Denver In A Day: Highlights of The Mile High City
- JR Journeys
- Jun 29
- 6 min read
With over 300 days of sunshine per year, a booming music and arts scene, strong sports fanbases, and access to unparalleled nature, Denver is an exciting and active city that is certainly worth a visit. Over the course of just one day on foot, I saw the majority of the Mile High City’s top sites. Here are the highlights:
I parked my car in a garage near here in the morning due to its central location and on a tip from a friend that it’s a safe spot. While Denver is not regarded as a high-crime city, car break-ins are known to occur with some regularity. I used SpotHero to find a reasonably-priced spot in a covered garage, which worked perfectly for the day. Larimer Square itself is a lively area with a mix of local restaurants and shops. It mostly caters to young- and middle-aged adults and is a popular after-work meetup spot, especially in the summer when people can sit outside and socialize under the sun.
Explore the Stadiums / Catch a Game
While not necessarily in a designated “stadium district,” Coors Field, Ball Arena, and Empower Field at Mile High are all relatively close to each other. Coors Field, home of the MLB’s Rockies, definitely has the best surrounding area of the three stadiums, with a nice collection of restaurants and sports bars on Blake St., 20th St., and Market St. It’s one of my favorite major league ballparks out of the 22 that I’ve visited! Ball Arena, home to the NHL’s Avalanche, NBA’s Nuggets, and NLL’s Mammoth, isn’t a particularly exciting or interactive venue, but it hosts fans that create a passionate but respectful atmosphere and features teams that have all competed at a high level over the past decade. Across the river, the NFL’s Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High, which has a unique wavy exterior, and the plaza surrounding the stadium features well-designed monuments/statues and nice walking areas. If you’re not a sports fan and aren’t going to a game, you don’t need to make time to see these up close, but if you enjoy seeing professional athletic venues like I do, it’s worth a few minutes to walk around Coors and Empower, in particular.
Walk along the South Platte River / Cherry Creek
The South Platte River and Cherry Creek split at Confluence Park, which is an enjoyable public quarter to spend time in on warm days. Both waterways have well-maintained paths that you can walk, jog, or bike. The South Platte River Trail brings you past the Denver Aquarium and the Children’s Museum before you reach the Broncos’ stadium, while Cherry Creek runs right along the western edge of Denver’s business district. The South Platte River recreational paths are a little bit quieter, while the Cherry Creek paths are fun for street art enjoyers; there are some impressive murals and graffiti works on the adjacent walls.
Denver’s commuter train hub is a well-kept historic building that makes for a great photo opportunity. There is public seating and food options inside if you want to take a break from your exploring. At night, the neon signage is especially prominent and makes for great Instagram shots. During the winter, there’s a train directly from Union Station to Winter Park Ski Resort for the many powderhounds that live in and travel to Denver wanting access to the Rocky Mountains.
Theatre District / Sculpture Park / Colorado Convention Center
The majority of Denver’s performing arts venues lay between Arapahoe Street and West Colfax Avenue. It’s a neat area to walk around, with historic venues alongside architecturally modern facilities. The Colorado Convention Center lies at the south end of this district; it’s flanked by Sculpture Park, home to the 60-foot tall “Dancers” sculpture on one side, and the 40-foot tall “I See What You Mean” blue bear on the other. If you’re looking for a funny photo opportunity, go inside the convention center lobby, stand in front of the bear, and put on a scared face as if it's about to eat you!
Unlike most European cities, American cities rarely include areas designed to be car-free, especially in regard to walkable public markets and malls. Despite being under construction when I was in Denver, the 16th Street Mall was hugely promising in that regard. The finished parts were clean and had a great open-air design that allowed for an efficient flow of people and easy access to storefronts. It was serviced by a free bus that drove the length of the mall for non-walkers or people looking to avoid the construction. With Union Station on one end and Civic Center Park on the other, this was certainly the most active part of town during working hours on a Monday and had plenty to see, eat, and do.
As both the largest city and capital of Colorado, Denver is home to the state’s public affairs. The city designers grouped these resources together in Civic Center Park, with the golden-domed state capitol building on the east end and Denver’s city hall on the west. In between, there are open walking spaces, benches to sit on and relax, and monuments to the Coloradans that have served in various armed conflicts throughout American history. On a nice day, this is a pleasant outdoor area to wander around right in the heart of the city.
Located just south of Civic Center Park, the Denver Art Museum is worth walking by to see the exterior, even if you’re not going inside. The Frederic C. Hamilton Building is the most striking; designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the sharp angles and geometric anomalies are unlike any other structure I’ve seen before. There’s also many interesting sculptures around the perimeter of the building, including the “Big Sweep” and “Scottish Angus Cow and Calf,” both of which are impressively large and worth snapping a picture in front of. Inside, the museum has over 3,000 pieces for you to examine.
Final Takeaways
One day in Denver doesn’t do this city justice, but it will allow you to get to the top destinations. I recommend taking two days to explore Denver at a fast pace, or three days at a more leisurely pace. Downtown is very walkable if you’re staying there, but a car is advised for getting outside of the business district and into the beautiful Colorado nature nearby. Denver felt safe and quiet to me, but I visited on a chilly Monday when few people were out and about. When you’re visiting Colorado, the Mile High City is a nice place to kick off your trip and adjust to the state’s high elevation before moving onto the more mountain-based activities that Colorado is famous for.
Other Experiences If You Have More Time
To truly experience Denver in depth, you definitely need more than just one day. Three days would be sufficient to not only see the city, but also enjoy various local activities and visit some of the museums and outdoor areas. Here are a handful of spots that I would explore with more time:
Meow Wolf Convergence Station – An interactive walk-through art experience featuring bizarre works with a psychedelic spin. Located southwest of Empower Field at Mile High, within walking distance.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge – A former chemical weapons manufacturing facility, this 15,000 acre haven is now home to a variety of animals. Activities include a driving tour, hiking, fishing, biking, and shooting at an archery range. Located about 25 minutes driving east of downtown Denver.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre – Best known for its concerts, Red Rocks also has hiking trails and great photo opportunities. Located 25 - 30 minutes driving west of downtown Denver.
Colorado Sports Hall of Fame – Honors Colorado’s best athletics contributors from all competitive sports. Located at the south side of the Empower Field at Mile High stadium complex.
National Ballpark Museum – Features artifacts from former and current major league stadiums across the U.S. Located next to Coors Field in the LoDo neighborhood’s Ballpark District.
United States Mint Tour – See how American money is made, distributed, and removed from circulation. Located right behind Denver City Hall.
City Park and Denver Zoo – City Park has walking trails, a golf course, the zoo, and a nature & science museum with an attached planetarium. Located about 3 miles east of the Denver city center.
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