Fun activities are plentiful for children in Littleton, Colorado, a former farm town in the southern suburbs of Denver with a population of about 40,000. A broad array of sports teams keep kids batting, dunking, kicking, running, skating and lapping the pool after school. Little ones love listening to stories in the library's "cloud forest" room and visiting sheep at the living history museum. Kids also enjoy meandering along the local stretch of Colorado's Platte River, looking for blue heron.
Reliving History
Littleton is named after Richard Little, an engineer who settled here after helping to design the Denver metro area's ditch system for irrigation. The Littleton Historical Museum's living history farm recreates local rural life from the 1860s to the 1890s. Peacocks, chickens, cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, pumpkin patches, early homes and a one-room schoolhouse are among the many attractions. Admission is free.
Relaxing at the Library
Across the street is Bemis Library, named after an early newspaper publisher whose 1890s home is one of the main exhibits at the museum. Lively programming makes Bemis Library a popular destination. At various times, these events have included family sleepovers, performances by dancing dogs, game nights, and a kid's rock'n'roll New Year's celebration with Father Time. The whimsical cloud illustrations on the walls of the preschool storytime room have won the hearts of many a parent and child.
Meandering Along the River
Weekends are busy on the Mary Carter Greenway, which stretches along the Platte River from southern Denver to Chatfield State Park south of Littleton. The Greenway's gravel running trail and wide paved path attract outdoor enthusiasts on foot, bikes, skates and wheelchairs. Some stop to visit at the rustic Carson Nature Center or Hudson Gardens, a large botanic preserve. In addition to the Carter Greenway, they are administered by the South Suburban Recreation District, which also offers a wealth of sports and programs for children.
Golfing, Shredding and Sledding
Colorado Journey, a miniature golf course designed to look like the state's rugged, red rocks country, is another popular kid spot in Littleton that is run by the recreation district. It is located in South Suburban's Cornerstone Park at the northern end of the city, which also includes a skating park where skateboarders and BMX bikers practice stunts. Not far away is one of the city's best locations for sledding, tiny Powers Park.
Dabbling in the Arts
Just east of the city limits is the Curtis Arts & Humanities Center, which is housed in what was once a two-room schoolhouse. It offers a number of moderately priced classes for children year-round, including cartooning, sculpture, painting and drawing. All are taught by professional artists.
Littleton also is home to a popular summer filmmaking camp for kids at the Binning Family Foundation's headquarters near downtown. Nearby, Littleton Town Hall Art Center offers an "Actors' Playground" summer camp for kids who enjoy live theater.
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