Denver sits within striking distance of the impressive Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The vibrant Mile High City has plenty to offer visitors, even during the frigid winter. Travelers who are unfamiliar with -- or uninterested in -- snow-related activities can keep busy with museum and brewery visits, shopping and exploring Denver's neighborhoods.
Museums
- Denver's many museums keep travelers occupied on many a snowy day. Top picks include the Denver Art Museum, which stands out among the staid glass-and-steel buildings of downtown. The futuristic, angular building houses a massive collection of Native American art and artifacts, along with 68,000 other art pieces. The U.S. Mint, still active today, offers free tours showing the money-making process. And the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the country's fourth-largest museum, houses exhibits that range from gemstones to Colorado wildlife dioramas to dinosaur and space exhibitions. The museum also features an IMAX theater showing multiple screenings a day.
Shopping
- Denver's shopping ranges from large malls of major brand-name retailers to small boutiques with handmade goods. The Cherry Creek Shopping District, with its 500 department stores, is one way to shop away a snowy December day. The complex includes upscale retailers like Nordstrom and Tiffany, plus numerous cafes, spas and galleries. Denver's renowned Tattered Cover Bookstore sits in the LoDo -- or Lower Downtown -- district. The bookstore's staff write comment cards for various books to help readers make informed purchases. Downtown's bustling Larimer Square is packed with restaurants, cafes and shops that include upscale home decor, fashion and jewelry stores.
Other Attractions
- Beyond museums, Denver's other major attractions include the golden-domed Colorado State Capitol building, whose west steps stand at precisely 5,280 feet -- 1 mile -- above sea level. Visitors can explore the historic building on free weekday tours, climb the rotunda for views of the snowcapped Rocky Mountains and sit in on a legislative session. Denver also has a zoo and aquarium, both located downtown. The Downtown Aquarium holds over 1 million gallons of aquatic exhibits, and the Denver Zoo consists of exhibits with 3,500 different animals.
Breweries
- Denver -- and Colorado as a whole -- is renowned for its breweries. Downtown's Wynkoop Brewery is a large restaurant and brewpub. Patrons can sample from a long list of beers made on site, including the unique Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout. In the nearby town of Golden, visitors can take the Coors Brewery Tour, which gives an overview of how beer is made at the world's largest brewery. Hit multiple microbreweries in one swoop with the Denver Microbrew Tour, a guided walking tour of the downtown area that mixes history with beer sampling.
