Free Playground at the Denver Aquarium?!

Exciting news! There is a playground at the Denver Aquarium that doesn’t require admission to the full exhibit!

Sharkey’s Fun Zone will bring joy to every little marine life fan. Your child will be running from shark to whale to even a game of hopscotch within minutes! The play area is located outside of the Aquarium Restaurant, best accessed through the gift shop.

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Address: 700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211

Age Recommendations: Children ages 8 and younger (under 48″) will enjoy the Denver Aquarium’s playground. The taller children will love climbing up and over the giant whale while the crawlers will enjoy the colorful squishy floor and tunnels.

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Important – Check Availability!

We arrived as the Denver Aquarium opened and found the playground to still be locked. We asked for help within the gift shop and luckily didn’t have to wait too long for it to open. Weekday visits should be fine, but for weekends, it is best to check ahead. According to their website, “Sharkey Fun Zone may be closed at certain times for birthday parties. Please call in advance to check availability.”

Denver Aquarium Playground’s Features

This entire play area is unique and fits perfectly with its home at the Aquarium. There is a whale, shark, octopus, even an eel, to play on with bright colors and wonderfully themed rubber flooring as well.

Your child will have no trouble at all jumping instantly into character in this underwater scene. Will they be a marine life explorer? Majestic mermaid? Or will they jump in as a shark, while belting out their favorite song of Baby Shark? (So sorry for now sticking that into your head, I couldn’t resist!)

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We were amazed at the sight just outside of Sharkey’s Fun Zone…an African Crested Porcupine was out for a stroll! Slightly kidding, she didn’t just show up there, Zuri’s a resident of the Denver Aquarium. We all loved watching her walk about with the trainers and have you ever seen real quills like that?! I don’t know how often she gets to walk there (as that is an outdoor eating area), but you’ll be able to see Zuri and/or other amazing creatures if you visit the full Denver Aquarium exhibit.

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Are you loving these indoor play areas for your children? They are perfect for cold, snowy Colorado days and also for those 90+ degree summer days! For your next adventure, check out Dinosaur Gulch at the Cherry Creek mall, your children will have a blast!

Know of another great indoor play area? Give it a shout out in the comments below!

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