Things to Do in Denver

One of the largest museums between Chicago and California, Denver Art Museum showcases a wide range of art in its 70,000-piece collection. From Native American art to ultramodern contemporary pieces, interactive exhibits to works sparking profound cultural reflection, DAM (as locals call it) is a destination for art lovers of all ages.

 

The museum features a diverse array of art from the American West, particularly its enviable American Indian collection of ceramics, textiles, beaded garments, and contemporary glasswork. Other permanent collections include African, Asian, European, American, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, photography, Spanish Colonial, and textiles from around the world. The museum also hosts a number of traveling exhibitions.

 

Great for families, the museum sparks kids’ creativity with gallery games and encourages them to make their own art at the on-site family center. The museum is often a stop on private and group city sightseeing tours. Admission is included in the Mile High Culture Pass, which also proffers access to several other museums.

 

 

DAM is on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock streets. Multiple parking garages are nearby, and metered street parking is also available, although scarce during certain hours. RTD buses and the light rail have stops nearby, or take the free 16th Street Mall ride, get off at Cleveland Place and then walk south through Civic Center Park to the museum.

 

The museum is open Monday–Thursday from 10am–5pm, and Fridays from 10am–8pm. Every first Friday of the month, hours are extended till 10pm. The museum also hosts “Untitled Final Fridays” much of the year, when local artists, writers, activists, musicians, and other creatives present a completely artist-designed program showcasing their individual talents. DAM is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

Denver Art Museum regularly hosts high-profile temporary exhibits. Over the years, the curatorial staff have secured exhibits, such as “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” “Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century,” and “Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection.” Demand is high for these special events, and many are timed, so it’s best to secure tickets beforehand.

With its snowcapped peaks, enormous vistas, and abundance of high altitude trails Colorado has one of the world’s most exceptionally breathtaking landscapes. The hiking here in Colorado is some of the best on the planet, and few trails in the entire state are better than the Colorado Trail. In reality, this 486-mile trail is comprised of numerous trails—all of which link together to form the epically scenic thru-hike. Beginning outside Denver in Waterton Canyon at 5,500 feet, the Colorado Trail climbs to over 13,271 feet on the highest point on the trail. Most of the trail averages over 10,000 feet, and aside from creating some strong legs and lungs, offers views of eight different mountain ranges and numerous national forests.

For visitors to Denver with only a single day to go hiking, the first section of the Colorado Trail is a popular choice for a day trip. The trail is open for hiking, biking, fishing, and horseback riding—although no dogs are allowed on the trail since it’s common to find Big Horn Sheep. While you can hike for as long or as little as you please, the full day hike to Strontia Springs Dam is 12.4 miles, measured roundtrip, and is considered one of the best day hikes in Denver. Or, for what’s sure to be the adventure of the lifetime, arrange a car to drop you at Waterton with a pack, a tent, and some food—and then set off on foot for Durango, Colorado nearly 500 miles away.

Thousands of visitors travel to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs each year, and the academy’s all-faiths Cadet Chapel is the most visited man-made attraction in Colorado. Among the best examples of modern academic architecture, the striking 150-foot-tall (46-meter-tall) chapel is designed with 17 spires created from aluminum, steel, and glass. 

Colorado’s US Air Force Academy is an exclusive university that accepts about 1,400 new cadets per year. As a visitor, you can take a self-guided tour of the campus and learn about the training that cadets go through here. The Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center has exhibits about the air force, a theater showing a 14-minute movie about life at the academy, and a gift shop.

To reach the US Air Force Academy, located about 20 miles north of Colorado Springs, drive north on Interstate 25 and take exit 156. Visitors must arrive through the North Gate, and free parking is available at the visitor center and Cadet Chapel.

The US Air Force Academy and the Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center are open daily, and visitors are welcome to attend services at the chapel. Note that the chapel occasionally closes to the public for private services. A good time to visit is weekdays at 11:30am during the academic year to observe the cadets marching to lunch.

The Cadet Chapel at the US Air Force Academy is a popular place to get married, but only academy graduates, active-duty Airmen in Colorado, and Purple Heart and Silver Star Medal recipients are eligible to use it. More than 100 couples are married in the chapel each year.

With classic American foods served alongside some of rock and roll’s best music memorabilia, the Hard Rock Cafe Denver is part of the two-story Denver Pavilions shopping area downtown. Marked by the 20 foot neon electric guitar out front, it always draws a lively crowd and hosts a variety of music events on its stage.

The Denver outpost of the Hard Rock Cafe creates the casual and fun experience you’d find in any of their restaurants. Their menu includes appetizers such as nachos, wings, and potato skins and tasty entrees that range from burgers and sandwiches to barbecue. Vegetarian options are also available.

The cafe also has a large outdoor patio, two event rooms, a dozen large screen televisions, a full bar with premium cocktails, a fun atmosphere, store, and of course, great music playing.

Memorabilia on display rotates but includes musical instruments and stage costumes played and worn by the greatest musicians in rock and roll.

Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a music venue unlike any other—a sandstone stadium forged by the elements and blessed with natural acoustics. Many musicians have taken to this stage, and when shows are in town, Red Rocks can host over 9,500 concertgoers, all in for a treat beyond the music: stellar views of the natural Colorado landscape.

Red Rocks Park is an easy day trip from Denver, and there’s plenty to do even when a concert isn’t scheduled. Visitors can tour the museum and visitor center, shop for souvenirs, and check out the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, while hikers can hit the 6-mile (9.6-kilometer) Red Rocks Loop Trail, which showcases sweeping views of the concert venue in all its glory. To see more of the surrounding Rocky Mountains foothills, visit Red Rocks Amphitheatre on a small-group or private tour from Denver and explore nearby highlights such as Lookout Mountain, Bear Creek Canyon, and the charming mountain town of Evergreen. Or, get a taste of both city and nature by combining your Red Rocks visit with a Denver city tour. Whether you choose to explore on your own or with a guide, you don’t want to miss the epic scenery of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain wilderness.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre lies in the foothills of the Rockies, roughly 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of downtown Denver. The Red Rocks visitor and help center, located on Alameda Parkway in Morrison, is open daily and provides additional information for getting around.

Summer is the warmest and most popular time to visit. Spring and fall visitors find slightly cooler temperatures and bargain rates, with autumn visitors getting the opportunity to see the mountains speckled with colorful foliage. Some hotels and attractions may close in winter when temperatures drop and the area gets snowy. To avoid crowds, visit Red Rocks Park in the early morning—hiking trails are open from one hour before sunrise until one hour before sunset. The Red Rocks Loop Trail is open year-round.

For more than 100 years, this sandstone outdoor venue has been world-renowned for its natural beauty and stunning acoustics. Some of the world’s largest musical acts have performed here, including legends such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Fleetwood Mac, plus opera singer Mary Garden, U2, and Rush. From the way the sunlight reflects off the sandstone just before sunset to the way the twin, 300-foot (91-meter) rocks behind the stage perfectly capture sound, there’s a level of magic here that borders on the surreal.

The astounding natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains is exemplified and amplified in Rocky Mountain National Park, a hub of Colorado outdoor adventure. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, ziplining, and wildlife watching are just a few of the ways to experience the area’s magic. In the winter months, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and other snow-sport lovers frolic amongst white-washed peaks.

With numerous ways to experience the natural landscape of Rocky Mountain National Park, tours and guides are available to assist with making the most of your time there. Photo enthusiasts can try a photography tour or photo safari, while group bus tours provide an overview of the area. Elk watching and other nature tours are available in summer. More than 350 miles (563 kilometers) of hiking trails wind through the 450-square-mile (1,166-square-kilometer) park. Visitors can keep an eye out for wildlife including elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and the occasional bear. Cyclists follow Trail Ridge Road, while hikers can walk to lakes following the Bear Lake Trailhead, Fern Lake Trail, and easy walks to Calypso Cascades and Gem Lake. Guided adventures are available for all outdoor activities, and often include equipment rental and transportation.

Rocky Mountain National Park is about 70 miles north of Denver. Trail Ridge Road runs through the park (open May to October), and free shuttles run to trailheads and to downtown Estes Park. Grand Lake is the town closest to the park entrance (best accessed by car).

Alpine wildflowers fill the valleys in spring, and cross-country skiers hit the slopes here in winter. Summer is the most popular time to visit—and thus the most crowded—but all seasons offer outdoor activities and access to unbridled nature.

It’s just a short drive from downtown Denver, but Lookout Mountain feels like another world. Once used as a lookout for the Native American  Ute tribe that called the area home, the 7,300-foot (2,225-meter) mountain has miles of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout, from easy walking paths to strenuous switchbacks. From the summit, you can see the Denver skyline 12 miles (19 kilometers) away. 

Most visitors to Lookout Mountain Park drive to the top of the mountain to explore the various trails that lead to and from the summit, but adventurous travelers can start from the bottom and climb up. The Chimney Gulch/Lookout Mountain Trail is one of the park’s most popular, offering the feel of backcountry hiking just a few minutes from downtown Golden. Once on the trails, look for elk, deer, birds, and other wildlife. At the top of the mountain, you can visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, where famous performer Buffalo Bill was laid to rest on the mountain’s summit.

Travelers can visit Lookout Mountain on a half- or full-day tour of Denver–area parks and foothills; most include roundtrip transportation to and from Denver.

Lookout Mountain is about 20 minutes west of Denver by road, just outside the town of Golden. Major highways lead into Golden from every direction, and visitors can also travel from Denver and Denver International Airport (DIA) to Golden via the RTD light rail using the West Rail or W lines.  

Lookout Mountain Park is open year-round from dawn until dusk. Nature trails attract hikers and mountain bikers in summer, and snowshoers and cross-country skiers in winter. The Buffalo Bill Museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm in summer and from 9am to 4pm in winter.

Lookout Mountain is only a few minutes from charming downtown Golden with its wonderful restaurants, scenic views, festivals, and locally owned shops and galleries. Clear Creek runs right through town, and in summer, you may see the US Olympic kayaking team training on the whitewater. You can also take a free tour of the Coors Brewery. 

An urban park and designated national landmark in Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods encompasses 1,367 acres of unique wilderness, Great Plains grassland, and juniper woodlands. The most iconic section of the park features a towering ridge of eroded red rock formations that reveal 300 million years of geological history, while the famous red rock formations include Balanced Rock, Gateway Rock and the Three Graces. Among the crags and overhangs, visitors can spot petroglyphs from the Native American Ute tribe that once roamed these lands.

With such close proximity to Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods is one of the most convenient and spectacular spots to enjoy Colorado’s red rock country (and admission is free). It’s also one of the most popular parks in the United States. Options for touring are plentiful—everything from Segway, Jeep, walking, and photo tours to a half-day of guided climbing on the red rocks. Travelers can also combine their visit with a stop at nearby Pikes Peak or a Jeep tour of the Red Canyon Loop.

The easiest way to visit the Garden of the Gods park is by car from Colorado Springs; the parking areas have more than 330 spaces, though they can fill up in summer. Note that many guided Garden of the Gods tours do not include roundtrip transportation from Colorado Springs, so you may have to arrange your own transportation (although tours from Denver and Cañon City generally do include transport). The charming small town of Manitou Springs is also nearby.

The Garden of the Gods is open and accessible year round, but the best time to visit is during the shoulder season—from September to April—when weather is cooler, parking is easier to find, and crowds are sparser. Arriving in the early morning or late afternoon means more shade on the trails and the chance to watch a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

The Garden of the Gods Visitor Center doubles as a natural and cultural history museum where visitors can learn about the geology, wildlife, people, and history of the park through a series of interactive exhibits. A highlight is the Geo-Trekker Theater, where a 15-minute video digs into the park’s history while offering amazing views from an aerial drone.

Recent revitalization efforts have turned Civic Center Park into a hub for local events including outdoor movies and Civic Center EATS, an annual, summer-long tradition in which local, gourmet food trucks convene at the park every Tuesday and Thursday during lunchtime.

Dinosaurs once roamed the earth, and they once walked the ground in Colorado. We only know this from the dinosaur bones, tracks, and marks left behind at Dinosaur Ridge, just west of Denver. Known as one of the most famous sites where dinosaur bones have been discovered, they were first unearthed in 1877 by a local professor. Their display increased public interest in dinosaurs and prehistory, sparking excavations throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Later, in 1937, dinosaur tracks from the Early Cretaceous Period were found.

These steps can now be traced on the Triceratops Trail, a half-mile journey through fossils and imprints as much as 68 million years old. There’s also a Dinosaur Ridge Trail which, at 2 miles roundtrip, circles through the rocky landscapes of dinosaur tracks and bones.

The Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center is also worth a stop to learn a bit more about the area and the dinosaurs past. You can learn as the excavation process as well with an interactive simulated dinosaur dig.

Built on 80 acres of land in the Northern corner of Denver’s historic City Park, the Denver Zoo is a full day of animal excitement. The first of its kind in America, the highly regarded Denver Zoo did away with cages and began using naturalistic zoo enclosures beginning with its famous Bear Mountain back in 1906, and continues the trend of conscientious zoo maintenance and upkeep.

Today, a visit to the Denver Zoo is a pleasant, meandering stroll through Pachyderm Alley, Primate Panorama, Predator Ridge, Bird World, and many other intriguing exhibits which highlight the zoo’s 700 different species of animal, including the incredibly rare okapi, red-bellied lemur, Amur leopard, black rhino, and Siberian tiger. Take the train around the park, grab a bite to eat in the café, get up close and personal with flamingos, or go say “Hi!” to Mshindi, the world’s only rhinoceros that paints with a brush. This 3-ton artist’s work is on display in the Pachyderm House.

The 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado, is a tree-lined pedestrian corridor filled with outdoor cafés, restaurants, and shops. Along the popular downtown promenade, visitors can enjoy performances from local street performers or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage while searching for the perfect craft beer or dining spot.

On Denver’s 16th Street, you’ll find more than 40 outdoor cafés and restaurants perfect for a leisurely snack, meal, or drink while enjoying the bustling atmosphere of one of the city’s hot spots. At the south end of the mall is Denver Pavilions, with a movie theater and more than 20 shops and restaurants. The north end features a pedestrian path over three bridges that connect downtown to Commons Park and the trendy LoHi neighborhood.

Maximize your time in Denver by organizing a tour ahead of time that includes a stop on the 16th Street Mall in addition to other sights, including Larimer Square, the US Mint, and the Denver Art Museum. Your tour will equip you with a good lay of the land and sense of Denver’s history, so that when you return to 16th Street later, you’ll know exactly where to go.

The 16th Street Mall runs 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) along 16th Street in downtown Denver, from Wewatta Street at Union Station to Broadway at Civic Center Station. You can walk the length from Union Station to the central mall area in about 15 minutes, or hop on the complimentary MallRide Shuttle at one of the frequent stops along 16th Street. It’s about 26 miles (42 kilometers) from Denver International Airport via Interstate 70.

Shops along 16th Street have varying hours, but most are open from late morning to late evening, about 10am to 8pm. Denver Pavilions is open from 10am to 9pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. Denver receives the most visitors in the summer months, between June and August, but perhaps a better time to visit is during the spring and fall shoulder seasons, April through May and September through October.

Noted architect I.M. Pei designed the tree-lined 16th Street Mall, impressive for its multicolored granite sidewalks assembled into diamond patterns (some have likened it to a diamondback rattlesnake seen from above). The Denver district has drawn international attention for its artistic design. You’ll also see the iconic Daniels and Fisher Tower on Arapahoe and 16th, built in 1911 and designed to look like St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice.

Just outside of Colorado Springs, the towering Pikes Peak stands as an American icon. Katharine Lee Bates wrote the song “America the Beautiful” after surveying the great western lands from atop this very mountain, and today, visitors can enjoy the same view that inspired Bates, looking down across the rolling plains and jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Half a million people visit the summit of Pikes Peak each year, making it the most visited mountain peak in North America. Most visitors come on a day trip from nearby Colorado Springs or Denver and combine their visit to the famous fourteener with a stops at the artsy town of Manitou Springs and the stunning sandstone formations of the Garden of the Gods. 

While 1850s gold miners once trekked to this area via covered wagon and made the climb by mule, modern visitors can enjoy the views while driving the scenic Pikes Peak Highway, which offers incredible views along the way to the 14,115-foot (4,302-meter) summit. Another popular way to reach the summit is aboard the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world. Active travelers might opt to make the climb on foot along the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Barr Trail.

Pikes Peak is open throughout the year, but the road can close in poor weather. To avoid crowds at this popular Colorado destination, plan to visit during the shoulder seasons (March through May and October through mid-December).

With a summit of over 14,000 feet, Pikes Peak can trigger symptoms of altitude sickness in some visitors. To minimize or even prevent these symptoms altogether, try to spend your first day in the area touring attractions below 7,000 feet and avoid strenuous exercise. Drink more water than usual, and reduce your intake of alcohol and salty foods. 

Reminiscent of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Colorado State Capitol Building sitting high atop Denver is not just a 24 karat gold-domed meeting place for the Colorado General Assembly, but also an homage to the American governmental process, as well as a truly beautiful archaeological wonder. 

Built a mile high above sea level, as denoted by the markings inscribed upon its steps, the Colorado State Capital Building has incredible views of downtown Denver, and a history that tells of the days of the Gold Rush and the incredible use of the beautiful Colorado Rose Onyx used to build the interior of the capitol and the designs of dignitaries engraved therein. It is said that the entire known supply of this rare marble was exhausted in making of the Colorado State Capitol.

Tours will tell of early Colorado history, the Capitol construction, the origin of several stained glass windows, the Woman’s Gold Tapestry, and a stop outside the State and House Representative chambers.

The Denver Mint is one of a handful of facilities that produces US currency, and one of only two (along with the Philadelphia Mint) that offers tours to the public. Visitors can tour the massive Renaissance-style 1904 mint building to glimpse the coin-making process, explore exhibits on the history of money, or purchase authentic currency and commemorative coins in the gift shop. 

The United States Mint in Denver offers free tours for adults and kids over the age of seven. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for six tours daily, and tickets can only be picked up for that day. Security is tight in the building, so adults are expected to carry photo identification, and all visitors are subject to security screenings. Those who simply want to take in the impressive architecture from the outside can see the mint as part of a sightseeing tour of Denver.

The Denver Mint is located off I-25 from exit 210A. Parking is available at meters and area public lots. 

Tickets for the Denver Mint tour are limited, and during peak travel times"”spring and summer vacation, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and winter break"”they often run out early. Plan to arrive before the ticket booth opens at 7am to secure your tickets; tours are available Monday to Thursday.

The Denver Mint went into operation in 1906 and produced some 167 million gold and silver coins in its first year. Today, the mint sometimes exceeds 50 million coins per day, and it also houses the largest stash of gold bars in the nation.

The Denver Botanic Gardens is Denver’s very own agrarian escape from the city, while still being within the city’s confines. Featuring North America’s largest collection of plants from cold temperate climates around the world, a Japanese Garden, and Denver’s first publicly accessible green roof, the Denver Botanic Gardens routinely presents visitors with a cutting edge way of approaching horticulture and what growing a garden means.

Actually comprised of three diverse and distinct gardens each with their own attributes and noteworthiness, the Denver Botanic Gardens has its main location on York Street in the Cheesman Park neighborhood.  Also home to a natural amphitheater, the main gardens are often a site for summer concerts. The two other locations include The Gardens at Chatfield, which feature meadowland and natural riparian areas, and Goliath, an alpine wildflower garden. 

A self-guided walking tour of the two-block district takes you down streets once pockmarked with Wild West saloons and through restored Victorian-era buildings like Lincoln Hall and the Granite Building, where the lobby boasts historic maps and photos. Larimer Square’s tradition as a gathering point for the people of Denver lives on today as a home for some of the city’s best dining, including decadent Parisian bistro, cozy cafes and hearty smokehouses and grills. And shoppers can find everything from antique jewelry to boutiques specializing in boots and leather Western wear. 

A lively district of restaurants, shops, and nightlife, Lower Downtown Denver (or LoDo) is a top destination for Denver culture. In addition to its vibrant scene, though, LoDo is also home to some of the city’s best-preserved historic architecture and more Victorian–era buildings than anywhere else in the United States.

Once infamous for its saloons and brothels, the 29-block LoDo neighborhood is now largely restored and renovated but retains historic charm. Wander past landmarks like the 130-year-old Union Station, the historic Daniels & Fisher (D&F) Tower, and the Oxford Hotel en route to hip bookstores, local hangouts, and breweries. Explore the area’s boutiques and galleries on a Denver walking tour to get a sense of the area’s history and revitalization from a tour guide, or opt for a culinary or craft beer tour for a specialty sightseeing experience.

LoDo is located in northwest Downtown Denver, surrounded by Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. Travelers can drive, park, and walk around, or take advantage of the bike-friendly streets. When it comes to public transit, the Union Station transit center is at the heart of the neighborhood with buses and Light Rail stops. 

LoDo is open and vibrant year-round, though visitors might enjoy warm summer weather over snowy Colorado winters. Nightlife is especially popular here, making LoDo a good base for a night on the town.

Nearby landmarks include Coors Field, the Molly Brown House Museum, and Larimer Square. A historic Denver city tour might also introduce you to further Mile High City sights such as Capitol Hill and Wynkoop Street.

The 3,000-square-foot museum is a family-friendly roadside attraction with a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits documenting his life and legend. See rare historical artifacts, including one of Cody’s Stetson hats and a peace pipe from Sitting Bull. Other exhibits include a display of Wild West guns and a Kid’s Cowboy Corral, where children can design their own brand and learn to throw a lasso.