The very best of Denver

Making the most out of your time in Denver means embracing all this lively metropolis has to offer. Getting to know the Mile-High City should start with a trip to one of the best denver parks – Denver’s beloved City Park, a 330-acre spread complete with gardens, two lakes, a boathouse and stunning views of the city and its mountainous skyline. The Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Gates Planetarium and Phipps IMAX Theater are also located within the park, drawing thousands of visitors per year.

After a day in the park, head a few miles west to Denver’s bustling downtown. Jump on a free shuttle bus along the 16th Street Mall zone and discover downtown Denver’s wide array of celebrated restaurants, funky bars, unique shops, boutique hotels and renowned theatre district. Not to be missed is Larimer Square, a charming historic block of fine eateries and shopping, or you can head to the spirited Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood bursting with galleries, brew pubs, grills and dance clubs. Also in the heart of downtown is the Auraria Higher Education Center, an active urban campus shared by three universities and boasting year-round intellectual and cultural events. Art and architecture lovers can also get their fill at the downtown Denver Art Museum, a seven-story innovative structure housing extensive permanent and visiting exhibits.

A Denver must-visit is catching a game at one of the world-class sports venues. Within walking distance of downtown are Coors Field, home of Colorado Rockies baseball, and the Pepsi Center, home to Denver Nuggets basketball, Colorado Avalanche hockey, Colorado Rapids soccer and Colorado Mammoth lacrosse. Not far away is Sports Authority Field at Mile High, where every Denver Broncos home game teems with 76,000 enthusiastic football fans. Denver also hosts the final stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and a wide array of other sporting events. Denver residents take pride in being part of the most physically fit state in the nation, and visitors are welcome to join in the fun by running, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing and more.

Finally, no visit to Denver would be complete without an excursion into the glorious Rocky Mountains. Head west on Interstate 70 for a breathtaking drive to the top of one of Colorado’s famed 14,000-foot peaks. The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in North America and the best way to get to know the most famous mountain on the Denver skyline, raising nearly 7,000 feet in elevation.
Get the very best out of one of America’s great cities with these exciting attractions!
 

Janet Jones has a variety of interests ranging from food and drink to finance and mental health. She writes for blogs and particularly likes reviewing local restaurants.