The food scene in Denver is one of the kid-friendliest around. Add these summer eats to your family’s 2018 bucket list, and plan a trip to one or more of the following spots this summer.
Eat Some Snow (Cones)
Cool off this summer with a snow cone. SnoWay’s 16th Street Mall stand serves up sno cones with all-natural syrups, Kona Ice’s touring truck rolls around Denver and Boulder, and Gulley’s Snow 2 Go offers crazy flavors, like bug juice, Godzilla, and rock & roll.
Get Cheesy
Take a cheesy bite out of summer at this year’s Mac & Cheese Fest on July 28-29 at Copper Mountain. There will be samples and eating challenges aplenty, in addition to free activities, entertainment, and live music. General admission is free; food tickets are $1 each, most samples are $3-$4.
Try a New Food Truck
Food truck gatherings make it easy to please even the pickiest eaters in the family. Make it your summer mission to try the food trucks at Truck Stop Rally’s monthly block party or at one of the weekly Civic Center EATS events. Spread a blanket, and enjoy live music and activities. Truck Stop Rally gathers at Five Points on June 2, Stanley Marketplace on July 4, Santa Fe on August 3, and RiNo on September 1. Civic Center Eats sets up in Civic Center Park in downtown Denver every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 4.
Hit the Patio
Revel in relaxed summer evenings at one of Denver’s kid-friendly restaurant patios. Explore Punch Bowl Social Stapleton’s 14,000-square-foot patio filled with games like cornhole, ping pong, and giant Jenga. Enjoy a showstopper kids menu on Ace Eat Serve’s patio, or kick back at Steuben’s retro style patio with a family-friendly menu.
Dine at a Food Hall
Try out one of Denver’s food halls at LoHi’s Avanti F&B, Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace, RiNo’s Central Market, and newly opened Zeppelin Station and Milk Market. Look out for crepes and gelato at Milk Market, poutine at Zeppelin Station, barbecue at Stanley Marketplace, ice cream at Central Market, and queso fries at Avanti, amidst many family-friendly options.
Switch up your Ice Cream
Denver creameries are scooping up fun twists on ice cream that are so cool they’re hot. Try rolled ice cream from Chaos and Cream, cookie dough ice cream sandwiches from Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, mobile ice cream sandwiches from Sprinkle Me Smitten, or an ice cream flight from High Point Creamery.
Try a Hayride Dinner
Celebrate Colorado’s western heritage with a scenic hayride through a high country pasture followed by a chuckwagon dinner and campfire. Two Below Breckenridge, Jackson Stables at Estes Park, Keystone Dinner Wagon Ride, and Sombrero Stables at Snow Mountain Ranch all offer a variety of perfect-for-family dinner wagon rides. Eat some delicious (and hearty) grub, play a round of horseshoes, and put up your boots to enjoy after dinner entertainment. Prices, menus, and activities vary.
