Denver

Angelo's CDs & More

Eclectic record store offering thousands of new and used vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs.

Archery Games Denver

Play archery dodgeball with bows and foam-tipped arrows at this indoor arena.

$30

Azucar Bakery

Café, dessert restaurant and bakery. Sit-down area with LavAzza coffee, fruit smoothies, pastries, Inca Kola, tarts, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream.

10AM-7PM

Bardo

Great laid-back atmosphere, vintage couches in back, tables in front, booths in the middle. Serves locally-roasted coffee, pastries and teas. Good study spot, or just to meet with friends. Wifi-equipped.

Bennie Blanco's

Bennie Blanco's is a classic hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, and in this case the phrase is literal. There's no seating, but big, New York-style slices fresh from the oven can be had for as little as $3.00 a slice.

Black American West Museum & Heritage Center

Set in the home of Dr. Justina Ford, Colorado's first Black woman doctor, this museum is dedicated to the contributions of Black pioneers in the Old West. The 19th-century building was moved 12 blocks to become a museum.

Fri Sat 10AM-2PM·Adults $17, seniors $15, youth 6-17/college ID/military ID $12, children 5 and under free

Blue Bonnet

A noisy bar featuring southwest/Tex-Mex in Denver. There is patio seating and two separate dining rooms that are a bit quieter than the main bar. Consistently rated a "Best of" in various local polls.

Bluebird Theater

A beautiful old World War I-era silent movie palace on Colfax Avenue, now repurposed as a music hall where concerts in a variety of genres (primarily rock, but also blues, country, bluegrass and the like) are presented in an intimate setting.

Buckhorn Exchange

Denver's oldest restaurant, from 1893, played host to famous guest after famous guest, arguably starting with one President Teddy Roosevelt in 1905. Without a doubt, this is as touristy as it gets, but it is nonetheless absolutely worth a visit. Famous for its game meat, both prosaic and rare, the buffalo tenderloin is exceptional, but more adventurous palates can go after the rattlesnake dip, alligator tail, ostrich medallions, or even yak steak! (Call ahead to check ostrich and yak availability.) The place is saturated in Old West kitsch, aging wood, and animal heads, and Th-Sa nights Roz Brown stops by to croon old cowboy tunes accompanied by his autoharp.

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11AM-2PM; dinner: Mon-Thu 5:30PM-9PM, Fri Sat 5PM-10PM, Sun 5PM-9PM·$25-60

Center for Colorado Women's History

Byers-Evans House Museum

One of Denver's great historic homes, built in 1883 by Rocky Mountain News publisher Williams Byers and elegantly furnished with original turn of the (20th) century pieces. Tour the house or catch featured exhibitions in the gallery.

Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun noon-4PM (guided tours at 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM and 3:30PM)·Adult $7, senior (60+) $5, child (18 and under) free

Chamberlin Observatory

Built in 1890, this working observatory is a historic landmark and a pride of the University of Denver. Star Parties and other events are open to the public.

Charlie Brown's Bar & Grill

Charlie Brown's in another Beat-era hangout located at a hotel where Ginsburg and the gang used to stay. Has great happy-hours, a mostly local crowd, good food, and an agile piano player belting out tunes while you drink.

Cheesman Park

The Acropolis-inspired pavilion has a commanding view of the Denver skyline.

Cherry Cricket

Once featured on the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food, the Cherry Cricket is known for having a massive variety of toppings to put on your burger, including such oddities as melted peanut butter, fried eggs, and cream cheese.

Children's Museum of Denver

This educational museum takes a fun, hands-on approach to learning. Note: No adults are allowed in the Museum without a child, and no children without an adult.

9AM-4PM·$18.75 ages 2-59, $16.75 age 1 or over 60

City O City

You will find a changing handful of unusual brews on tap. Grab a blueberry muffin or the vegan buffalo wings (which are excellent - and you can eat them without having to worry about a bone!) and people watch.

City Park

Enjoy the Denver sunshine at this 330-acre (130 hectares) urban park east of downtown. Two lakes, numerous fields, playgrounds, and a golf course, as well as the Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science are all within its expansive bounds.

Clyfford Still Museum

Clyfford Still was in the first generation of US abstract expressionist artist of the early-mid 20th century. He pioneered the path which Rothko, Pollock, and others followed. But Still was not concerned with fame or sales, which is why you have heard of the others but not Still. And so he kept most of his works, and his will called for a city to create a museum to exhibit the whole collection, intact, which was a very Still move. Denver rose to the challenge, and the result is this museum: fascinating architecture with fascinating contents. The curators are interested not just in Still's work but in the questions it raises, such as how to preserve forever drawings which fade with light and paintings which darken with time.

Tue–Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon closed·$18, less if Colorado resident, senior, teacher, or student, under 18 years free

Colorado Avalanche

In 1995, the erstwhile Quebec Nordiques landed with a bang in Denver, winning the Stanley Cup in their first season in their new home city, following it up with another championship in 2001, and most recently winning it all in 2022. They've had their ups and downs since then, but they're always solid playoff contenders in the National Hockey League. Will this be the year they go for number four? Head to Ball Arena just outside of downtown and find out.

Colorado Ballet

Founded in 1951, this internationally acclaimed company presents classical and contemporary ballets.

September–April

Colorado Mammoth

They may have only won one Champions' Cup, in 2006, but the Mammoth are a perennial force to be reckoned within the National Lacrosse League. They play at Ball Arena, and tickets are easy to come by (and a relative steal, starting at $10 for single seats).

Colorado Rapids

A charter member of Major League Soccer, the Colorado Rapids are a consistent draw despite generally middling success on the field. The biggest games of the season see the Rapids face off against their hated rivals, Real Salt Lake.

Colorado Rockies

Denver's Major League Baseball team plays in Coors Field, one of the most beloved ballparks in the major leagues and the most hitter-friendly park as well, thanks to Denver's dry air and high altitude. Tickets range from the $4 "Rockpile" bleachers behind center field to $60 for a seat behind home plate. Behind-the-scenes tours of the ballpark are available.

Ballpark tours at noon and 2PM on Mon-Sat non-game days during the season and Mon Wed Fri Sat during the off-season·Tickets $4-60, Ballpark tours $9 adults, $7 seniors, $6 children

Colorado State Capitol

A gorgeous domed building at the southern edge of Downtown. Tours are available, though the big attraction for tourists is standing above the words "One Mile Above Sea Level" engraved into one of the steps out front. Free tours start at the visitor information desk every hour M-F 10AM-3PM.

Mon-Fri 7:30AM-5PM·Free

Colorado Symphony

The Colorado Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra established in 1989, as the successor to the Denver Symphony.

September–June

Comedy Works

Laugh it up with local comedians and big name acts. 21 and up.

$10-30 tickets

Confluence Park

Named for the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, Confluence Park is a summertime spot for many of Denver's residents. Cool off in the river, or bring a kayak or inner tube for the purpose built rapids near the REI store. The park is also accessible via the Cherry Creek or Platte bike trails.

Convergence Station

Meow Wolf

A labrynthine, immersive, surreal, confusing explosion of creativity in this five-floor installation by the Meow Wolf art team. "Convergence Station" is the official name for this location at Denver, but it is often referred to as "Meow Wolf". The narrative is that this is a station transporting you to other worlds. Your "tram" drops you off at an upper floor, and you percolate down to the ground floor and exit. There is a restaurant off the lobby, and a bar tucked away in one of the astral planes. General admission is for a specific date and time, but paying more buys flexibility. Be aware you will need to wait outside, in the weather, until that time arrives.

$39 for fixed entry times, $51 for flexible entry, children 4-12 years less, children under 4 free

D Bar Desserts

Dessert is the main course at d Bar, especially with celebrity chef Keegan Gerhard making the delectable desserts. The menu does includes savory items as well as Allegro Coffee to go with your sweets.

Dazbog

Formerly Diedrich's. Lovely tree lined street. Nice selection of pastries and light bites. Wifi/laptop friendly. Multiple locations around the city.