Things to do in Denver, CO

Denver's location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains is the key to a wealth of outdoors activities. Hiking Colorado's 14,000 ft. peaks is a challenging way to reach the clouds and plenty of mountain biking is less than an hour from downtown Denver. Rock climbing, both indoors and out, is a favorite pastime as well. Come winter the legendary ski scene kicks in and with it more slopes than you can shake a snowboard at. And let's not forget the city itself where a commitment to open space, city parks and recently upgraded bike paths mean you can run or bike to many of the best parts of Denver, all in the scenic backdrop of Mount Evans and other Front Range Peaks. 

Denver regularly rates as one of the very best sports towns in America and for good reason. NFL football's Denver Broncos call the Mile High City home, where local icon John Elway resonates in the memory of all sports fans. There may be no more beautiful baseball park than Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, where sunset views over the Front Range go perfect with a hot dog and a cold beer. Hockey fans get a triple dose of ice action, with the pro franchise Colorado Avalanche but also the elite college programs of...  

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Denver's location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains is the key to a wealth of outdoors activities. Hiking Colorado's 14,000 ft. peaks is a challenging way to reach the clouds and plenty of mountain biking is less than an hour from downtown Denver. Rock climbing, both indoors and out, is a favorite pastime as well. Come winter the legendary ski scene kicks in and with it more slopes than you can shake a snowboard at. And let's not forget the city itself where a commitment to open space, city parks and recently upgraded bike paths mean you can run or bike to many of the best parts of Denver, all in the scenic backdrop of Mount Evans and other Front Range Peaks. 

Denver regularly rates as one of the very best sports towns in America and for good reason. NFL football's Denver Broncos call the Mile High City home, where local icon John Elway resonates in the memory of all sports fans. There may be no more beautiful baseball park than Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, where sunset views over the Front Range go perfect with a hot dog and a cold beer. Hockey fans get a triple dose of ice action, with the pro franchise Colorado Avalanche but also the elite college programs of Denver University and Colorado College. There's also Major League Soccer and the Colorado Rapids and even a pro lacrosse team, the Mammoth. And all this doesn't include the fact many world class runners, triathletes and cyclists call the Denver metro area home!

Spacious, modern and efficient, Denver's airport has become an industry standard for quality. Visually, the airport is decorated with mountain art and Colorado aviation history, all housed in a multi-level building with ceilings as spacious as the Rocky Mountain sky. The exterior roof is made to mimic the Front Range skyline. Humming away in the background is the nation's most modern and efficient luggage transport system, which means travelers rarely have to wait for bags. Security is also cutting edge and speedy, a good thing to know for those who are prone to procrastination. Say hi to our towering, wild, blue bronco statue as you leave the airport and head for downtown Denver!

It's true, Denver is located just over 5,280 feet above sea level. But unlike the nearby mountains, Denver's unique location at the foot of the Rockies means a majority of storms have run their course before coming to town. The result: over 300 days of sunshine per year and a temperate climate with a few seasonal cold snaps. The thinner air is a boon for athletes whose aim is to make their bodies more efficient. It is worth noting that there aren't any mountains in Denver proper, so streets, neighborhoods and navigation are well laid out over a flat grid. If you are a first time visitor, make sure to find a good place in town (City Park comes to mind) to catch a blazing, orange Rocky Mountain sunset -- there's nothing like it!

Denver's positive vibe and energy comes from the people who call it home. Many transplants come to Denver for the outdoors opportunities, the trendy but laid-back style and the mindset that there is more to life than just work. With a highly educated and well-traveled population, Denver is equally as ambitious with work as it is play. Several major tech companies call the Mile High City home and both the travel and outdoors recreation industries are major anchors in the city. The vibrant nightlife adds to the fun. Denver is a city of possibilities and for those who want to merge the best of both worlds and best of all, we don't have a dress code.  

Were it not for the discovery of gold at the intersection of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in 1858, the city of Denver might never have been established. Fever for the yellow metal was still running high after the previous decade's gold rushes in California, and prospectors consequently flooded the area that would eventually become Colorado's state capital. The region's original settlers, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, were completely overcome as more than 100,000 people migrated to the boomtown in 1859 and 1860. What had been a trail junction on the empty plains of Kansas Territory only a few years before was now a thriving urban center that would only continue to grow in the years to come.

The arrival of the railroad in 1870 further solidified Denver's status as a thriving metropolis. Banking, minting, food processing, agriculture, and manufacturing were just a few of Denver's early industries, laying a solid economic base on which the town could easily grow. Livestock, tourism, and service industries brought even more jobs and wealth to the area at the turn of the century. After World War II, oil, gas, and technology helped dismantle Denver's "cow town" image and ushered in its current incarnation as a...  Read more »

Were it not for the discovery of gold at the intersection of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in 1858, the city of Denver might never have been established. Fever for the yellow metal was still running high after the previous decade's gold rushes in California, and prospectors consequently flooded the area that would eventually become Colorado's state capital. The region's original settlers, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, were completely overcome as more than 100,000 people migrated to the boomtown in 1859 and 1860. What had been a trail junction on the empty plains of Kansas Territory only a few years before was now a thriving urban center that would only continue to grow in the years to come.

The arrival of the railroad in 1870 further solidified Denver's status as a thriving metropolis. Banking, minting, food processing, agriculture, and manufacturing were just a few of Denver's early industries, laying a solid economic base on which the town could easily grow. Livestock, tourism, and service industries brought even more jobs and wealth to the area at the turn of the century. After World War II, oil, gas, and technology helped dismantle Denver's "cow town" image and ushered in its current incarnation as a prosperous, thoroughly modern city.

Denver's famously sunny weather and its proximity to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains are two of its most attractive assets. A wealth of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, and snowboarding, are mere minutes west of Denver proper. Sports enthusiasts and nature lovers who inhabit the city are abetted by low humidity, mild year-round temperatures, and over 300 days per year of sunshine. It's not hard to see why a significant segment of Denver's — and indeed Colorado's — population is composed of transplants from all over the US and beyond, eager for the agreeable climate and outdoor opportunities that the city offers.

Denverites like to play hard, but they work hard, too, finding employment in a variety of sectors. Federal jobs abound — Denver's metro area is second in the nation in its percentage of people employed by the US government. Thanks to Denver's location between coasts, jobs in distribution, trade, and manufacturing are also in abundance. Telecommunications corporations like Qwest Communications and Comcast, as well as mining and energy companies, round out the list of biggest employers. Many companies are located in Denver's dense downtown area, resulting in the nation's tenth largest central business district.

A thriving arts scene also enlivens the Mile High City. Denver Art Museum is undoubtedly one of the city's crown jewels, especially following an expansion in 2006 led by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Today, Libeskind's futuristic, angular addition reaches across 13th Avenue to the original museum building, a castle-like 1960s creation designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti. The dialogue between the stalwart older building and its showy, steely sibling is indicative of Denver's engaging mix of well-established, traditional galleries and hip, cutting-edge art spaces. First Friday Art Walks, along a six-block stretch of Santa Fe, are a superb way to see a cross-section of galleries, where you'll find everything from accomplished watercolors showcasing the Front Range to sophisticated contemporary sculpture and photography. LoDo (Lower Downtown) is another art-rich area, rife with galleries and home to the new location of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The city also gets behind its top-notch sports teams, notably, the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Avalanche. Football fans flock to INVESCO Field at Mile High every fall, where the beloved Broncos enjoy a phenomenal home field advantage thanks to living and practicing at high altitude. The legendary tenure of quarterback John Elway, and the back-to-back Super Bowl wins that concluded his career, are still fresh in Denver's memory, and every season brings new hope for a repeat performance. A short journey away at the Pepsi Center, the Avalanche also bear Denver's hopes on their shoulders. The team has won the coveted Stanley Cup twice since the franchise moved to Denver in 1995, bringing the city's enthusiasm for the sport to fever pitch. Other major franchises in Denver include the MLB's Colorado Rockies, who routinely hit it out of the park at Coors Field, and the NBA's Denver Nuggets.

As befits a city so diverse in its cultural makeup, Denver's dining scene is a mélange of flavors, ingredients, and influences from around the world. The city's population is 30% Hispanic, and happily, many of Denver's finest restaurants boast dressed-up Mexican and Latin American fare. Try Tamayo, a hip eatery in Larimer Square that serves upscale south-of-the-border eats, along with superb views of the Front Range. If you're in the market for something more casual, an easygoing taqueria is never too far away. The city's history as a livestock center still has some currency, as evidenced by the multitude of great steakhouses and New American restaurants to be found here. Sure bets like Sullivan's and Elway's are always a great way to impress clients or simply enjoy a fantastic meal yourself.

Although its gold mining days are distant memories, Denver retains plenty of old-fashioned charm amid its modern touches. Within city limits, brick houses from the early and mid-20th century line the grid of numbered streets. These structures — quaint, individual, and distinct — provide a welcome complement to the bustling downtown area just a few blocks away. Denver is rife with such instances of old and new peacefully co-existing, an attribute of the city that fascinates residents and attracts visitors, both eager to explore the city's proud past and promising present.