If you find yourself in the Denver metro area for a vacation or conference, here are some of our favorite spots to explore around the city. While not everything is within walking distance, getting around is easy with a quick Lyft or Uber ride.
Catch a Rockies Game at Coors Field
We love watching America’s pastime. My husband is a huge Phillies fan, and I’m a lifelong Pirates fan, so we thought it would be fun to experience a new ballpark and watch some other teams.
We had an absolute BLAST at Coors Field! If you arrive before first pitch, you can even take advantage of discounted Coors beers. One of the stadium’s coolest features is the row of purple seats marking exactly one mile above sea level.
The night we visited, the Rockies were taking on the Atlanta Braves, and the atmosphere was electric. Watching the sun set behind the Rocky Mountains while enjoying a baseball game made for an unforgettable evening.
We shared a giant bucket of popcorn, and surprisingly, it ended up being one of the more affordable sporting events we’ve attended in recent years. We’d absolutely recommend adding a Rockies game to your Denver itinerary.
Denver Botanic Gardens
If you want a place to breathe and relax, and roam, this is it. The Denver Botanic Gardens have over 50 curated gardens to wander and explore. Not only do they have beauty in nature, they have some art installations, cafes, and a really nice gift shop. Also, if you love a good photo opportunity, they have plenty of them. I found this the perfect spot to escape the city hustle and bustle without actually leaving the city!
Denver Zoo
We are not people who go to many zoos, but our flight out of Denver wasn’t until late in the evening, so we thought we’d spend the day at the zoo. We are so grateful we did! We got to see them feeding an elephant, sea otters playing, getting up close to capybaras and kangaroos, and even animals native to Colorado. They also had really neat art installations all around the zoo to enjoy, too.
The Denver Zoo is really fantastic, and you could tell that everyone who worked there had the animals’ welfare as a top priority. Conservation is clearly a big part of their mission, and it shows.
Denver Museum of Science and Nature
While Justin attended the conference, I had an afternoon to myself. It was a rainy afternoon, so I headed to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. I truly enjoyed their space exhibit, and I paid to see the planetarium show, which was interesting. They also had a really cool interactive human body exhibit.
What was really my favorite part of this museum was the exhibit hall with their dinosaur bones. They had a long row of glass windows where you could watch paleontologists at work with fossils and dinosaur bones! I thought it was so neat to see the bones and then see the efforts that go into getting them museum-ready, along with the research that is done by the scientists.
Larimer Square
Larimer Square is one of Denver’s most iconic downtown destinations. This historic block is lined with local shops, restaurants, and bars, making it a great place to grab dinner, enjoy a drink, or simply stroll around.
It’s also one of the city’s best photo spots. During our visit, the Colorado Avalanche were in the NHL playoffs, and Avalanche jerseys were strung overhead like festive banners, adding even more character to the square.
Have you been to downtown Denver? I’d love to hear your favorite places to visit in the city!
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