“Denver is the gateway to the Rocky Mountain West, where visitors can experience urban adventures year-round. Three hundred days of sunshine and bright, blue skies inspire people of all ages to get out and explore.” — Jayne Buck, VISIT DENVER’s vice president of tourism
Going walkabout
“Denver is a very walkable city, and the best way to see it is by foot,” says Jayne Buck, vice president of tourism for VISIT DENVER. “Walking tours are a great way to learn about the history, the architecture and the people of Denver from passionate and knowledgeable guides.”
In addition to covering topics such as the city’s ubiquitous craft beer culture, its rugged frontier history and its earliest residents, walking tours showcase some of Denver’s colorful neighborhoods.
Aspire Tours provides a good introduction to the Colorado capital via its Denver City Overview Tour. Travelers learn the history of Denver and its transformation from a Wild West outpost and boom town into a modern, cultural mecca.
Denver Microbrew Tours offers guided walks in the RiNo (River North) and LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhoods. During the tours, participants visit top microbreweries, learn about beer history and taste 10-plus local brews.
The city’s founding neighborhood is the focus of the Larimer Square Walking Tour. Guides leading the 90-minute walk detail the area’s storied history, which includes its beginning as a bustling city center, its skid row days and its current status as a thriving dining and entertainment district.
The main attraction(s)
Culture lovers will find a lot to their liking in the Golden Triangle area near the state capitol.
“The museums in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood are easy to walk to from downtown hotels,” says Buck. “The History Colorado Center provides an overview of the state’s past, present and future. Across the street, the Denver Art Museum is home to impressive collections of American Indian and Western art.”
At the History Colorado Center, which is an NTA member, groups can get a feel for many aspects of life in the Rocky Mountain West. In addition to seeing history-focused exhibits, visitors can enjoy interactive components such as a ski-jump simulator, a virtual ride in a real Ford Model T and a simulated dynamite explosion in a circa-1880’s mine.
Since its founding in 1893, the Denver Art Museum has become one of America’s most significant art institutes west of the Mississippi River. It is home to a number of renowned collections that highlight local and regional works, as well as European, Asian and African art. The sleek architecture of the Daniel Libeskind-designed Frederic C. Hamilton Building is itself a work of art.
Two other attractions Buck recommends, the Byers-Evans House Museum and the Molly Brown House, are located within four blocks of History Colorado. The story of Molly Brown, a noted 20th-century activist and Denver philanthropist, is shared at her namesake residence/museum. At Byers-Evans, visitors can learn about the lives of two of city’s prominent families in the early 1900s.
A natural trio
The downtown area also is home to the following three group-friendly, nature-based attractions:
Denver Botanic Gardens
One of the top five botanic gardens in the U.S., Denver Botanic Gardens is an oasis in the city. Groups can explore the different styles of gardens and enjoy year-round special events such as the Lavender Festival, the Pumpkin Festival, the winter market and the summer concert series.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science
For more than 100 years, the attraction has showcased the fascinating world of science. Visitors can learn more about the cosmos, view precious minerals and gems, see massive dinosaur skeletons, check out planetarium and IMAX shows, take part in educational sessions and more.
The Denver Zoo
The zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 species, including everything from Asian elephants and African lions to Komodo dragons and lowland gorillas. Interactive animal encounters, zookeeper sessions, teen volunteer programs and student overnight stays are popular.
Off to market we go
Buck says another tasty way to connect with her city and its foodie culture is to visit local markets such as Avanti F and B, Denver Central Market and The Source.
“Denver’s dining and craft beverage scene is hot. Our new marketplaces showcase the creativity and passion of local restaurateurs, brewers, bakers and more. They are a one-stop shop for visitors to taste local flavors.”
Situated in the Highlands neighborhood, Avanti F and B is modern food hall that draws inspiration from both Old World markets and food trucks. Its seven restaurants are housed in repurposed shipping containers, and they provide a diverse set of dining experiences based on creative and affordable cuisine.
Denver Central Market brings together an eclectic blend of 11 restaurants. During a visit to this RiNo Arts District hot spot, patrons can enjoy a cocktail from Curio Bar and choose from a wide array of options, such as meals at Silva’s Fish and the Local Butcher as well as treats from Izzio Bakery and Temper Chocolate.
Another RiNo staple and top gathering place for the culinarily curious is The Source. Located in an iconic 1880s ironworks building, it is a European-style artisan food market that includes everything from a butcher and a produce vendor to a cheese shop and a taqueria.
Worth a road trip
It’s hard to imagine visiting Denver and not experiencing the great outdoors. Two nearby destinations that offer prime back-to-nature exploration are Colorado Springs and Rocky Mountain National Park.
With Pikes Peak as its calling-card, Colorado Springs blends big-city amenities with the laid-back feel of a quaint mountain town. A must-dos in the area include checking out Garden of the Gods—first stop is the state-of-the-art visitors center. Contact Floy Kennedy of the Colorado Springs CVB to learn more.
Located 90 minutes northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park protects thousands of species of flora and fauna that can be found in its subalpine and alpine ecosystems. A record 4.5 million visitors enjoyed ranger-led programs, guided tours, hiking, wildlife and night-sky viewing and more at the park last year.
For more information, reach out to Jenna VanOort, tourism manager for VISIT DENVER, or go to visitdenver.com.
Top photo by Scott Dressel-Martin
