20 Things to do in Denver Colorado -

Colorado is hands-down one of the most beautiful states in the country. Every time we go back, I catch myself thinking why did we ever leave? Then I remember… the snow. I don’t like driving in it or dealing with it. And it stays cold far longer than I’d like.

But in the summer? Oh, Colorado is breathtaking. That’s why it’s one of our favorite places to visit when we want an escape from Arizona’s summer heat.

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Table of Contents

Things to Do Around Denver Colorado

Unsinkable Molly Brown Museum

If you’ve ever watched Titanic or read about it, chances are you’ve heard of “the Unsinkable Molly Brown.” However, her name wasn’t Molly. Never was. She was actually Margaret Brown, or “Maggie” to those who knew her. Hollywood just took a few creative liberties.

I’ve always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic, and when I found out there was a Molly Brown House Museum right in Denver, I had to go. It’s a charming, well-preserved Victorian home where you can learn more about the real woman behind the legend. Margaret was strong, outspoken, and deeply involved in social causes—so much more than just a Titanic survivor.

A couple of things to know before you go:

There’s no dedicated parking lot, so plan to find street parking nearby.
Photos aren’t allowed inside, and it’s kept pretty dim to protect the artifacts. If you want a keepsake, I recommend grabbing a few postcards from the gift shop.

Want more Titanic history? If you ever get the chance to check out the traveling Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, do it. We caught it once at the Arizona Science Center and it was an incredibly moving interactive exhibit. We also saw a permanent version of that exhibit at the Luxor in Las Vegas.

Denver City Park

After soaking in some history, you might be ready for a breath of fresh air and Denver City Park is just the place. This huge, grassy park is anchored by two peaceful lakes and filled with wide open space for running, biking, picnicking, or just hanging out with the geese. It is also home to the Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science.

Stop to Smell the Flowers at the Denver Colorado Botanic Garden

If you’re like me and believe nature has the power to heal, don’t miss the Denver Botanic Gardens. This place is a little slice of heaven right in the middle of the city.

Winding paths lead you through a peaceful, colorful paradise of blooms, desert plants, lily ponds, and shaded benches. It’s calm, it’s gorgeous, and it’s the perfect spot to slow down for an hour or two. Whether you’re into rare plants or just love a good stroll with a view, the gardens are absolutely worth a stop.

This garden has 23 acres of foliage. The gardens are broken up into 30+ different defined spaces. Beautiful sculptures and water features can be seen throughout the gardens.

The Botanic Garden is one of the top ten gardens in the West. The garden has several areas dedicated to regional gardening; including the Plains Garden, Ornamental grasses, dry land mesa, water-smart garden area.

My favorites, however, are the lilacs, roses, Japanese gardens and the spaces that are tucked away within the gardens.

We visited the gardens again in the spring-with the lilacs in full bloom-what a heavenly scent!

The state flower is the Rocky Mountain Columbine. A very pretty fragile looking flower that is white and lavender or blue (depends on who you ask). Columbines can be found here in other colors as well, but personally I think this color combo is the prettiest.

Drive the Lariat Loop & Historic Byway

This 40-mile loop makes for a fun half-day road trip through some of the prettiest foothills near Denver. The Lariat Loop connects the charming towns of Golden, Morrison, and Evergreen, with plenty of photo-worthy stops along the way. Perfect for when you want to get out of the city without going full backcountry.

Here are a few highlights to add to your route:

Lookout Mountain. A beautiful spot with sweeping views and a great place to stretch your legs.
Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave Site. Surprisingly fun and full of Wild West history.
Dinosaur Ridge. Walk where the dinosaurs did. Seriously, you can see real fossilized tracks!
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Even if there’s no concert, it’s worth a visit for the trails and scenery.
Buffalo Overlook. A slight detour but great spot to see some bison.

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway

A gorgeous drive along the foothills of the Rockies. Drive the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, a 55-mile stretch from Black Hawk to Estes Park that’s especially stunning in the fall.

Tour a Brewery

Coors brewery is the most well-known brewery in Golden, Colorado. Blue Moon, also owned by Coors, has a cool bar/brewery in Denver.

Colorado takes its beer seriously, and Denver is packed with breweries worth visiting.

Coors Brewery in Golden. It’s iconic and huge. You can tour the facility and sample the goods at the end.
Blue Moon Brewery in RiNo (River North Arts District). Trendier and very Instagram-friendly. Great spot for lunch or happy hour. They have a lot of flavors that are not sold in stores or other bars.

Meow Wolf

On a Friday night we decided to drive downtown and explore Meow Wolf Convergence. If you only have time for one offbeat adventure, this is such an unexpected fun spot. I didn’t know what to expect, but we ended up spending about three hours exploring.

This immersive art experience feels part sci-fi movie, part dream world. You walk through surreal installations, hidden rooms, and interactive exhibits that are hard to explain but super fun to explore. Expect to get a little lost in the best way.

Parking for Meow Wolf is a little tricky to reach. I recommend searching for directions based on Parkwell Meow Wolf Lot, 1338 1st St, Denver, CO 80204. If you just enter Meow Wolf it may direct you to the road above the parking lot.

Larimer Square

Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest block, and it’s packed with cute boutiques, cozy cafes, great restaurants, and festive string lights overhead give it a lovely ambiance, especially at night.

They also host seasonal festivals and pop-up events, so check the calendar before you go. We visited during the Denver Chalk Art Festival and they showcased some incredible artists.

16th Street Mall

A mile-long mall in the mile-high city. This pedestrian mall is in the heart of downtown. The area is lined with shops, bars, restaurants, and street performers. The free shuttle makes it super easy to hop on and off without getting worn out.

Spend Time in Boulder

If you have a few extra hours, head 30 miles northwest to Boulder. It’s a college town with a fun energy and tons of natural beauty. Grab lunch on Pearl Street, visit Chautauqua Park, hike the Flatirons, or check out some of the cute shops.

Ski, Snowboard, and Ice Skating in Colorado

If you love winter sports, you’re in luck! Colorado has some of the best ski resorts most within a few hours of Denver.

Winter Park
Vail
Breckenridge
Keystone
Arapahoe Basin
Loveland

Glenwood Springs is a pretty little city to visit if you are out towards Vail. Vail, in our opinion, was the best for skiing. Something for everyone here. Breckenridge has long winding slopes and is great if you don’t like the black diamond slopes. Keystone has steep slopes, not as good for beginners. Nice town with shops. Fairly close to Denver and had the most affordable food.

Arapahoe Basin is nothing fancy. They have some really steep slopes “double black diamond” and they have long winding slopes as well. It wasn’t as crowded as some others.

Scenic Drives in Colorado and Electric Cars

Interestingly, 18 of Colorado’s scenic and historic byways are Designated Electric Byways. I noticed this designation when looking up a route and did a little research. If you’re interested in learning more visit Colorado’s website.

Ice Skating at the Promenade

The first time we visited Denver was in January and were excited to have our kids experience a “winter activity,” ice skating! This facility is fantastic. I learned how to ice skate on a lake, but other than the lack of natural scenery this is a great place to go ice skating.

Best Ribs in the Denver Area

If you love ribs, the Hickory House in Parker is our favorite spot.