Denver, the capital of Colorado, is famously known as The Mile High City because it sits one mile (5,280 feet/1,609 kilometers) above sea level. As a metropolis at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it’s filled with things to put on your Denver bucket list, having a perfect blend of urban and nature.
Here you can enjoy a wide range of outdoor sports and activities, a vibrant arts and music scene, and endless sunny skies thanks to its yearly average of 300 days of sunshine! So if you’re planning a trip to this cosmopolitan city, add these ten activities and attractions to your Denver bucket list.
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Attend An Event At The Red Rocks Amphitheater
The Red Rocks Amphitheater is a historic open-air concert venue built into a natural red rock structure. It’s located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Denver in a magical setting surrounded by warm red sandstone and rolling green hills.
The red rocks here are thought to be between 290 and 296 million years old, giving the arena a deeply spiritual ambiance. In addition, Red Rocks is adored for its near-perfect acoustics because of the two giant monoliths surrounding the 10,000-person seating area.
The venue puts on concerts and events every day from May to November, including film screenings and an epic yoga event known as “Yoga on the rocks” on select Saturday mornings. So if you’re visiting during the summer, Red Rocks Amphitheater should be at the top of your Denver bucket list.
Shop, Dine Or Stay At The Iconic Union Station
The 100-year-old historic landmark Union Station is a renovated train station and one of Denver’s most remarkable attractions.
You will find an eclectic array of restaurants, bars, and shops with historic fixtures like 65-foot (20 meters) ceilings, soaring windows, and stunning chandeliers in this unique space.
Dine at The Copper Lounge that overlooks the Great Hall, or sip a Colorado-crafted draught beer at The Terminal Bar. Then, if you’re looking for a unique and quirky place to stay, check out The Crawford Hotel above Union Station.
Here you can stay in Pullman-style suites that replicate 19th-century sleeper cars.
Union Station is located in the center of LoDo, Denver’s most bustling downtown neighborhood. A block away from Union Station is the district’s second famous attraction, the mile-long 16th Street Mall.
Check Out Larimer Square
In LoDo, just behind 16th Street Mall, is the Historic Larimer Square, built-in 1858. It is one of the city’s oldest areas, yet today it is Denver’s most happening shopping and dining district, full of life both during the day and at night.
In the summer, you can dine alfresco at one of the top-rated restaurants and then check out one of the many nightclubs. There is also an excellent comedy club, Denver Comedy Works, and a lavish champagne bar, Corridor 44.
During the day, you can browse the variety of boutique and indie stores that were once theaters and saloons. You’ll also find spas and massage parlors housed in the ancient buildings.
Visit Denver Botanical Gardens
Denver Botanical Gardens in Cheesman Park is a 23-acre park with a conservatory and various theme gardens, ranging from alpine to aquatic to tropical. The center also has seven art collections and regularly runs exhibitions.
There is also an intriguing sunken theater that puts on summer concerts, known as “Music at The Gardens.” Aside from the main concert series, the “Evening al Fresco” events showcase local music talent.
If that’s not enough, check out the wellness and craft events and astronomy nights at the conservatory.
Marvel At Denver’s Quirky Art Exhibitions
Being an art and cultural hub, you’ll find plenty of galleries and museums in Denver, such as the famous Denver art museum. However, the newly opened Meow Wolf Denver’s Convergence Station is undoubtedly the most unique art exhibition you’ll ever see.
Convergence Station is a four-story gallery full of immersive psychedelic, mind-bending art. It features over 70 installations created by 110 collaborating artists.
However, as you journey through the exhibition, you might notice the underlying rich narrative and surreal, science-fictional theme.
Walking through this exhibition does feel a bit like entering another world. Still, it is guaranteed to spark your imagination and help you tap into your own creative potential.
Go Zip Lining In The Rocky Mountains
Aside from the wonderful offerings in the city center, the nearby Rocky Mountains offer some fun and exhilarating activities such as zip-lining. Denver Adventures runs Colorado’s longest and fastest zip lines, ranging from 850 feet (259 meters) to over 1,900 feet (579 meters) long.
On these adrenaline-filled tours, you will soar through pine forests and over mountain meadows 250 feet (76 meters) above the ground at 60 miles per hour.
There are six different zip-line locations you can choose from, with the closest course to Denver just a 30-minute drive. You can ride all six trails, totaling 6,000 feet (2,000 meters) in length, allowing you to enjoy expansive views over the Rocky Mountains.
Furthermore, to make the experience more unique, you can opt for the sunset tour.
Hike St. Mary’s Glacier
St. Mary’s Glacier is a semi-permanent snowfield located in Arapaho National Forest, an hour’s drive from Denver. You can reach the glacier via a short hiking trail that ascends through lush forest and leads to a stunning panoramic viewpoint.
As there is snow above the lake here year-round, St. Mary’s Glacier offers a respite from the heat in the summer. If you’re traveling alone, you can join a group tour to hike the glacier.
Many hiking trips combine St. Mary’s Glacier with another popular Idaho Springs attraction, the natural geothermal cave pools. A visit to the healing hot springs is the perfect way to soothe your sore muscles after the mountain climb!
Drive Along The Mt. Evans Scenic Byway
The Mt. Evans Scenic Byway is a 49-mile (79 kilometers) National Forest Scenic Byway located 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Denver.
The breathtaking mountain road leads to a 14264-foot (4,347 meters) summit, gaining nearly 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) in elevation and traveling through five climate zones.
The drive takes around 45 minutes from start to finish, not including the stop at the summit. Unfortunately, because of the snow, the road is closed during the winter, reopening in June each summer.
Even though the road is safe to drive during the warmer months, the road is very narrow and twisty, so always drive slowly and cautiously.
Aside from the massive Mount Evans, it’s well worth stopping at the pretty alpine Echo Lake, located 10,600 feet (3,231 meters) above sea level. Here you can check out the hiking trails or enjoy a picnic lunch.
There are many other small lakes, hiking trails, a nature center, and an observatory along the byway, so you can easily make a day of it.
Go On A Haunted Walking Tour
Denver is home to many places believed to be haunted, and paranormal activity has been reported over the city throughout history. Therefore, joining a haunted walking tour is a must if you find spooky things intriguing.
On this type of guided tour, you’ll head out at night to visit some of the supposedly haunted buildings in the oldest part of the city, Capitol Hill.
You’ll visit the likes of the Capitol Building, Croke-Patterson mansion, and Sheedy Mansion, hearing many of the ghostly tales that people have claimed. You’ll also visit Cheesman Park, which used to be a graveyard and still has thousands of bodies buried underneath it.
Even if you’re skeptical of ghosts and ghouls, you’ll surely enjoy the historical aspect as you uncover some dark secrets of the city’s past. Many tours also include a stop at Molly Brown House, where the well-known Titanic survivor, Margaret Brown, lived.
The house was saved from demolition and turned into a museum dedicated to the Titanic survivor.
Go Brewery Hopping
Denver is famously known for its impressive number of craft breweries. The last count in 2020 recorded 148 in the city center and the surrounding areas! As a result, no Denver trip is complete without tasting some local brews.
One of the top breweries in Denver is Tivoli Brewing Company, which has over 150 years of experience. Great Divide is another popular establishment, and Mockery and Ratio are two smaller up-and-coming breweries worth a visit.
The famous beer giant Coors was also founded in Denver, where they still have the largest single-site brewery in the world. Coors brewery runs tours and tastings sessions every weekend for beer enthusiasts who want to learn more about their malting and brewing processes.
Furthermore, if you happen to be in town at the beginning of October, you can attend The Great American Beer Festival, hailed as the largest beer festival worldwide.
Final Thoughts On Denver Bucket List Experiences
Whether you’re into nature and the outdoors, art and music, or food and craft beer, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Denver. So make the most of your visit to Colorado’s capacity city with these top 10 Denver bucket list attractions.
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