We’re in the middle of the pandemic at the moment, and normality is yet to resume. When it does, scores of people will be looking to book vacations both long haul and short haul, and Denver is one of the best starting places for travelers to come together once life resumes once again. If you’re looking for mountains, sports, galleries, restaurants, zoos and more, Denver is the place to travel. You could plan your trip around seeing the sights in the city or driving along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway. If there are sports fans in the car, you’ll be drawn to Coors Field and all it has to offer. You can even go a little vintage and spend time in the Larimer Square area.
Denver has a lot to offer whether you are traveling by yourself or with your family, and with the plethora of restaurants, bars and eateries, you can make your trip count. When you plan your next visit to Denver, you should ensure that you have at least all ten of the things on your list in the list that we’ve put together below. Let’s dive into ten things that you should be doing on your next trip – so you don’t miss out!
10 Things To Do In Denver
Larimer Square
This is one that we just mentioned and it’s for a very good reason. With only 0.6 miles to the city center, Larimer Square is free to visit and it’s a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours of your time while you’re on your trip. Larimer Square had its beginnings in 1858 when a group of American Indians and settlers found gold at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. This prompted people to pick up and move west and this then began as Auraria, the site of the original pioneer camp. Now, while the city itself has expanded, Larimer Square is still standing and it remains one of the most historic sites in the city. It’s the place where the tours go – and it’s a good thing! Shopping, nightlife and restaurants aplenty are available here! Check out the Larimer Square website before you arrive so that you can get exactly what you need from the site.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Another freebie, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is the place to go if you are looking for excellent views of the Rocky Mountains. It’s got amazing trails and sandstone cliffs to see. You will spend around half a day here, and it’s an awesome place for all nature enthusiasts. There are 700 occupied acres here at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and you can spend as much time as you like here. Stretching your legs along the Trading Post Trail is a good way to spend your time and you will find the park an impressive geographic space. Formed by red rocks, you’ll find amazing acoustics and an anticipatory atmosphere awaiting you when you visit.
Washington Park
Just three miles from the Denver city center you’ll find Washington Park. You can buy tickets for tours here and you can enjoy around two hours of parks, gardens and recreation. The park covers 165 acres and there are jogging paths, boat rentals, tennis caughts and even swimming lessons to enjoy. Washington Park is a favorite with the locals for a good reason: it’s a beautiful place to hang out!
16th Street Mall
Do you love to shop? You will love the 16th Street Mall! It’s the Denver equivalent to Rodeo Drive in LA, and you’ll find a mile of stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and more to enjoy. You don’t have to give your credit card a workout if you just want to window shop. There’s even a MallRide shuttle bus to hop and off if you can’t be bothered to walk! It’s a great place to get souvenirs and a bite to eat while you shop, too.
Denver Zoo
It’s not just for kids, you know! Just 2.5 miles from the city center, you’ll find a whole day’s worth of fun at Denver Zoo. It’s modeled directly after a Kenyan nature preserve and there are more than 4,000 animals here at the Denver Zoo. You’ll see Black Rhinos, Orangutans, Reptiles, Birds and more. Buy tickets to experiences and ride the Zoo Train and Carousel for an exciting experience. It’s a very big Zoo, so make sure that you give your whole group plenty of time to see it all!
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Hiking and sightseeing fans will love the Byway when visiting Denver. Reserving a day to drive up to Mount Evans is going to be one of the most exciting experiences when you visit Denver. You’ll need to get on the scenic byway to see it all as you will know that it’s known as the “Road To The Sky”. With 9,000 feet of elevation, you are going to truly see some clouds. There are plenty of lookout points, and as you drive you’ll see Echo Lake Park! This is somewhere you want to see given that you’ll find Denver Botanic Gardens close by, excellent fishing conditions and the perfect place to relax and breathe some fresh air.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Who doesn’t love a museum to wander around? Denver Museum of Nature & Science takes around half a day to see and there are exhibits spanning the whole of history, from dinosaurs to Egyptians! There are space sciences, zoology areas, geology areas and more. You can even enjoy the Space Odyssey area to see the outer reaches of the galaxy and more! Getting tired? Think of the cafe and gift shop to rest your legs!
Denver Botanic Gardens
Beauty is something you want to enjoy when you visit Denver, and the Botanic Gardens has 24 acres of gardens for people to explore. You’ll see everything from Bonsai Trees to torch lilies, and you will love the chance to just meander along the trails and see nature in all its glory!
Coors Field
If you love sports, you will love Coors Field! Named for the Denver bear, it’s the home of the Colorado Rockies to play baseball. You can sample some of the local Denver brews, and you can even spend some time in the Interactive Area that can be spent testing your batting skills. If you can’t catch a game, you can still tour and visit the stadium. There are guided tours to enjoy for all and reservations aren’t needed – just arrive early so you can make sure that you have a space in the group!
Empower Field at Mile High
Another sports option, Empower Field is located 1.4 miles from the city center at Mile High. If you’re a football fan, you can spend some time on the home turf of the Denver Broncos. The stadium hosts more than 76,000 NFL fans and you could be one of them, but not only that, the Empower Field stadium also has several public art displays on offer. The stadium is more than 70 years old, and it’s original intention was for a minor league baseball stadium. It grew and grew as the home of the Broncos, instead!
These ten things to do are just the tip of the iceberg when you visit Denver – there is so much more to do and you will love all of it! Denver is a place that should be on your bucket list, so why not add it today and have the time of your life?
I have never been to Denver, but I really want to go someday. Maybe someday soon? Keep on rolling out vaccines!!!