Ah, Denver. The capital city of Colorful Colorado. If you are a student or a tourist and are heading to the area, here are 5 great Denver destinations you won’t want to miss.
Located in the capitol hill area, this Denver destination was once the home of the philanthropist, activist, socialite, and Titanic survivor Margaret “Molly” Tobin Brown. While best known for surviving the legendarily ill-fated voyage of the RMS Titanic, Molly Brown was also one of the most prolific activists in the early days of the Women’s suffrage movement. Heck, she ran for state senate before women were even allowed to vote. Her actions during and after the Titanic sank are her most well-known exploits, but barely scratch the surface Margaret Brown’s incredible life story. If any of this interests you, the Molly Brown House Museum offers incredible insight into how this Colorado icon lived, and is a great way to engage with history. They offer tours of the restored 1800s era building, and the volunteer staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. If you are a history buff interested in learning more about the early days of Colorado, the real story of the Titanic, or just want to stroll through a late 1800s mansion, this is a great place to check out.
Our next Denver destination is one that’s a little hard to miss, The Denver Art Museum. Located in the civic center district, across the street from the Public Library, everything about the museum complex demands attention. The first incredible thing about the museum is its general design. The older of its two buildings, the Martin looks like a modern, brutalist rendition of a Medieval fortress, while the newer Hamilton building is an angular, titanium-plated modern art piece unto itself. However, the main draw of an art museum is always the exhibits and collection, and the Denver Art Museum does not disappoint. The Denver Art Museum hosts many rotating exhibitions of art, and I have seen some truly amazing ones. At The time of this writing, their current exhibits include a collection of Japanese Women’s art, an exhibit of indigenous Alaskan art and artifacts, and a suite of Latin American modern art. The Denver Art Museum’s collection is also truly staggering, with tens of thousands of individual objects to their name. If you enjoy art this place is a must-visit, and a great way to spend an afternoon in general.
Our third Denver destination is one of the longest-lasting and most beloved staples of Denver’s history and culture; Elitch Gardens amusement park. I remember writing a college paper focusing on this venerable amusement park, and how it was the first zoo and first amusement park in the city. I also remember spending several birthdays enjoying the many rides and attractions available at the park. Elitch Gardens is a 65-acre amusement park with 6 roller coasters, 2 water rides, and a grand total of 40 rides. These range from wooden coasters like the Twister II to whiplash-inducing steel coasters like the Mind Eraser. The amusement park is a beloved cornerstone of Denver entertainment, and is quite literally within walking distance of Auraria Campus, Union Station, and by extension most of downtown Denver. I have many fond memories of the place, and believe that your experience will be as amazing as mine was. Another reason it’s on this list is that I’m fairly certain not putting it on here would be some sort of heresy. The park’s slogan is literally “Not to see Elitch’s is not to see Denver” and I’m inclined to agree. So visit it, and have some fun this summer.
Denver destination number four is one of the main shopping and dining hubs of the Denver Area. If you want the general Denver experience, Sixteenth Street is that experience. This Mile-long pedestrian promenade has a massive variety of stores, restaurants, and other attractions. It’s also within walking distance of many other Denver landmarks, including the capitol building, Art Museum, Auraria Campus, Elitch Gardens, The Denver Performing Arts Center, Coors Field, and Union Station. As of the time of writing, the mall is undergoing some renovations, but they should be complete relatively soon. Some of the stand-out places in and around 16th Street include a Lucky Strike Bowling Alley, A Hard Rock Cafe, several breweries and gastropubs, and so much more. Another great aspect of the mall is the fact that local art fairs will occasionally pop up along the promenade, giving you a chance to support local artisans and experience the culture of Denver up-close. There’s so much to see and do in this one mall that I couldn’t possibly list it all here. It’s the beating heart of Downtown, and a great place to get acquainted with the city.
The last of our Denver destinations is a much more relaxed one. Located in the Capitol Hill area of the city, the Denver Botanic Gardens are a great place to go if you’re a lover of art, plants, or both. The gardens frequently host art exhibitions among the numerous plants or at a small gallery, and the memories of the time the hosted some of Dale Chihuly’s work will stick with me for years. Summer is the best time to visit the botanic gardens, as many of the plants will be at their most vibrant during this time. Some of the highlights of the Denver Botanic Gardens include their large collection of arid/dry gardens, an extensive bonsai pavilion, a Japanese garden, two water gardens, and a large greenhouse. I’m barely scratching the surface of everything there is to see at this 23-acre attraction, and I don’t know if I can properly do it justice. The garden also has several restaurants, including one that serves stone-baked pizza, so you won’t go hungry or find the food lacking for quality. Overall the most I can say is just go there and experience it for yourself. If you need a relaxing change of pace from the high energy and stress of the concrete jungle, The Denver Botanic Gardens are a great choice.
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