Sights

The fact that Denver [1] has the 10th-largest downtown in the country belies the city’s quaint historic charms but also highlights its world-class modern cultural offerings and abundant urban green spaces.

The city boasts over 800 miles of off-street biking, hiking, and jogging trails, which link the vibrant downtown to charming old neighborhoods buzzing with new energy. One of Denver’s 200 parks, City Park [2], has stunning views of the city’s skyline and the Rocky Mountains, and is the home of the Denver Zoo [3] and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science [4].

Denver’s location 5,280 feet above sea level has become an attraction in itself, with many spots throughout the city physically marking a mile-high spot. Whether you’re ambling through the Denver Botanic Gardens [5] or just walking up and over the Millennium Bridge [6], it’s a good idea to drink more water to lessen the effects of altitude sickness. Being one mile closer to the sun—especially in a city that gets over 300 days of sunshine annually—also means you should slather on the sunscreen before going out to see the sights.

Touring the sights in Denver [1] might mean riding a bicycle past the whitewater rapids on the South Platte River in Confluence Park [7] or meandering past the bronzed statues of Civic Center Park [8] on the way to the Denver Art Museum [9]’s striking new addition. As wonderful as it is to sightsee in the fresh air, the city’s downtown also offers a new light rail train that quickly takes visitors from one sight to another, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art|Denver [10] or the Black American West Museum [11].

No matter how you get from Point A to Point B, it’s always an adventure to explore Denver, learning about the city’s rich past or discovering its latest additions.

Denver’s Best Sights [12]

• Best Public Art: Big Blue Bear [13]
• Best History Lesson: Black American West Museum [11]
• Best Time Spent with Money: United States Mint at Denver [14]
• Best Museum: Denver Art Museum [9]
• Best Park: Commons Park [15]
• Best Rooftop: Museum of Contemporary Art|Denver [10]
• Best Use of Local Resources: Colorado State Capitol Building [16]
• Best City Escape: Denver Botanic Gardens [5]
• Best City Vista: Denver Museum of Nature and Science [4]
• Best Wildlife Viewing: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge [17]