A hike with kids can be a fun, easygoing day blowing off steam in the fresh air, or it can be hours of misery, with endless whining and a temper tantrum or two. That's why there are a few requisites for a successful family-friendly outing: the drive to get there can't be too long; there must be plenty of shade; the terrain should be a mix of hiking, climbing and chilling options; and there has to be a payoff. Located about a half-hour's drive from downtown Denver, the easy 1.6-mile Bear Creek Trail is a tree-lined paradise, home to lots of birds and small critters and picnic tables with charcoal grills, plus Bear Creek itself, right there alongside the path. If your kids are having a blast, you can keep going past the park boundary for another eleven miles. The only downside is that this is a mountain-biker mecca, too, especially on the weekends — so make a game out of counting them as they whiz by.