Denver Botanic Gardens: Morrison Discovery Center

The Morrison Discovery Center sits within the Denver Botanic Gardens campus and functions as a purpose-built exploration space for younger visitors. While the wider Botanic Gardens offer 24 acres of curated outdoor beauty, the Morrison Discovery Center brings the learning indoors with a focus on hands-on, tactile engagement that younger children can really sink their teeth into.

For parents with kids between ages 3 and 10, this is the spot on campus that will hold attention the longest. Expect interactive nature exhibits, activity stations, and programming that connects kids to the botanical world in approachable ways — think 'what does this plant feel like?' rather than reading a placard.

The space is small enough that you can keep eyes on your kids without stress, yet rich enough in content to fill a solid 45-minute to 1. 5-hour visit.

Importantly, this space is closed on Sundays, which trips up some visitors who assume the full Botanic Gardens campus operates on the same schedule. If a Sunday visit is your only option, head to the outdoor gardens and the Freyer-Newman Center instead.

Admission to the Morrison Discovery Center is included with your Denver Botanic Gardens ticket — there is no separate entry fee. Denver residents should check the garden website for free community admission days, which occur multiple times a year.

The building is fully stroller-friendly with accessible restrooms. It is one of the better indoor options in Denver when spring or fall weather is unpredictable, and the transition between indoor learning and the outdoor gardens gives families a natural opportunity to extend the visit at their own pace.