Things To Do In Denver Colorado

Planning Activities In The Mile High City

Denver is a weird place to spend time if you are used to other cities. The altitude hits people differently. The weather shifts fast. And the downtown area is more spread out than most tourists realize. I spent about four years living in the area and learned a few things the hard way. The main issue people run into is assuming everything is walkable from Union Station. It is not. Light rail helps, but it only goes so far. Most of the actual good spots are separated by five to fifteen minute drives depending on traffic. You should plan around neighborhoods rather than trying to hit multiple areas in one day.

Things To Do In Denver Colorado

I will break this down by what actually works. Start with downtown. Walk along 16th Street Mall but do not stop at the first few blocks. Keep going west past Blake Street and you hit a completely different vibe. Launched Place, great coffee, and the area around Larimer Square is worth seeing even if it looks staged. It kind of is, but it is still pleasant. The art district on 38th Street near Speer is where I got stuck one time. I parked at a museum and drove over for dinner in a blizzard that showed up out of nowhere. Parking validation at the museum covered the lot, but finding a restaurant nearby in that weather was a mess. I ended up walking back to 38th and pulling into the parking garage at the Children's Museum because the street parking there was free after 6pm. That workaround saved me from paying $25 for a couple hours. I carry a parking app on my phone now just in case, so I know where garages are before I need them. Going up to Red Rocks is non-negotiable if you are in town. The park itself is free. The amphitheater is where tickets are for shows, but walking the trails costs nothing. The canyon trail takes about forty minutes round trip. It is steep at first because of the elevation. Take it slow. Most people try to rush it and regret it halfway up. The drop-off from the visitor center on Colorado Boulevard is a common mistake. The main entrance is on Rueda Street, which means your GPS might point you wrong unless you enter the exact trailhead address.

For food, skip the generic bars in LoDo. Hit the Capitol Hill area or Washington Park side. St. John's Restaurant on Downing is solid Italian. The Pasta Bolognese is reliable and the portion size feeds two people if you share. It is also cheap for what you get. If you want something more modern, Stature on Santa Fe Drive is better. It is newer and less crowded, though prices have gone up. Still worth it. Cherry Creek is the upscale part of town. It looks boring from the outside. The mall there is fine if you want a specific store, but the pedestrian walkway around Cherry Creek North is where people actually hang out. The outdoor patios around Colorado Boulevard between Alameda and University are decent. The whole area gets busy on weekends around noon. Avoid peak hours if you want a seat without waiting. If you have kids, the Museum of Nature and Science is the better option over the downtown art museum. Both charge admission. The nature museum has a planetarium show that runs every hour during the day. Ticket is about ten dollars extra but it is worth it if you have five year olds who need to burn energy. They have a large hands on exhibit area upstairs.

Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street is worth a visit. There is a cover charge. Weekday mornings are quiet. Weekends around midday turn into a sea of people. The adjacent York Street parking garage is easiest. It is closer to the north entrance and costs around $3 for the first hour. After that it gets steep. Walk from the south entrance on Cherokee if you can. It is free street parking and a nicer approach. The neighborhood of RiNo, short for River North, is mostly murals and breweries. It feels like any other arts district in a mid sized city. The murals are the real draw here. Most are free to photograph. Bluebird Theater area has a couple of interesting spots if you walk north toward the train tracks. The underpass near Brighton Boulevard is known for that. It gets a bit sketchy late at night. Stick to daylight hours. For drinks, the Denver Beer Co. on Blake is decent. It is crowded. You will wait. The Tap Room is usually empty enough during weekdays. If you want craft beer without the line, hit the St. Jacob area off Colfax. There are three or four smaller taprooms within a block. More quiet, less pretentious.

One thing most guides miss is the altitude problem. At five thousand feet, dehydration happens faster. Bring water. Not a suggestion. People do not realize how fast they feel the effects until they are already dealing with a headache and fatigue. That usually happens around day two. You should hydrate more than you think. Also, alcohol hits harder at this elevation. Plan accordingly. A single drink can feel like two for people not used to it. The light rail pass is worth it if you are staying more than two days. You can use it to get to the airport, downtown, and the university area. It covers most tourist routes. A one day pass runs about ten dollars. Unlimited weekly is cheaper if you need it. Download the RTD app before you arrive. The ticket system is online only. Street vendors do not exist for transit. If you want a break from the city, drive up to Golden about twenty minutes west. The downtown square is small but functional. The waterfalls on the South Platte River are visible from a couple different viewpoints. My personal tip is to stop at the Coors Brewery Visitor Center if you can swing it. Tours run regularly. The free sample at the end is just that. A small glass. Not a pint. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I learned that the first time and was disappointed.

Overall, Denver works if you do not overcomplicate it. Pick two neighborhoods per day. Do not chase a list. The mountain views are easy to find but weather dependent. Cloud cover rolls in fast in spring. Fall is clearer. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms by three. If you plan anything outdoor for that window, make sure you know the sky. Hiking at Red Rocks is great until you are caught in a lightning storm on an open ridge. That is not a joke. I saw that happen once. A group of hikers scrambled down the wrong trail trying to avoid it. It was messy. The ranger station had a radio report about it by the time I arrived. That is why you check the forecast and come prepared.