Denver attractions

The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave commemorate the legendary cowboy at his resting place atop Lookout Mountain overlooking Golden, Colorado. William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was buried on the mountain in 1917 and the original museum at the site was opened a few years later. The museum’s Buffalo Bill artifacts and exhibits have been attracting Wild West enthusiasts ever since.

This downtown destination is more than just a state-of-the-art aquarium with over 500 species of fish and sea animals. It's also a dining and entertainment complex, as well as a place for aquatic adventures. Host to sea otters, a Stingray Reef touch tank, and even a dive tank where you can snorkel or scuba dive with the sharks, the Downtown Aquarium is one of Denver’s most popular family attractions.

In the heart of downtown Denver, Elitch Gardens is an amusement park featuring rides, activities, and entertainment for all ages. From exhilarating roller coasters and plunging towers to gentle kid-friendly rides and refreshing water slides, the park is a family favorite and a popular summer attraction for locals and visitors alike.

Catering to young kids (up to about age 8), the Children’s Museum of Denver is a fully interactive space designed to inspire future leaders and adventurers. Exhibits encourage children to learn about nature, science, the arts, and more through hands-on fun. There’s also a daily offering of workshops and special activities like storytime, crafts, and even cooking classes for kids.

Built in 1882, the 314-acre (127-hectare City Park is Denver’s largest urban green space. The park is home to two lakes, two playgrounds, picnic sites, sports facilities, and several historical monuments, as well as major attractions, like the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

The Denver Botanic Gardens fill more than 24 acres (10 hectares) with a diverse collection of plants from across the world, offering a natural haven in the middle of the Mile High City. The dynamic grounds showcase drought-resistant gardening techniques suited to the local climate as well internationally inspired gardens such as Japanese gardens and a tropical conservatory.

Set in a historic fire station in downtown Denver, the Denver Firefighters Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day lives of firefighters. Visitors will learn about the training, work, and history of Denver’s courageous firefighters through hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. Adults and children alike are drawn to the museum’s large collection of vintage fire trucks.

Set high in the Rocky Mountains, Winter Park Resort’s 3,000 acres (1214 hectares) have a remote feeling despite being one of the closest ski resorts to downtown Denver. The resort’s typical 300 inches (762 centimeters) of snow and 300 days of sunshine each year make it one of the most popular skiing destinations in the US for beginners and experts alike.

A premier education center in America’s Southwest, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science boasts a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and a wide range of exhibits that showcase the biological and geological history of Earth and the universe. Exhibits range from ancient artifacts to interactive virtual-reality zones the whole can family can explore.

Thousands of visitors travel to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs each year, and the academy’s all-faiths Cadet Chapel is the most visited man-made attraction in Colorado. Among the best examples of modern academic architecture, the striking 150-foot-tall (46-meter-tall) chapel is designed with 17 spires created from aluminum, steel, and glass.

The Colorado Trail offers an outdoor experience ranging from breathtaking to “life-changing,” according to people who have hiked all or even just a portion of its 500 miles (805 kilometers). Ideal for hikers, runners, and bikers alike, it runs from outside Denver to Durango, carving through eight mountain ranges and seven national forests.

Set in the northern corner of Denver’s City Park, the Denver Zoo is the city’s most visited family-friendly attraction. This 80-acre (32-hectare) site is home to over 700 species, including some of the world’s rarest animals, like the Amur leopard, Siberian tiger, and black rhino. Most animals live within naturalistic habitats, an idea the zoo pioneered with its construction of Bear Mountain in 1906.

The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a narrow-gauge historic railroad that runs between Georgetown and Silver Plume, Colorado. One of the state’s first tourist attractions, the railroad takes passengers on a 4.5-mile (7-kilometer) ride through spectacular scenery in the rugged Rocky Mountains.

Embrace the spirit of the great Colorado outdoors in Grand Lake, home of the state’s largest natural lake, located at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. At an 8,300-foot (2,530-meter) elevation, enjoy brisk mountain air and year-round outdoor activities ranging from hiking and biking to fishing, golfing, and lake tours.

From the heart of Washington Park—surrounded by serene gardens, lakes, and lawns—it is hard to believe you are in the middle of Denver, Colorado. The 115-acre (60-hectare) park includes a replica of George Washington’s Mount Vernon garden, an extensive network of running trails, and a boathouse overlooking the lake.

With classic American foods served alongside some of rock and roll’s best music memorabilia, the Hard Rock Cafe Denver is part of the two-story Denver Pavilions shopping area downtown. Marked by the 20 foot neon electric guitar out front, it always draws a lively crowd and hosts a variety of music events on its stage.The Denver outpost of the Hard Rock Cafe creates the casual and fun experience you’d find in any of their restaurants. Their menu includes appetizers such as nachos, wings, and potato skins and tasty entrees that range from burgers and sandwiches to barbecue. Vegetarian options are also available.The cafe also has a large outdoor patio, two event rooms, a dozen large screen televisions, a full bar with premium cocktails, a fun atmosphere, store, and of course, great music playing.Memorabilia on display rotates but includes musical instruments and stage costumes played and worn by the greatest musicians in rock and roll.