Denver’s Best Arts & Leisure

Best Art Collection [1]: The Dikeou Collection [1] shows off the private international pop art collection of artist Devon Dikeou.

Best Art Studio Turned Museum [2]: Vance Kirkland’s artwork and decorative arts collection are on display at one of Denver’s cultural treasures, the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art [2].

Best Art Gallery [3]: The Camera Obscura Gallery [3] is a good place to spend hours looking at vintage photography by masters such as Edward S. Curtis and contemporary work by Sebastiao Salgado.

Best Theater [4]: The Ellie Caulkins Opera House [4] is an elegant venue for Opera Colorado, the Colorado Ballet, and touring musicals.

Best Outdoor Concert Venue [5]: Red Rocks Amphitheatre [5] is famous for its acoustics as well as the surrounding scenery, but it can be visited and is worth seeing even when there is not a performance.

Best Powwow [6]: It may be a small event, but to be outdoors and listening to the ancient sounds of tribal drums and chants at the Tesoro Foundation’s Indian Market and Powwow [6] is powerful.

Best Arts Festival [7]: The streets of Cherry Creek North shopping district are blocked off and filled with booths for artists to sell their wares during the Fourth of July weekend at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival [7].

Best Cowboy Parade [8]: Every January during the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo [8], cowboys herd longhorn cattle through downtown streets to lead the truly Western parade.

Most Spectacular Scenery [9]: The hikes around Roxborough State Park [9] are easy to moderate, and the red rock scenery is breathtaking. There are also overlooks with benches for taking it all in.

Best Sledding [10]: The hill at Commons Park [10] has the perfect contours for sledding when the snow sticks around long enough. It’s free and near light rail stops so you don’t have to drive in the snow to get there.