Best places for 10 popular indoor activities in Denver
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
Best places for 10 popular indoor activities in Denver
When the sun is shining and temperatures are warm, it’s not too difficult to get out of the house and find something to do, whether it’s a simple walk around the block or a day trip to the beach. But when temperatures are lower or rain is trickling down your windows, you’re probably more likely to stay inside—and that’s true no matter your age.
A 2020 survey of about 1,000 people from the National Recreation and Park Association showed that 58% of U.S. adults are less active in the winter. Similarly, a 2016 study out of the University of Cambridge found that average activity levels among children dropped to their lowest levels in February at about 48 minutes per day compared to 65 minutes per day in April, the peak month for activity.
The good news is there are an increasing number of ways to get out and be active, no matter the season and no matter what level of activity you’re looking for. There are the longtime staples to visit year-round, from an awe-inspiring and educational visit to an aquarium or planetarium to a culturally stimulating night at the theater to a trip down memory lane at the bowling alley. For the gamers among you—or for those nostalgic for the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s—there’s always laser tag or an afternoon at the arcade.
Those looking to exercise their minds a bit more than their muscles could try the more recent sensation: escape rooms, which started captivating Americans of all ages in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, people who want to sweat it out a bit can try to get into the skyrocketing success of indoor rock climbing, the bouncing business of trampoline parks, and the more adult activity that is ax throwing.
To motivate you to try a new activity this weekend, weather notwithstanding, Stacker compiled a list of the best places for popular indoor activities in Denver using data from Yelp. Data is as of Feb. 21, 2024. Businesses were selected using Yelp’s ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
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Arcade: Immersive Gamebox – 9+CO Denver
– Rating: 4.8/5 (50 reviews)
– Address: 825 Albion St. Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Virtual Reality Centers, Arcades, Party & Event Planning
– Read more on Yelp
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Bowling: Ten Back Bowling Outfitters
– Rating: 5.0/5 (4 reviews)
– Address: 6767 Leetsdale Drive Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Recreation Centers, Bowling
– Read more on Yelp
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Laser tag: American Paintball Coliseum
– Rating: 3.5/5 (51 reviews)
– Address: 5095 Peoria St. Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Paintball, Laser Tag, Airsoft
– Read more on Yelp
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Rock climbing: Climb Denver
– Rating: 5.0/5 (23 reviews)
– Address: Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Rock Climbing
– Read more on Yelp
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Aquarium: Downtown Aquarium
– Rating: 3.1/5 (941 reviews)
– Address: 700 Water St. Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Museums, Aquariums
– Read more on Yelp
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Planetarium: Denver Museum of Nature and Science
– Rating: 4.2/5 (670 reviews)
– Address: 2001 Colorado Blvd. Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Cinema, Museums, Planetarium
– Read more on Yelp
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Ax throwing: Axe Whooping
– Rating: 4.9/5 (151 reviews)
– Address: 437 North Broadway Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Ax Throwing
– Read more on Yelp
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Escape games: Bible Treks Christian Escape Room Denver
– Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
– Address: 2020 South Oneida St. Ste 10 Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Escape Games
– Read more on Yelp
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Theater: Phamaly Theatre Company
– Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
– Address: 711 Park Ave. West Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Performing Arts
– Read more on Yelp
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Trampoline park: Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
– Rating: 3.2/5 (45 reviews)
– Address: 9550 East 40th Ave. Denver, Colorado
– Categories: Trampoline Parks
– Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 251 metros.
