storytime, create & play, toddler and baby-specific play times, bilingual and ASL storytimes, and so much more. We particularly love the Create & Play; my girls LOVE creating, and the crafts that they’ve provided have been big hits for us.
Along with the children’s programs, all the libraries I’ve been to also have dedicated play spaces for kids to play – play kitchens, building toys, puppet show spaces, dinosaurs and animals, and so much more. Honestly, we don’t always get out of the house by a specific time to make the library programs, and so often we come simply to pick out new books to read and to PLAY with whatever friends are at the library when we get there. The East Library and 21c have larger kid spaces, but we haven’t made it to all of the libraries yet! Do you have a favorite!
To find out what kids programs are at the library closest to you or that work best with your schedule, check out this list (I have it bookmarked on my phone!). Seriously, our family LOVES the library; you will too! (I love our libraries so much, that when I was asked to contribute to a blog about things to do around Colorado Springs, that’s what I talked about – you can read that blog here!).
2. Chick-Fil-A’s Kids Club
Did you know that Chick-Fil-A has a kids club?? I certainly didn’t, until a friend invited me! The N. Carefree location hosts their kids clubs on Wednesday mornings from 9:00-10:30 AM; they have a theme each day, and do a combination of singing, crafts, story reading, bubbles, and a visit from the Cow! It’s geared towards kids ages 2-5, and completely free (though I’d budget at least for some waffle fries!). They announce the monthly themes and any cancelled events (like this week’s snowstorm) on their Facebook page, here.
3. Explore Scheels
Scheels is an unexpectedly fun place to explore with littles; our local Scheels is located off of Interquest near the Northgate community. They have a huge fish tank right at the entrance (that you can walk under), a kids play area, indoor Ferris Wheel (though there are height restrictions), and a space perfect for a game of i-spy (animal style).
4. Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is located just north of Chapel Hills Mall. They have an abundance of free indoor fun – play spaces, a big slide (with height restrictions, so double check those before promising a huge slide to your little littles), discovery creating space, and more. Their Welcome Center & play areas are open 9-5 M-F, and 9-4 on Saturdays. Note: this space is available as a part of a Christian, pro-life ministry, and I feel it’s important to acknowledge that while it’s great for many, not all families feel comfortable coming to this space.
5. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a fantastic outdoor winter activity, especially on those sunny winter days. Don’t neglect the sunscreen and layers, good walking shoes (this zoo’s on a solid hill!), and plenty of snacks. The zoo crowds are smaller in the wintertime, which we appreciate, and the animals in our experience have been just as (if not more) active with the cooler weather.
I highly recommend the Zoo Membership – it pays for itself within a few visits, and gives you the flexibility to come, see what you want, stay as long or as little as you’re feeling, and then leave, knowing that you can come back another day to see the hippos, the adorable red panda, feed the giraffes, or check out all the chickens hanging around the Backyard.
You do need to reserve your tickets ahead of time (member or not), so make sure to plan accordingly! In the summertime, we try to reserve our tickets a week or so in advance, but in the wintertime, we’ve almost always can get tickets a few days beforehand (sometimes even the night before).
Get Out and Make Memories with Your Kids!
Colorado Springs has a LOT to offer families with young children. Whether it’s a warm, sunny winter day, or a cloudy snowy one, there are lots of spaces all around town for us to get out of the house and make meaningful memories with our kids. This post has only grazed the surface! (We haven’t even talked about all the fun outdoor things to do, nor all the incredible other adventures to be had that aren’t free (or mostly free haha).
Before you get OUT and have fun with your littles, here’s a quick reminder: whether inside or outside, whether you’re spending good money or none at all, the most impactful thing you can do to make your time with your meaningful is to simply be deeply and profoundly present. In a world full of distraction, it’s the absolute best thing to give your children – who of all people, deserve to be seen by you.
Kaitlyn McEntire is a birth, newborn and family photographer, videographer & doula. She thrives documenting and embracing life’s tender moments as they are, and loves giving families extra space to be present with the people they love most (and then giving them deeply meaningful photo & video of those moments to treasure for decades and decades to come).
Note: this post was not sponsored, and is an honest review and collection of recommendations.
