Best Places To Visit In Summer In Denver Near Me

4worldlovers:
TO-GO with curbside pick-up or delivery options are available. Order online for pick-up here or choose delivery.


Dive into our Shipwreck exhibit with 5 different species of sharks and hundreds of fish in our new shark cage! Learn More

4worldlovers: As a non-profit conservation organization, Denver Zoo is dedicated to providing authentic, loving homes for the amazing animals under our care—and their counterparts in the wild. Donate any amount today to join the passionate community of people who make this work possible!

4worldlovers: Dive deeper into art and join us for one of these upcoming classes, events, or programs.

Catch up with the latest news and stories from the Denver Art Museum blog.

Membership unlocks access to more than ever before! As a member you'll enjoy daily free general admission, discounts at the Shop and on ticketed exhibitions, guest passes to share with family and friends, a subscription to our bimonthly member magazine, and so much more.

Become a member today and know that your support helps your Denver Art Museum preserve and share our collection for all to enjoy.

The Martin Building is now home to a brand new dining experience, The Ponti. Open daily for lunch and for dinner on Tuesday evenings, The Ponti combines art with dining, presenting a locally-sourced and seasonally-inspired menu with high standards of sustainability.

Follow The Ponti's Instagram account (@thepontidenver) for information about giveaways, a sneak peek at the menu, and more.

4worldlovers: The theater includes a new lobby entrance with immersive finishes, an impressive new laser projector and sound system, new audio and visual accessibility features, enhanced programming and much more.

The Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science launches the second season of its award-winning podcast, Water Under Pressure, which investigates the true cost of Colorado’s water.


We are grateful for your support and want to ensure you are aware of what we ask of our staff, volunteers and guests.

Connect with the Museum virtually! Check out our Virtual Science Academy, Indigenous Film Series, classes for kids, adults and families, and much more.

4worldlovers:
Margaret Brown may be best known as a survivor of the Titanic, but she was so much more. Hear her incredible story as you tour her home with one of our knowledgeable guides. Learn about her family and the integral roles they played in her life, most especially that of husband J.J. Brown. Mother, wife, philanthropist, suffragist, actress–Margaret Brown’s story is so much bigger than anything you’ve seen in the movies.

Join us for a Girl Scout Cream Tea! Enjoy a special self-guided tour of the house followed by lite tea. Perfect for scouts looking to complete part of the “Playing the Past” badge. Scouts will receive a special Molly Brown House Museum patch.

Imagine it is 1:20 am on April 15, 1912. You are locked in the bowels of the ship with your fellow 3rd class passengers as the Titanic begins its descent into the ocean. Can you solve the puzzles to travel from deck to deck and get on a lifeboat before the ship becomes fully submerged?

Check out our 360 TourScape Virtual Tour that will take you through the home of the Unsinkable Margaret “Molly” Brown. You’ll be able to explore the Brown’s home room-by-room, and click on objects and images for the in depth story.

4worldlovers: Denver may be a world-class metropolis with all the familiar urban sights and sounds, but no matter where you find yourself in the city, you’re likely to be only a few steps away from a lush and relaxing green space.

The Mile High City boasts more than 5,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, which include 2,500 urban natural acres and over 300 acres of parks designated Rivers & Trails, plus an additional 14,000 acres of spectacular mountain parks in Clear Creek, Douglas, Grand and Jefferson County that are maintained by the City and County of Denver. Here’s a look at a few favorite parks in Denver.


This expansive, multifaceted park is Denver's version of New York City's Central Park. In City Park 's 330 lovely, landscaped acres, you'll find a public golf course , colorful flower gardens, ornate fountains, placid lakes and rolling green lawns perfect for picnics. City Park is home to some of Denver's most popular attractions, including the Denver Zoo , the Denver Museum of Nature & Science , the Martin Luther King Memorial and much more. From June through August, the park plays host to City Park Jazz, with free concerts each Sunday. It's also got unbeatable views of The Mile High City skyline and the Rocky Mountains beyond.

Adjacent to the 16th Street Mall, Skyline Park offers an easy getaway for the more than 120,000 people who spend their workday in downtown Denver. Located at 15th and Arapahoe streets, Skyline Park is always a fun place to spend a little time, especially during the summer, when visitors to the Skyline Beer Garden can enjoy brews on draft, street food, a family-friendly game area and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. And don't miss the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park every winter, offering free ice skating all season long.


Click on the image below to take a virtual tour of Civic Center Park via Google Street View.

Located in the heart of downtown Denver, Civic Center Park is always bursting with life, as tourists and locals take advantage of the beautiful landscaping and vibrant atmosphere of this unique urban park. Many events, such as Cinco de Mayo, Civic Center EATS (a food truck festival Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the summer months), the Capitol Hill People's Fair, Denver PrideFest, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and A Taste of Colorado are traditionally held in Civic Center Park. This spacious plaza, surrounded by monumental government and public buildings, is a stone's throw from a number of Mile High City attractions, including the Denver Art Museum , the Denver Public Library , the 16th Street Mall and the Colorado State Capitol Building .

Where Cherry Creek and the South Platte River meet and mingle, you'll find the unique and scenic Confluence Park. Watch kayakers brave the rapids on custom-designed chutes, sunbathe on the sandy banks and enjoy panoramic views of downtown Denver. The park is close to the Downtown Aquarium , the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus and Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park . Hop on the Denver Trolley and take a 30-minute scenic ride along the river, plus learn about the area's history. Love a party? Join thousands of revelers at the South Platte RiverFest each June for water sports and live music.

Just steps away from Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park and the South Platte River, the Centennial Flower Gardens are a must-see for anyone with interest in gardening. The gardens are patterned after the Gardens of Versailles, with paths and patterned flowerbeds showcasing native species along with other flowers that grow well in Colorado's arid climate. This is a great spot for a refreshing afternoon stroll.

Commons Park can be found on the banks of the South Platte River in a spot that just happens to be the city's birthplace. It's a pleasing mix of natural and urban influences: Close to 40 percent of the park is covered by native plants, a piece of reconstructed lush "sand prairie" reminiscent of what would have existed in the area originally. Meanwhile, the promenade along Little Raven Street is a tree-lined walkway dotted with many seating areas and entries to connect the park to downtown Denver.

Click on the image below to take a virtual tour of Washington Park via Google Street View.

4worldlovers: This walking tour will take you to some of the best spots in Downtown Denver, where the city’s past and present come together in utterly unique ways. Many of the sites and buildings are listed as official Denver landmarks or included in the National Register of Historic Places. Many also have markers and plaques noting their original intended purpose and construction dates.

Use the 16th Street Mall as your home base. Designed in 1982 by I.M. Pei, the 16th Street Mall is a mile-long pedestrian promenade lined with outdoor cafés, flower baskets and retail shops, making it the perfect starting point for an adventure-filled day. Free shuttles travel both directions the entire length of the mall from early morning to late at night. They stop at every intersection, making it easy to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. So, grab a cup of coffee and let the day begin!

This area comprises a 25-block area that just a decade ago wasn’t much more than abandoned warehouses and rail yards. Today, it has been restored and renovated to create LoDo (Lower Downtown), one of the liveliest areas in the city — not to mention one of the most historic.

Start your tour of the area at the newly renovated Denver Union Station . At its height, 70 trains a day passed through Denver. Not quite as many trains pass through Union Station these days, but the beautiful building (originally constructed in 1881) still attracts visitors with its Beaux-Arts-style design, expansive interior, stone clock tower and uber-popular shops, restaurants, bars and cocktail lounges. Cross Wynkoop Street and learn about the early history of the area from historic markers that can be found on buildings at 1801 Wynkoop St. (Littleton Creamery / Beatrice Foods Cold Storage Warehouse) and 1635 17th St. (Denver City Cable Railway Building).

Keep walking down Wynkoop towards Coors Field , the home of the Colorado Rockies , Denver's hometown Major League Baseball team, established in 1993. Constructed in the mid-90s, the ballpark has earned a reputation as one of the best in the country, combining state-of-the-art technology with a nostalgic ambiance. It was modeled after the Camden Yards Ballpark in Baltimore, and its red-brick construction matches the red-brick architecture of much of LoDo. Don’t miss the baseball art displays as you enter from Wynkoop.

Your next LoDo stop is the classic Oxford Hotel , the oldest still-standing hotel in Denver, constructed in 1891. You’ll find a historical marker on the outside that will give you the lowdown on this LoDo gem. Inside, take a look (and grab a cocktail) at the Cruise Room , an Art-Deco bar designed after a lounge on the Queen Mary cruise ship.

What's the best way to explore Denver? Neighborhood by neighborhood with expertise from local guides. Each area of The Mile High City has its own history and landmarks, so pick one of these 90-minute walking tours (each one covers about one mile at a leisurely pace) and dive in! Each group is capped at 10 people per tour guide. Historic Denver Walking Tours also has seasonal tours.

Lower Downtown is the oldest area of the city, so it’s a perfect place to start your explorations of Denver. Learn what it felt like to live in Denver at the turn of the 20th century and how the city’s early history was shaped by the mining industry.

The gorgeous mansions of Cap Hill are where Denver’s elite once lived. Architecture buffs: this is the tour for you!

This vibrant thoroughfare runs through the heart of Denver. It’s home to restaurants, shops, theaters and towering office buildings, but despite the modern luxuries, The Mile High City’s “Main Street” also has a unique history that will unfold as you stroll.

Enchanting Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest block. It was saved from demolition by citizens to create Denver’s first historic district. The highlight: this tour includes exclusive access to the Daniels & Fisher (Clock) Tower, which offers 360-degree views of the city.

Just across the street from the Oxford on Wazee is the famed Rockmount Ranch Wear . A Denver original, fashion pioneer Papa Jack Weil invented the Western snap-button shirt and opened shop back in 1946. Jack passed away at the grand old age of 107 in 2008, but not before he sold his shirts to presidents and rock stars like Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen. Stop by the flagship store, now run by Papa Jack's grandson, to browse the incredible selection of Western-style shirts, hats and accessories.

4worldlovers:
Find a City and County Denver park with our interactive map.


Find rules and policies for park and facility use, along with frequently asked questions.


Denver's trail system connects neighborhoods throughout the city. Many follow scenic waterways, offering a pleasant route for both cyclists and pedestrians.


Denver Parks and Recreation recently completed a Strategic Acquisition Plan which provides a framework for decision-making when completing and funding future parkland acquisitions. Learn about recent and current acquisition projects.


Learn more about the types of amenities that can be found in Denver parks such as pickleball courts, fountains, disc golf and more.


DPR's Dog Park page offers useful information regarding dog parks around the city, rules and regulations, maintenance and closures, as well as technical updates.


The mission of Denver Park Rangers is to maximize public safety, protect park resources and provide service to visitors.


Several bike parks are available for riders of all ages and skill levels.


DPR uses a multi-strategy approach to reduce damage while assessing environmental resiliency, cost, and most importantly, staff and public safety.

4worldlovers:
Blaine took our fairly large group on an informative walk around the greater downtown area, showed us many landmarks, and shared interesting tidbits about each one.


From the story about the bullet hole in the window of the Beyer-Evans house, to the tale of the blue bear's creation, Blaine kept our attention for the duration of the tour.


He also answered all the questions we could throw at him, with obvious depth of knowledge of this city.

Sherry took us on a GREAT tour of historic and modern Denver. She did it with humor and knowledge (and she's so darn CUTE!)

4worldlovers: Artifacts, stories, and art intermingle at the History Colorado Center to tell the tale of Colorado and the American West. The museum is designed for multi-generational audiences with interactive elements in the majority of the more than fifteen exhibits, that span four floors and capture the spirit of the Centennial State.

4worldlovers: Transport yourself to a different time and place. Our exhibits allow you to get up close and personal with historic aircraft, artifacts and memorabilia and explore the future of aviation and space through immersive events and realistic flight simulators.

Get the inside info on everything in our museum. Schedule a personalized tour that educates and entertains.

Experience the same full-length tour that is available on-site using Zoom video conference software.

Use our maps and suggested itineraries to explore the museum at your own pace.

4worldlovers: Reservations are no longer available; Museum entry is first-come, first-served. Hooray for more flexibility, and more FUN!

4worldlovers: The Forney Museum of Transportation is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 800 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 67 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more!


Our collection highlights include: Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug', Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, 1913-53 Indian Motocycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, Stutz Fire Engine, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece Matchbox Collection, and more!

The Forney Museum of Transportation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which exists to collect, preserve, and exhibit items of artistic, historical and technological interest relating to transportation for the purposes of education and personal enrichment.

No bags or purses will be allowed. This includes backpacks and purses, Lockers are available.

Flint is back! He is doing a 4 part series on his books about WWII.

Kicking off with ""Turbulence before take off"" The untold story of how Marlon Green defied an entrenched,

In an effort to improve equity in cycling and transportation, the Annual Bike Giveaway event gives bikes, helmets, locks and accessories to adults and children in need. In August 2021, our partners got together at the Valdez-Perry Branch Library to generate interest and share resources with the community on bike repair, bike paths, local bike libraries and more! Thanks to supporters and partners, we gave away a total of 83 bikes and fixed up 10 bikes for community members at the annual event. To keep this initiative going, the Forney is continuing to accept donations all year round.

We are looking for volunteers and sponsors to help grow this event to serve more Denver communities.

4worldlovers: An iconic and lively gathering place, Larimer Square is the beating heart and creative soul of Downtown Denver. Browse our directory of businesses below to learn more.