Denver, Colorado Hotels and City Guide

Denver - Attractions

Denver offers some of the best skiing and hiking in the world, but there is much more to the Mile High City than snow and slopes. Thriving businesses, modern skyscrapers, delicious gourmet restaurants, trendy cafes and boutiques, art galleries, museums make this just as much a cultural destination as a natural one. But fortunately, visitors are not forced to make a choice of which Denver to experience. It is possible to enjoy all that this vibrant city has to offer and make each day as new and exciting as the last. From LoDo to the Golden Triangle, from Five Points to La Alma Lincoln Park/ Auraria, there is an abundance of delights for the senses.

Denver Entertainment

If you think Denver is a cold, snowy town where you can hear the wind howl at night, you are in for a pleasant and exciting surprise. Nature is a shaping force in this beautiful city, but you will also be treated to world-class art, music, dining, and shopping experiences.

Denver has a rich and varied nightlife. Several neighborhoods feature bars and clubs, including some of Denver’s renowned microbreweries. In fact, Mayor John Hickenlooper has owned the Front Range brewpubs since before his civic duty called. Microbreweries give visitors and residents a taste of Denver as well as a true feeling of its style. Denver hosts the Great American Beer Festival each year – a great event if you visit in the fall. Sip g a house-brewed beer and enjoy the ambience of the Denver scene.

For visitors who want a little culture with their microbrew, Denver offers a host of nationally-recognized museums. Daniel Libeskind, a world famous architect, recently designed a new wing for the Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Performing Arts Complex is second only in size to New York’s Lincoln Center. Art galleries dot the city, and historical landmarks are found in many of Denver’s districts. There is a vibrant music scene with a focus on pop, folk, jazz, and classical music styles.

Sports fans will not be at a loss for things to do in Denver. The city is home to a variety of sport teams and owns the distinction of being one of three cities in the United States that has teams for all eight of the major sports leagues. The Broncos draw big crowds at Invesco Field at Mile High, and the Colorado Rockies, Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets represent pro baseball, hockey, and basketball. Denver also has professional lacrosse (Colorado Mammoth), soccer (Rapids), outdoor lacrosse (Outlaws), and arena football (Crush) teams.

It is hard to talk about Denver and not mention the beautiful outdoor scene that the city has to offer. Denver prides itself on being a healthy, vibrant city, and the abundant opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, kayaking, and other pursuits has made Denver the thinnest city in the United States. After working all week, many Denver citizens spend their weekends in the mountains and enjoying the fresh air. The Mile High City has over 200 parks, including the 314 acre City Park, as well as 29 recreation centers. The mild weather makes finding any excuse to stay inside impossible – unless it is visiting galleries, eating, or drinking some of Denver’s finest home brews.

Denver Attractions

Black American West Museum & Heritage Center
3091 California Street
303.482.2242

Explore the old west in a new way: many cowboys were black, and this museum looks at the history of black teachers, farmers, doctors, miners, reporters, and state legislators. Located in the beautiful Victorian home of Dr. Justina Ford, the first black women licensed to practice medicine in the Mile High City, this is an interesting look back.

City Park
Between Colorado Boulevard, York Street, 26th Avenue, and 17th Avenue

Here you will find 314 acres of fun, including the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, lakes, playgrounds, a golf course, and lush lawns. Free concerts are held in the summer, and restaurants and shops surround the area. Great for families and anyone who wants to take a relaxing paddle-boat ride.

Byers-Evans House Museum
1310 Bannock Street
303.620.4933

Located in a gorgeous house, the Byers-Evans House Museum details the history of Rocky Mountain News publisher William Byers and Denver Tramway Company officer William Gray Evans, their pioneer families, and the city they helped to create.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Boulevard
303.322.7009

A must for families and anyone interested in the natural world. From the planetarium, to the fossils, from workshops to the fun IMAX theatre, this is the place where the curious must go.

Children's Museum of Denver
2121 Children's Museum Drive
303.433.7444

The theme is “Play and Learn.” Children and families will love the 11 interactive activities, special events, and fun daily activities. There is always something different and exciting.

Chamberlin Observatory
2930 East Warren Avenue
303.871.5172

Gazing up at the stars is a new experience when you visit the Chamberlin Observatory with its 1894 Alvan Clark-Saegmuller 20-inch refracting telescope. A gorgeous historical building and host of star parties, this is a great way to spend a Denver evening.

Colorado Historical Society
1300 Broadway
303.866.3682

The Historical Society has ten locations, including historic sites and museums. From the old fur trading days and the Clear Creek gold rush and Leadville silver boom to early Hispanic settlement in Denver and the Ute Indians, you discover more about Denver’s rich history.

Denver Botanic Gardens
1005 York St,
720.865.3500

A gorgeous collection of gardens, you will find drought-tolerant plants, native and adapted plants, and a mix of European horticulture and plants that thrive in the West. The Denver Botanic Gardens also feature a green roof – a state of the art eco-friendly roof saves energy, helps retain heat or cooling, and provides habitats for birds, insects and other wildlife.

Colorado State Capitol
200 East Colfax Avenue
303.866.2604

Tour the Capital Building where the Colorado Legislature does its work, including the spectacular dome. Learn about Colorado history and enjoy the portraits, stained glass windows, and Women’s Gold Tapestries.

Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave Pkwy
720.865.5000

The Denver Art Museum features African, Native American, Asian, European Renaissance art, American painting, modern and contemporary art, sculpture, oceanic art, and western American art. With special events, lectures, free children’s activities, classes, camps, and much more, this is an exciting stop on any Denver vacation.

Denver Mint
320 West Colfax Avenue

See where the money is made. You must register before the tour and be there 15 minutes before the tour is set to start. There are a lot of items you cannot carry inside the Mint, so make sure you get a copy of the rules. Worth the trouble to see inside this amazing US institution.

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys
1880 Gaylord Street
303.322.1053

This museum houses Japanese dolls, miniature houses with furnishings, miniature trains, planes, and cars, a mini-sized circus, antique dolls, giant teddy bears, Southwest homes, and much more, including new events every three months.

Denver Firefighters Museum
1326 Tremont Place
303.892.1436

See displays of fire fighting equipment, gear, and tools, as well as historical fire trucks and engines; participate in hands-on activities involving fire safety that are geared towards children; and see how Denver’s finest live and work.

Museo de las Americas
861 Santa Fe Drive
303.571.4401
This museum celebrates Latino culture and art in exciting exhibits and events. The museum provides a useful community resource on Hispanic history, as well as a meeting place for those interested in speaking Spanish.

Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
1485 Delgany Street
303.298.7554

This state of the art museum features photography, modern art, and pieces created by new media. Because this museum doesn’t have a permanent collection, there is always something new at MCA. Travelling exhibitions provide new and exciting works for visitors to contemplate.

Denver Zoo
E. 23rd Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard
303.376.4800

There are 80-acres to explore, including man-eating Komodo dragons, a 7-acre Primate Panorama, a baby animal nursery, seal shows, a safari shuttle, lions, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, a hairy elephant, and a painting rhinoceros. Lots to see and do.

Downtown Aquarium
700 Water Street, Jefferson Park
303.561.4450

Denver boasts an incredible million-gallon aquarium. You will see water and aquatic life from seas, lakes, and rivers. There is a stingray touch pool, a fun interactive shipwreck, an area where kids can pan for gold, and a restaurant built around a 150,000 gallon shark and fish-filled tank.

Ski Resorts

Hotels in Denver, Colorado