10 Things To Do in Denver, CO
View of the capitol building from the Denver Art Museum, September
We love Denver, Colorado and after a few visits, we’ve identified our 10ish favorite places. While the weather in Denver can get chilly in the winter, and roasty toasty in the summer, only a few of these places are weather or seasonally (baseball) dependent. Note: these are all in the Denver metro limits.
Want to see more pictures and video? Check out our YouTube channel for our eight favorite things to do in Denver.
Denver Art Museum, September
1.The Denver Art Museum is a must see and do while in Denver. Located in the Denver Golden Triangle neighborhood, near Civic Center Park and the Colorado state capitol, the museum spans two buildings and has two restaurants (Ponti and Gio). There is an incredible shop that is well worth checking out. There is so much going on in this museum that it might take multiple visits to see the exhibitions and permanent collections.
Union Station
2. Union Station: located in LoDo (lower downtown), this beautifully renovated transportation hub is also home to several restaurants, shops, and the Crawford Hotel. Need a book? Check out Tattered Cover. Want a yummy snack and cocktail? Dine on the patio of Ultreia where it feels like you are in Europe. Need a coffee as a pick me up to start your day or fuel your sightseeing? Look no further than Pigtrain Coffee. Union Station is surrounded by other restaurants, shops, and hotels like the Limelight where we tend to stay while in Denver. It is two short blocks from the lightrail. It’s also easily accessible by the free 16th Street Mall bus.
Larimer Square, July
3. Larimer Square: located in LoDo, Larimer Square is a lively block of restaurants and shops. Grab a cocktail and do some vintage shopping at Garage Sale Vintage. Spoil your pup with treats from Dog Savvy. I heard rumors about a speakeasy, too. This is easily accessible from the free 16th Street Mall bus.
Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, September
4. Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, is a beautiful, modern ballpark (1995) in LoDo, a short walk from Union Station and light rail. You can see the mountains from the third deck on the 1st base side. Want to watch the game at the mile marker? Look for the purple seats, although you might need binoculars. Lots of food options on all levels.
Denver Performing Arts Complex, September
5. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is home to Boettcher Concert Hall, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre, Garner Galleria Theatre, Dazzle, and Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. There are other event locations and restaurants in the complex. There’s easy access from the free 16th Street Mall bus and it looks like there’s a lot of parking as well. It’s an impressive collection of performing arts facilities.
Dairy Block, November
6. The Dairy Block looked like a lot of fun at night with quite a few restaurants, bars, shops, and string lights. We had lunch at one of the restaurants one day and walked through it after a Rockies’ game one night. Definitely worth checking out for a cocktail or glass of wine with friends. Located in LoDo near Coors’ Field and Union Station. During the winter holidays, they have special pop up shopping events, music, and lights. It’s quite festive.
Meow Wolf Denver, Colorado, September
7. For an interesting immersive experience, check out Meow Wolf. We really didn’t know what to expect and it was definitely something different. Take your time walking through and exploring the nearly 80,000 square foot location with multiple levels and over 70 rooms. Try all the doors. Look up. Look down. If you get the QPass ($3) use it wherever you can and consider following the story as you navigate the building.
8. MCA Denver (museum of contemporary art) was closed on our recent visit and we look forward to checking it out during our next visit. It’s within walking distance to the Limelight Hotel, Union Station, light rail, and the free 16th Street Mall bus. I’m excited to check it out and I will update with more info after my visit.
16th Street Mall
9. The 16th Street Mall appears to cover quite a bit of LoDo, from Union Station to Civic Center Park to MCA Denver. There is an actual mall with some shops and while 16th Street is supposed to be pedestrian friendly, it was under construction so we didn’t get the full experience. Part of it made me feel like I was in Montreal. Lots of shops, restaurants, hotels, and museums.
Denver Botanic Gardens, November
10. Located near Cheesman Park, the Botanic Gardens are supposed to be amazing in all the seasons. We visited over the Thanksgiving break and found it to be truly lovely and well worth the visit, so much so that we visited multiple times. We look forward to going back in the spring or summer when everything is in bloom. Don’t miss the three story conservatory which must be a nice respite from the winter cold. In late November/December, they light up the gardens with a special event called Blossoms of Lights. It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
One of the several giraffes at the Denver Zoo, November
Bonus: Denver Zoo: I have a love / hate relationship with zoos and was able to get past my discomfort long enough to follow my friend’s 3 year abd see some of their favorites, along with some of mine (giraffes, elephants, and tigers). We rode a train designed for little ones and later saw some of the zoo’s new flamingo and mandrill additions. This is the first zoo I’ve been to that sold adult beverages which was a bonus.
Zeke and Terri at the Botanic Gardens, November (Thanksgiving)
Thanks to some lovely readers, I’m adding a section on places to visit next time we are in Denver.
— Museo de las Americas: Latin American art
Did we miss one of your favorite spots? If so, drop us a line at zekeandterri@gmail.com.