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Denver, Colorado
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Things to do in Denver

By Sarah

Museums and culture

  • Denver Art Museum

    General admission covers three buildings, including the Hamilton by Daniel Libeskind and the Martin by Gio Ponti. The Martin holds the Indigenous Arts of North America galleries, with a collection of more than 18,000 objects, and Western American art on Level 7. Visitors 18 and under get in free.

    Best for:
    A full museum day
    When:
    Open all year except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until 8 p.m. Tuesdays. SCFD Free Days are November 7 and December 8, 2026.
    Where:
    100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Clyfford Still Museum

    A single-artist museum, opened in 2011 and designed by Brad Cloepfil and Allied Works. Still's will left his estate to a city willing to give the work permanent quarters of its own. The museum puts its holdings at 93 percent of his output. Visitors 17 and under get in free, and the museum asks visitors to buy online.

    Best for:
    A focused afternoon with abstract painting
    When:
    Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
    Where:
    1250 Bannock Street, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    A natural history and science museum with Gates Planetarium shows. A free night is scheduled for November 7, 2026, 5 to 10 p.m.

    Best for:
    Families, and rainy afternoons
    When:
    Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., most Fridays until 9 p.m. Closed December 25 and August 26.
    Where:
    2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Molly Brown House Museum

    A house museum run by the nonprofit Historic Denver. Book through the museum site. Last entry is one hour before closing.

    Best for:
    History fans on a short visit
    When:
    Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays until 7 p.m.
    Where:
    1340 Pennsylvania Street, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Denver Center for the Performing Arts

    Eight theatres in the Denver Performing Arts Complex host Broadway tours and locally produced Theatre Company shows. An on-site garage has entrances on Arapahoe and 13th, and the center warns it fills fast when shows overlap.

    Best for:
    An evening at the theater
    When:
    Schedule varies by show.
    Where:
    Denver Performing Arts Complex, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • RiNo Art District

    The district site lists murals and publishes First Friday itineraries, when venues host openings, sales and performances.

    Best for:
    Walkers who like street art and galleries
    When:
    The next listed First Friday is November 6, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m. Check the site for other dates.
    Where:
    River North, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Parks and outdoors

  • Denver Botanic Gardens York Street

    Twenty-four acres, with the Shofu-en Japanese Garden, the Rock Alpine Garden and the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. Entry is by timed ticket and tickets are not sold on site. Free Days require registration, and concerts are ticketed separately.

    Best for:
    Garden lovers, with the conservatory as the winter pick
    When:
    Hours change by season. In 2026: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through November 18, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. November 19 through December 31. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
    Where:
    1007 York Street, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

    The site also uses the name Denver Zoo. Non-members need a timed ticket bought online, and general tickets go on sale 10 days ahead. Habitats include Primate Panorama, Emerald Forest and Tropical Discovery.

    Best for:
    Families
    When:
    Daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Zoo Lights runs on select winter nights, so check the zoo for dates.
    Where:
    2300 Steele St., Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

    A park and concert venue owned by the City and County of Denver. Admission and parking are free. The Trading Post Trail is a rough 1.4-mile walk through the rock formations and is for hikers only. Rock climbing is prohibited, and group workouts have size limits. On show days the amphitheatre closes around 2 p.m., and the closing time is on a recording at 720-865-2494.

    Best for:
    Morning hikes and a show, separately
    When:
    Park and trails open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Check the event calendar for concert dates.
    Where:
    18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Cherry Creek Trail

    A paved trail that starts at Confluence Park and follows Cherry Creek southeast past Cherry Creek State Park toward Franktown, 40 miles by Visit Denver's count. It meets the South Platte River Trail at Confluence Park.

    Best for:
    Bike rides of any length from downtown
    Where:
    Confluence Park, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Mount Falcon Park

    A Jeffco Open Space park with trailheads in Morrison and Indian Hills. The Castle Trail from the east gains about 2,000 feet and is a steep climb. From the West Trailhead, the ruins of John Brisben Walker's castle are about 0.4 miles along, and the county warns of grades of 12 percent or more with little shade on both routes.

    Best for:
    Hikers after a real climb, or a short history walk from the West Trailhead
    Where:
    3852 Vine Street, Morrison (Morrison Trailhead)
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Roxborough State Park

    A state park with 15 miles of trails, including the 2.5-mile Fountain Valley loop. A daily pass is required for each vehicle or visitor on foot. Colorado Parks and Wildlife's pages conflict on whether dogs are allowed, so check before bringing one. Groups of 10 or more need approval first.

    Best for:
    Red rock hikes close to the city
    When:
    Daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Office closed Mondays.
    Where:
    4751 East Roxborough Drive, Roxborough
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Music and games

  • Ogden Theatre

    An AEG Presents music venue on East Colfax. Check the calendar and box office on the theatre site.

    Best for:
    Touring bands
    Where:
    935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Bluebird Theater

    An AEG Presents music venue farther east on Colfax from the Ogden. Check the calendar and box office on the theater site.

    Best for:
    Touring bands
    Where:
    3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Hi-Dive

    A music venue on South Broadway. Its site lists upcoming shows and tickets.

    Best for:
    Local and touring underground bands
    Where:
    7 South Broadway, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Coors Field

    Home of the Colorado Rockies. The Rooftop, in the upper right field deck, is open to all ticketed guests, subject to private parties and capacity, from two hours before first pitch. Public tours leave from Gate D at 20th and Blake, take 70 to 80 minutes and cover about a mile, and advance purchase is recommended.

    Best for:
    Baseball, or a tour on a day off
    When:
    The Rooftop is closed on non-game days. Tours run Monday through Saturday.
    Where:
    2001 Blake Street, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Festivals

  • National Western Stock Show

    The 2027 show runs 16 days. The show site lists rodeos and mutton bustin.

    Best for:
    Rodeo fans and families
    When:
    January 9 to 24, 2027.
    Where:
    Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Cherry Creek Arts Festival

    An admission-free art festival with about 250 juried artists, run by the nonprofit CherryArts. Organizers ask visitors to leave pets at home; service dogs are allowed.

    Best for:
    Art buyers and browsers
    When:
    July 2 to 4, 2027. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Where:
    2nd Avenue from Clayton to Adams, Cherry Creek North, Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Parade of Lights

    A holiday parade produced by the Downtown Denver Partnership. It is free to watch, with grandstand and VIP tickets for sale.

    Best for:
    Families in December
    When:
    Saturday, December 5, 2026.
    Where:
    Downtown Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Day trips

  • Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area

    The road is closed to vehicles for the rest of 2026. When open, a timed ticket from Recreation.gov is required to drive in, and America the Beautiful and other federal passes are not accepted. The road can close any day, even in summer, for winter-like conditions. Hikers and cyclists entering from below the welcome station are free. Denver7 calls it the highest paved road in North America.

    Best for:
    High alpine views, in season, with a jacket
    When:
    Closed for the rest of 2026. Check Recreation.gov for 2027.
    Where:
    Mount Blue Sky Road (State Highway 5), Clear Creek County
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Rocky Mountain National Park

    About 70 miles northwest of Denver. An entrance pass is required at all hours. In 2026, summer entry between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. needed a timed reservation, and the Bear Lake Road corridor needed its own from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations came only through Recreation.gov, never at the gate. The NPS page checked had no 2027 rules posted.

    Best for:
    Alpine scenery, with reservations made well ahead
    When:
    2026 timed entry ran May 22 to October 12, and to October 18 on Bear Lake Road. Check NPS for 2027.
    Where:
    Northwest of Denver
    More info

    Checked November 2026

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