Denver, Colorado, is located near the edge of the Rocky Mountain wilderness, but the city’s group experiences go well beyond outdoor recreation. The Mile High City beams with world-renowned food and music venues, historic and art-centric museums, and lively neighborhoods that continue to shape its reputation as a cultural hub of the West.
“Denver is a vibrant, active city with 300 days of sunshine and breathtaking blue skies,” says Flavia Light, vice president of tourism at Visit Denver. “Whether groups want to embark on an urban adventure, explore the city’s history and Western heritage, dive into arts and culture, or take food and drink tours, there’s no shortage of unique experiences to find here.”
Credit: Visit Denver
Boutique shopping and cultural cuisine team up in Lower Downtown. Known to locals as LoDo, the oldest neighborhood in the city spans 25 blocks with over 20 art galleries; 100 restaurants, clubs, and bars; and seemingly endless retail storefronts. Denver’s roots date to the gold rush in LoDo’s Larimer Square. This neighborhood block adorned with Colorado flags and warm strands of ambient light gives groups a taste of global cuisine and ample opportunity to support locally owned stores, cocktail bars, and craft breweries, plus soak up Denver’s nightlife.
“While you’re in LoDo, stop by Rockmount Ranchwear for a snap-button Western shirt at the store where they were invented,” Light recommends. “Browse the Tattered Cover Bookstore, a local favorite; or sip a handcrafted beer at the Wynkoop Brewing Co., Denver’s first brewpub opened by former Denver Mayor and Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper.”
The nearby Denver Union Station has been transformed into an international foodie destination. The historic 1914 Beaux Arts train terminal houses over a dozen restaurants and bars. Farm-to-table restaurants like the upscale Mercantile Dining & Provision or more casual ACME Delicatessen serve locally sourced cuisine, and the Terminal Bar, situated in the station’s old ticket windows, offers a variety of local spirits and Colorado’s craft beer favorites. “Denver’s Union Station has undergone a massive restoration that transformed the landmark into a transportation, dining, shopping, and entertainment hub and hotel,” Light says. “Union Station is also fulfilling its original role as a major ground transportation hub, serving as an Amtrak, light rail, and shuttle bus station with direct rail service to Denver International Airport.”
Credit: Visit Denver/Bob Ash
The area’s music scene doesn’t disappoint, either. Surrounded by a naturally occurring stadium of ochre sandstone and impeccable sound, the iconic Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is a concertgoer’s dream. Designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior, the amphitheater attracts outdoor enthusiasts and music lovers from around the world.
Visit Denver offers two discounted passes to the area’s top cultural attractions. Both the Mile High Culture Pass and the Denver CityPASS give groups multiday or multi-attraction admission to popular group destinations.
More Must-Sees
Credit: Visit Denver/James Florio
Cherry Creek Shopping Center
Shop more than 500 department stores, boutiques, and galleries at the largest concentration of stores between San Francisco and St. Louis.
Denver Art Museum
Browse over 68,000 works, including Native American artifacts, European masters, Old West classics, and phenomenal traveling exhibits.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Escape the city to a 23-acre oasis overflowing with 33,000 plants, flowers, and foliage across 45 different gardens and one of the nation’s top 10 conservatories.
Written by Erica Zazo
Main Image: Larimer Square; Credit: Visit Denver/Evan Semón
