• Arts & Museums

• Arts to Zoo Cultural Connections
  An Internet portal for the remarkable variety of arts and cultural resources available in and around Denver, including museum exhibitions, events, performances, public gardens, film series and activities for kids. You can also search and view the event calendar for current information, and purchase tickets online, ahead of time. Supported by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.
• Denver Art Museum - The Denver Art Museum displays over 55,000 pieces of art making it the largest art museum between Kansas City and the West Coast.  Locally known as the DAM (Denver Art Museum) collections include paintings and sculptures by a wide variety of artists, incuding: Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, O'Keeffe, O'Keeffe, Warhol, Dine, Grooms, Samaras, Corot, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Russell, Rodin, di Suvero, and Remington.   The DAM also includes a Native American collection, which encompasses works from over 100 tribes across the U.S. and Canada. The only collection of Asian art in the Rocky Mountain region can also be found at the DAM.  Known nationally for its in-gallery interpretive activities, the Museum's Education Department also offers weekly programs for families and kids on Saturdays--when admission to the Museum is free for Colorado residents.  Architect Gio Ponti of Italy designed the Denver Art Museum's current striking building and a new building designed by internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind is scheduled to open in 2006.
• Botanic Gardens – With more than 32,000 different plants from all around the world, the Denver Botanic Gardens is recognized as one of the top 5 botanic gardens in the United States.  There are 23 acres of fragrance foliage, a 750 acre wildlife and native plant refuge (in Littleton), a high altitude and interpretive trail on Mount Evans and a 5 acre formal garden in downtown Denver.  The Denver Botanic Gardens hosts many events for all seasons including a Summer Concert Series where artists such as Jewel, Neville Brothers, Gypsy Kings, Suzanne Vega and Lucinda Williams perform live amid the gardens.  During the winter months Blossoms of Light features almost one million lights draped elegantly throughout the garden for visitors holiday enjoyment.  Additionally there is the Birdhaus Bash, Chile Festival, Pumpkin Festival and the Chatfield Music Festival and Corn Maze. 
• Museum of Nature & Science - The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education. Museum’s collections include more than 775,000 objects, curated in the departments of Anthropology, Earth Sciences, Space Sciences, and Zoology.  The IMAX theatre and Planetarium are also housed in the Museum of Science & History and offers educational, informative films for all ages.
• Denver Zoo – In 1896, a small, orphaned black bear named Billy Bryan was presented to the zoo by the mayor of Denver.  Today the zoo is home to 4,000 animals representing 750 species housed on 80 acres in the center of Denver’s City Park. With naturalistic habitats like Predator Ridge, Tropical Discovery, Primate Panorama and the Dragons of Komodo exhibit, the Denver Zoo is working to enhance the lives of some of the world's most endangered species.  Currently there are 144 zoo species considered endangered and 3 species that are actually endangered in the wild represented in the zoo.  The Denver zoo continues to foster awareness, appreciation and conservation of nature and animals. 
• Denver Performing Arts Center –Denver is also a cultural and sophisticated city.  The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the second largest in the nation with ten theatres seating 10,000 people for theatre, symphony, opera and ballet.
• Buffalo Bill Museum
  See the grave and museum of William F. Cody. Objects include Sitting Bull's bow and arrows, Buffalo Bill's show outfits, and Frederick Remington's "Portrait of a Ranch Hand."
• Children's Museum of Denver
  A hands-on educational and entertaining experience for children and their caregivers. Programs and playscapes are designed for newborns to eight-year-olds. Children can participate in theatre, dance and movement, cultural activities, science activities, games and team activities. Other programs enhance cognitive functioning for babies, and real-life roleplaying activities for older kids.
• City Driving and Walking Tours
  Discover Denver's historic landmarks and points of interest at your own pace.
• Colorado Historical Society
  Imagine covered wagons, a rendezvous of fur traders, Indian buffalo hunts, mining the Rocky Mountains and life in early Denver. Colorado’s own museum features collections of photographs, artifacts and documents. Dioramas and changing exhibitions bring history to life.
• Colorado Convention Center
  Find out what's happening today and what's coming up at the recently expanded Colorado Convention Center. Attend a concert or comedy show in the new 5,000 seat Theatre/Lecture Hall. Visit the web site for facility floor plans, directions, and events calendar. Nearby lodging and dining guides are also included.
• Denver Mint
  Enjoy a tour of Denver's U.S. Mint, one of only two full-service mints in the nation. Producing between 14 and 20 billion coins each year, the Denver Mint is the largest producer of coins in the world. The gift shop offers exciting numismatic coin and money-related collectibles. Call 303-405-4766 for information about tour scheduling procedures, or visit the Mint's Web site.
• Denver Public Library
  The Denver Public Library (DPL) is the information resource for the people of Denver and the greater metro area. It also acts as the official Resource Center for the state of Colorado and is a regional depository for publications of the U.S. government. The Library is world-renowned for its collection of western Americana and its model Children's Library.
• Denver Urban Gardens
  As a nonprofit organization, DUG operates and assists with the creation and management of over 60 metro-area community gardens and small parks.
• Forney Museum of Transportation
  A "must see" for train buffs! Visit the museum in its new location on Brighton Boulevard. Enjoy over 500 exhibits featuring early-model carriages, automotives and locomotives, including the Big Boy Engine and the Forney Locomotive 040-T Engine built in 1897.
• Mizel Museum of Judaica
  Permanent and changing exhibits illustrate the Jewish historical, artistic and cultural heritage.
• Molly Brown House Museum
  Costumed guides lead visitors through the 1889 home of the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" - Denver's famous socialite, philanthropist and Titanic survivor.
• Museo de las Americas
  The museum preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Latinos in the Americas.
• Museum of Contemporary Art
  Denver's first and only contemporary art museum. MCA is a non-collecting space that functions like the European model of a kunsthalle, offering ongoing presentations of innovative and challenging art of our time. Multi-disciplinary programs. Tours upon request.
• Ocean Journey
  Denver’s interactive aquarium and the only marine sciences center in an eight-state region. Explore waters and wildlife from the Continental Divide to the Sea of Cortez, and from an Indonesian rain forest to the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
• Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
  The world-famous Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is open year-round. The new 30,000-square foot Burnham Hoyt Visitor Center offers free interactive and educational displays that, along with a short documentary film, highlight the geological and musical history of Red Rocks. Custom guided tours are also available, and the Ship Rock Grille is a dining treasure serving Colorado cuisine.
• The Urban Farm
  The Urban Farm is a non-profit organization that teaches agricultural and environmental education to urban children and youth. Conveniently situated on 23 acres within the Stapleton development area, The Farm offers classes, tours, school visits and outdoor meeting facilities.
  

• Sporting Events – Denver has 3 state-of-the-art sporting venues including Invesco Field at Mile High for the Denver Broncos football, Pepsi Center for the Colorado Avalanche hockey and Denver Nuggets basketball and Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies baseball.  Additionally, the Colorado Mammoth lacrosse, Colorado Rapids soccer and Colorado Crush arena football.  There are plentiful sporting events to attend no matter what time of year you’re in Denver.  In addition, Denver has horse racing, dog racing, a Grand Prix and one of the world's largest rodeos - the National Western.
  • Arena Football (AFL) Colorado Crush
    The team is led by legendary quarterback John Elway, who teamed with Kroenke Sports Enterprises and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to bring Arena Football to Colorado. The Crush began playing in February 2003.
  • Baseball (MLB) The Colorado Rockies
    Since 1993 the Rockies have been Denver's ticket to America's favorite pasttime.
  • Basketball (NBA) The Denver Nuggets
    The Nuggets have called Denver home since their ABA origin in 1967.
  • Football (NFL) The Denver Broncos
    Winners of Superbowls XXXII and XXXIII. The Broncos originated in Denver in 1959.
  • Hockey (NHL) The Colorado Avalanche
    Our 1996 and 2001 Stanley Cup Championship hockey franchise.
  • Lacrosse (NLL) Colorado Mammoth
    The inaugural Colorado Indoor Lacrosse season began January 3, 2003.
  • Soccer (MLS) The Colorado Rapids
    Major League Soccer became Denver's fifth franchise. The Rapids first game was in April 1996
  • National Western Stock Show and Rodeo
    Nearly 100 years old, and bigger than ever, the National Western has been recognized by the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame as one of the top 100 events of the year in the U.S. by the American Business Association, and named Rodeo of the Year by Events Business News Magazine.
    
    
• Dining – There are 700+ restaurants in Denver.  Whether you’re in the mood for barbeque or baklava, enchiladas or edamame you will find many restaurants available to sate your taste buds. Click here for more information on local dining. 
  
  
• Shopping
  • 16th Street Mall - Between Market and Broadway
    This expansive outdoor mall, accented with lush planters and graceful trees, features a wealth of retail and dining facilities and has helped to revitalize downtown Denver. The pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare is also convenient if you want to browse, since stores, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment venues lie in a concentrated stretch. Even so, the scope of the mall is quite large, spanning multiple city blocks. A complimentary shuttle service transports visitors from one end to the other.
  • Antique Row - 200-200 S. Broadway
    Over 400 antiques dealers pack this 18-block stretch of shopping terrain. Whether you peek into one of the co-ops or spend hours browsing specialty shops, you're sure to find a one-of-a-kind treasure. Silver, porcelain, Depression glass, toys and dolls, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and much more can be found along this charming, strollable section of Broadway. Fatigued deal-hunters need look no further than Heidi's Brooklyn Deli or Cafe Metro for a hearty sandwich and a reviving cup of coffee, respectively.
  • Cherry Creek North Shopping District - 3003 E. 3rd Avenue
    The upscale Cherry Creek North Shopping District is an enclave of fashionable boutiques, galleries, and elegant restaurants favored by the city's most practiced shoppers. Many stores carry unique, handcrafted items, a boon if you're trying to find something special for that hard-to-shop-for person. Art lovers can spend hours perusing the variety of galleries that line the quiet streets. Throughout the year, festivals, fairs, and public events take place in the vicinity. Opposite Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
  • Cherry Creek Shopping Center - 3000 E. 1st Avenue
    The directory of stores at Cherry Creek Shopping Center reads like a "who's who" of sophisticated and popular retailers. At the large facility, you'll find upscale department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus alongside favored venues like Restoration Hardware, Tiffany & Co., Abercrombie & Fitch, Williams-Sonoma, Diesel, and Pottery Barn. Plenty of dining options are available – both quick-service and sit-down. Valet parking available.
  • Larimer Square - 1400 Larimer Street
    Larimer Square and its surrounding area have been bustling since Denver's inception. Early on, the Square served as a main thoroughfare for gold prospectors and settlers and was home to the city's first drygoods store, bank, and bookstore. Today, it's still a happening place, known to locals as one of Denver's premiere shopping and dining districts. Visitors will find a host of upscale restaurants and interesting specialty shops, along with seasonal and special events held throughout the year.
  • Old South Pearl Street
    The cool shops along South Pearl Street are guaranteed to keep browsers and spenders occupied for hours on end. Establishments on the well-known street offer a variety of goods and services, including necessities like drycleaners, upscale boutiques with handcrafted jewelry, and chi-chi salons offering pedicures and other luxuries. In the cozy area, you'll also find restaurants, bookstores, antique shops, and home furnishings stores.
  • Park Meadows - 8401 Park Meadows Center Drive
    Lodge-like decor that pays tribute to the area's past distinguishes Park Meadows, and even the food court takes on added prominence with Western design. The facility offers a wealth of brand-name shops, and patrons are accommodated with a variety of price points. Department stores like Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Nordstrom act as anchors; specialty stores include Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Eddie Bauer, Papyrus, Talbots, and Restoration Hardware. Valet parking available.
  • The Shops at Tabor Center - 16th Street
    Located on 16th Street and running a couple of city blocks, the Tabor provides three stories of shopping fun. With over 26,000 feet of retail space, the mall is a great downtown shopping destination. In addition to independent specialty shops offering apparel, accessories for the home and garden, shoes, and gifts, you'll also find popular chains such as Christopher & Banks. The food court's impressive variety of cuisines proves popular with hungry area workers as well as shoppers in need of a boost.
  • Westminster Mall - 5433 W. 88th Avenue
    Situated northwest of Denver, Westminster isn't far from the downtown area. The mall, shelters a variety of stores, including department store standards such as Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, and Macy's. About 200 specialty shops offer everything from apparel to electronics, and include favorites like the Disney Store, Express, and Footlocker. There are plenty of choices when it comes to food, as well – you can opt for a full sit-down Italian meal, a soft pretzel on the run, or even dessert and coffee.

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