Colorado Travel: Things to do in the Denver Area

So, the week is here--our first trip of the summer!! We're headed to the Denver area for a family reunion in just a few days! We're excited to see family and to have a little break from the heat-advisory 110+ temps here in the sunny desert!  

In planning and getting everything ready, there's been much research and discussions on where to go in our free time. To start out that research, I checked out the awesome 85 city staycation round-up to see what was listed for Colorado. For us, there were two posts of interest:

 Denver Bargains' ideas for a Denver Budget Vacation

and...

Colorado Springs Bargains' tips for a budget trip there! (We'll be really close to Colorado Springs, so found that of interest).

Then, my friend, Alison from Oopsey Daisy had a great post on C.R.A.F.T about awesome places to check out in Denver! And, some additional searching led me to a hugely extensive list of fun things to do around Denver from Mile High Mamas!! Wow! So many great posts and cool things to check out!

Of course, there is a fair amount of full family reunion activities planned, but we extended our trip a bit and have room for some extra activities. We're definitely looking forward to some hikes and time spent in the cool(er) mountain air. So, Rocky Mountain National Park seems appealing. And, with Big Brother's LOVE of dinosaurs, Dinosaur Ridge seems potentially interesting!

Also, we do like zoos too and it seems to be a favorite on many lists, so the Denver Zoo seems like a possibility too! 

So, this is where I'd love YOUR help! If you're familiar with the Denver area, what are your recommendations? Favorite mountain day trips? Favorite kid-friendly places in/near Denver? Your #1 must-do?!
Please share with us in the comments!