Fun Things to Do in Denver, Colorado

For most people, taking a vacation with family, a group of friends, or even by yourself is much needed to unwind from work life. On top of that, whether you bet online, play video games, or binge the latest shows, people also need a break from their day-to-day routine. 

The perfect way to take a break is by going on a trip somewhere and Denver, Colorado is one of the perfect places to do that. From city life to mountain life, Denver offers it all for any type of person. 

Depending on the time of year, Denver could either be 90 degrees and sunny or 30 degrees and snowing. Even in winter, there are days that it is cold and snowy and the next day might be in the 50s with snow melting away. 

Beyond weather, Denver has some great food options as well from Rocky Mountain Oysters to their famous green chilies that seem to be put into anything. Below is a list of the best things to do when taking a trip to Denver.

Go to a Sports Game

Denver has a team in each of the four major sports leagues with the Broncos (NFL), Nuggets (NBA), Rockies (MLB), and Avalanche (NHL). Along with those four, they also have additional sports teams with the Rapids (MLS) and Mammoth (NLL). Those teams attract many local fans as well as visiting fans due to the excitement around them and some of the players they have. For example, the Nuggets currently have the back-to-back MVP winner Nikola Jokic on their team who attracts NBA fans from all over. 

Outside of the teams, Denver has some of the nicest stadiums and fields to watch a game at including Coors Field, Ball Arena, and Empower Field, or Mile High Stadium as some refer to it as. If you are visiting in the spring or summer check out the Rockies and Rapids. If you visit in the fall or winter, check out the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, or Mammoth.

Take a Hike

Colorado is known for its Rocky Mountains and great nature scenery and Denver is not too far from some of it. Yes, you may need to drive an hour or two but it is worth the time to catch some great views. One of those places is obviously Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park which is roughly an hour and 30 minutes away from downtown Denver. At RMNP, you can check out the amazing hikes they have to offer with lake, mountain, and wildlife views. 

Next, you can head in the opposite direction, south, and check out the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. These rock formations don’t look real but they are as you can walk through the giant red rocks that have been around for thousands of years.

Another thing locals do is something called a 14er which is a hike that will get you to roughly 14,000 feet high. These are for more experienced hikers.

Tour a Local Mountain Town

Colorado obviously is known for its large mountains but along with those mountains comes the awesome mountain towns they have as well. Like hiking, some require a bit of driving but it is very worth the travel. Out west, there are towns like Idaho Springs and Georgetown that offer an old school, mining town feels as if it is one of the original gold mining areas from the 1800s.

Just beyond those two is Breckinridge, Vail, and Keystone which are all considered ski towns that also offer great food and shopping outside of skiing alone. A little closer to Denver is the town of Golden which is mostly famous for being home to Coors Brewery. 

Golden itself is a great mountain town and when you go, make sure to take the Coors tour as beer samples are offered throughout the behind-the-scenes tour of how the factory operates.

Just Missed The Cut

There are plenty of fun things to do while taking a trip to Denver which makes it so hard to list everything. Below is a short list of things that just missed the cut.

• Denver Botanic Gardens
• More Brewery Tours
• Denver Union Station
• Meow Wolf
• Church of Cannabis