Just because the slopes are closed, your favorite restaurants have put their menus on pause, and the streets feel empty doesn’t mean your kids have to stop being, well, kids. With Colorado, off-season conditions can vary from sunny to slushy – in a matter of hours. As much as we’d like to count on the weather to cooperate, so we can opt outside, opting inside is the surest way to keep the kids busy. Here are some of our favorite picks for places to go and things to do with our little ones when off-season strikes and cabin fever becomes all too real.

Aspen Art Museum // Admission is free and there is a café (with coffee!) upstairs. While the exhibits aren’t always stroller friendly, or if you worry about one too many sticky fingers near the artwork, there are still kid-friendly opportunities. Check out the monthly family drop-in program on a Saturday, or Art Start on the first Tuesday morning of the month. For a less scheduled visit, print off some pages of this coloring book from Aspen Historical Society, grab some crayons, and head upstairs for lunch with your little. While they color away to Aspen’s history, you can admire the stellar Aspen views. More Info

Pitkin County Library // Pop in for their weekly story time with your kids, with three different age groups offered. Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers all have their own hour set aside once a week for age-appropriate group time. Check their calendar for more details. More Info

Red Brick Playhouse // $5, a ton of fun, and several convenient weekly times makes this an easy, and sociable option, for families. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 2 PM your little one can jump, roll, and play. On Friday mornings, they bring out the inflatables for super-sized fun. More Info

Aspen Rec Center // The ARC is a perfect off-season retreat with kids. Just grab your suits and head inside to their kid-friendly pool. Toys, surprising water antics, and a lazy river make for an easy and fun way to knock off a few hours. If your child wants to try their hand at skating, rent some skates in the afternoon and hop on the ice during public skating hours. More Info

Snowmass Rec Center // Three outdoor saltwater pools are open year-round for al fresco swimming. Yes, you can opt outside with this activity! The leisure pool has a kid-friendly zero-depth entry, tumble buckets, various waterfalls, and jets (note, the water slide is closed in winter). With a bouldering cave and climbing wall, as well as a skate park, the whole family will enjoy a visit here. More Info