Looking for fun things to do with kids in Colorado Springs?
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is one of the top family attractions in the Pikes Peak region. This state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot attraction shares the journey of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes through 12 different galleries and dozens of interactive exhibits. Start your adventure at the Museum, followed by a stop at Flame Café, and then walk across the bridge to America the Beautiful Park.
Engage virtually with Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Famers
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of Team USA’s premier athletes and teams as well as the impact of legendary coaches and special contributors. Since the first Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1983, more than 150 individuals and teams have been honored for their contributions to the American Olympic and Paralympic movements.
The atrium of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum features four digital pylons where guests can learn about Hall of Famers. Search athlete profiles by name, year, sport or class to view their remarkable highlights and impressive achievements.
See a complete collection of Olympic torches
To the ancient Greeks, fire symbolized energy, courage and passion. It’s fitting then that a torch and flame became among the most vivid and lasting symbols of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A complete collection of torches from the Summer and Winter Games are proudly displayed at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in the Introduction to the Games gallery.
The kids can explore touchscreens with images and content related to each of the torches. They will discover relay route maps, unique design features and fun facts about that year’s Games.
Find out what makes Team USA athletes so fast
Discover the impact of innovation and technology on sports equipment, from the bottom of a runner’s track shoe and the top of a decathlete’s cooling hood to the devices that time their races to one-millionth of a second. The Lab includes four interactive stations where guests can use the gesture-controlled OLED screens to learn more about specific equipment.
One of the amazing artifacts you’ll find on display in The Lab are Michael Johnson’s signature gold spikes from his historic 200/400 double at Atlanta 1996.
Try out different Olympic and Paralympic sports
Learn about the training required to achieve the standards of Olympians and Paralympians. Then it’s your turn to train like an elite athlete at six different interactive sport demonstrations. There’s a 30-meter dash, alpine skiing, archery, goalball, skeleton and sled hockey. Visitors of all ages enjoy testing their skills in the Athlete Training gallery, so you’ll definitely want to spend some extra time here!
Walk through the tunnel as part of Team USA
After training your body and your mind, it’s time to walk through the tunnel and into the stadium as part of Team USA delegation. Seamlessly moving from this unforgettable Parade of Nations, your kids will be completely immersed in footage from the most recent Games. They’ll also see flashbacks from historic Opening Ceremonies of Games hosted by the United States.
Chat virtually with athletes and ask them questions
The World Watches gallery features a timeline of every year of the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Here, kids can interact with content ranging from political and social commentary to the distinct cultural background of each host city of the Games.
Make sure to stop at the Ask an Athlete exhibit. Guests are able to have a full conversation with Paralympic gold medalist Matt Scott and Olympic gold medalist Kikkan Randall.
Grab a milkshake at Flame café
After touring the Museum’s vast exhibits, the kids are sure to work up an appetite. And you don’t have to look far. Head to Flame Café, located on the north side of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. The restaurant’s signature menu item is its handcrafted artisan pizzas, in addition to creative sandwiches and burgers.
Treat the kids to a sweet treat with one of the restaurant’s tasty milkshakes. While you’ll only find a vanilla milkshake on the menu, you can also ask for the TC Special, a classic chocolate milkshake. Two-time Paralympian and team member Tyler Carter noticed that the menu included only a vanilla milkshake and insisted that chocolate ice cream is integral to his training. So, Tyler worked with executive chef Nick Estell to create the TC Special, the Café’s first secret menu item. Just ask for it by name!
Pick out the perfect souvenirs to take home with you
Now that the kids are fully refueled, it’s time to find the perfect souvenir to take home. The Museum Shop is filled with lots of great U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Team USA and Olympic City USA apparel, accessories and collectibles.
Cross the bridge to visit the America the Beautiful Park
A bridge was recently completed that connects the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and downtown Colorado Springs with America the Beautiful Park. Pedestrians can walk or bike over the curved steel structure while enjoying magnificent views of Pikes Peak. A large spiral-like water feature is one of the highlights of the park, along with a children’s play area.
For fun and educational things to do with kids in Colorado Springs, look no further than the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum! Reserve your tickets today.
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PLAN YOUR VISIT TO THE MUSEUM
The 60,000-square-foot Museum, which recently was named by USA Today as the nation’s Best New Attraction in 2020, is considered one of the top places to visit in Colorado.
To maximize accessibility for all guests, the Museum features universal and inclusive design and includes accessible media, audio descriptions, wheelchair accessibility, tactility, open captioning and American Sign Language across all video content as well as other accessibility services.
The Museum has taken extensive measures to provide a safe and contactless environment so that guests can visit with confidence.
Tickets can be purchased at tickets.usopm.org.