You might only have one tank of gas, but that doesn’t mean you only have one day to tour the Denver Area. In fact, a full tank of gas can propel you throughout the entire region, with enough activities to fill quite a few days. And when your trip is over, you might even have a few gallons to spare.
Day One
All of today’s activities are within walking distance of one another, so find a metered spot or a garage and take a stroll around this walking-friendly city.
*Scroll over the dots for more information
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Colorado
Between E. 13th and E. 14th Aves. on Pennsylvania St.
Converted into a museum in 1970, the interior of this mansion has been painstakingly reconstructed, and period-accurate furniture has been arranged using historical photographs of the rooms as templates. Over the years, a number of original household artifacts — including whale oil lamps from India — have been recovered, brought back to the home and placed exactly where they once stood more than 100 years ago.
Colorado State Capitol
200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado
Corner of E. Colfax Ave. and Lincoln St.
Tour Desk: 303-866-2604
Manager of Visitor Services: 303-866-4747
Visitors walk the steps within the gold-plated dome as part of a guided tour and learn more about its history and construction. Regular tours also allow guests to observe senatorial and state representative procedures as they tour the building’s neoclassical architecture.
The State Capitol Building is perhaps most famous for its geography — or elevation to be precise. The 13th step of the western entrance marks the exact height of one mile above sea level. Though other markers on the Capitol steps indicate otherwise, a relatively recent study has confirmed that this is indeed the accurate mark.
U.S. Mint
320 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado
Corner of W. Colfax Ave. and Cherokee St.
One of the most popular sites to visit in Denver is the famous U.S. Mint, where more than 20 billion coins are produced each year, some 40 million coins each day. A terrific family outing, a visit to the mint begins with the history of money and instruction on the coin stamping process.
Wings Over the Rockies
7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver, Colorado
Near the intersection of E. Academy Blvd. and Spruce St.
Many of the planes showcased in this expansive hangar were originally stationed at Lowry Air Force Base and used by Air National Guard members as training craft. Among them is a titanic B-1 bomber, one of only two left in the world.
The museum also displays a comprehensive exhibit on the history of the Colorado Air National Guard, replete with medals, uniforms and personal artifacts. Look to the ceiling for a replica of the Wright Flyer — the first airplane to fly. And filed between other modern fighters sits a still-functioning F-14 Tomcat. There’s even a space capsule used by NASA during the Apollo project.
A popular stomping ground for Denverites is City Park, a spacious and sprawling lawn with a number of shady trees to relax away an afternoon. Located in the City Park’s grounds are two of the city’s favorite family attractions: the Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science.
At the Denver Zoo, visitors may feed nectar to lorikeets for an up-close look at their brilliant plumage, or take a ride through the zoo on the Pioneer Train as it chugs along the tracks and around enclosures. Or, hop aboard the Endangered Species Carousel, the largest of its kind in the nation, where carved and painted animals prance in a circle while carrying elated children on their backs.
The Museum of Nature and Science is dedicated to the science of the world at large. From a full-sized skeleton of a blue whale strung from the ceiling to an exhibit on animals found throughout the continent, it’s a wealth of informative entertainment.
At the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, the nation's first stand-alone insect zoo, the whole gang can interact with winged wonders and creepy crawlies. This 16,000-square-foot facility covers five acres and holds a conservatory that re-creates a tropical forest and houses some 1,200 butterflies, representing more than 50 species from nine different countries.
Cherry Creek State Park
4201 S. Parker Rd., Aurora, Colorado
Just north of E. Quincy Ave. on S. Parker Rd.
Cherry Creek State Park is set amidst rolling prairie bubbling up to the foothills of the Rockies. This is more than a run-of-the-mill state park; it has all the staples, from hiking to biking and fishing to picnicking. What makes this park different is its investment in activities one normally doesn’t associate with a state park, including a popular model airplane field and a full-service marina, renting sailboats, jet skis and motorboats.
Conveniently located between Colorado Springs and Denver, this is one Colorado outlet mall you should be sure to visit. Wind your way through six giant clusters of shops in an airy outdoor setting, and you’ll come across some of the biggest names in retail.
For a hike with a view into the park’s past, take the two-mile Inner Canyon Trail to view what remains of the Castlewood Dam. Originally built to retain the waters of Cherry Creek, the dam eventually failed and collapsed in 1933; it now sits as a 20th-century ruin.
You might only have one tank of gas, but that doesn’t mean you only have one day to tour the Denver Area. In fact, a full tank of gas can propel you throughout the entire region, with enough activities to fill quite a few days. And when your trip is over, you might even have a few gallons to spare.
