Make family bonding a priority with these budget-friendly ideas

We all rely on technology much more than we used to.

Toddlers are glued to iPads at the dinner table, kids are constantly moving on to the latest and greatest app and adults find it next to impossible not to reach for their email after work hours. With screens dominating our day-to-day lives, it can be challenging to get the whole family together to spend some quality time talking and creating memories.

Whether you’re a grandparent looking to better connect with your grandkids, or a parent trying to find fun activities for the whole family to enjoy, Colorado is the perfect place for old-fashioned fun and adventure. Check out these ideas for family bonding activities—free from technology.

Park it at the park.
With more than 20,000 acres of urban parks and mountain parkland in the Denver metro area, there’s no excuse not to spend some time at the park. Pack up an array of toys, blankets and a picnic and enjoy an afternoon of sunshine with loved ones. Find a Mile High City park near you here. 

Float through the Butterfly Pavilion.
What better way to make memories together than experiencing a tropical rainforest filled with 1,600 butterflies? Home to more than 5,000 animals, the Butterfly Pavilion  located in Westminster, offers endless adventures (not to mention some amazing photo ops) the whole family can enjoy.

Discover Dillion.
Nestled between Frisco and Silverthorne in Summit County, the Dillion Reservoir (or Lake Dillion) is a Colorado family’s year-round paradise. From renting boats  in the summer to riding bikes  along the reservoir in the fall and even ice fishing  in the winter, Lake Dillion will have the entire family begging to come back next season.

Cruise the zoo.
One of Colorado Springs’ most famous attractions offers hours of fun for the whole family, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo  is not just the country’s only mountainside zoo (and sits at an elevation of 6,800 feet above sea level), it is also home to over 750 animals. Take the family to see the extreme variety of wildlife for a fun-filled day (or two) in this 140 acres of animal sanctuary.

Learn something new.
Have a curious child or two? The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus  offers an array of exhibits for children to explore, imagine, investigate and create. Whether it’s a grandma-grandson date or an outing for the entire family, everyone will come away with something they didn’t know before. Check out upcoming events here. 

Dig up the past.
Learn about Colorado’s most famous extinct residents at Dinosaur Ridge  by literally placing your shoes in the preserved footprints of dinosaurs. Don’t forget to touch the bones of an Allosaurus and a Stegosaurus as you take in all the discovery site has to offer.

Published at BrightHealthPlan.com: https://brighthealthplan.com/brighter-life/family-bonding-budget-friendly-ideas