We are from here, so we get it. There are times of the year when you feel a little landlocked and uninspired to get out in the city you live in, the city you might have even moved across the country to plant roots and make your home. If you have a family, it can get even more challenging to stay engaged when your day-to-day routine involves “people management”, decision making, and mundane chores. There is no shortage of these “to-do” lists for Denver, and when I read them I often think, what? They are either written by someone who has never been here, or they’re geared towards a certain type of thrill-seeker or explorer.
That being said, we are here to inspire you.
Best Things to do in downtown Denver in the Winter… that are NOT skiing:
- 1. Check out the local music scene
- Denver Concerts come in all shapes and sizes. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a million bucks to see good, live music. Winter concerts are typically indoors and not family-friendly if you have rambunctious young ones. Should you want to go to a winter concert series, prepare for a wide range of weather. Colorado can have a perfectly blue-sky day and a bitter cold night.
- Should you be up for a drive and a night away, Colorado mountain towns have put money into the outdoor, family-friendly concerts. Many are free and book iconic artists in a small open-air town venue.
- 2. Take Classes at the Denver Art Museum or Artists League
- Cruise the coffee shops. Like all major metropolitan cities, things don’t last long here if they are not good, so our existing coffee shops in Denver are some of the best. There is a wide variety of styles and aesthetics–minimalist, modern, and even your grandparent’s living room.
- 3. The Botanic Gardens
- Winter gardens are more interesting than you might think! The Denver Botanic Gardens has a wonderful, tropical garden that will warm you right to your core. They also have a rotating indoor art gallery and they offer year-round master classes on everything from horticulture to technical drawing.
- Use mindbody to find a drop-in workout class.
Best things to do in downtown Denver in the Summer that are not hiking:
- 4. Sign up for a Denver city tour
- Naturally we highly recommend our guided Colorado eBike Tours. See the booking options at the top; we have year-round tours available. Want other options? Historic Denver, AIA, the downtown Denver capital, the Denver Art Museum, RINO murals, and many individual landmark sites all offer tours.
- 5. Farmers’ Markets
- Each Denver neighborhood now offers a market. Some are more focused on food, while others lean into arts and crafts, which makes them a good option for those looking for kid-friendly activities. Not all are created equal but each is worth a minute of your time because it supports local businesses, engages you with the Denver community, and gives you a strong sense of place.
Other places in Denver where you can take your kids to get energy out on cold days
- Skyzone
- Lava Island
- Ninja
- Urban Air
- Big Bear Ice Arena
- Playground at the Cherry Creek Mall
- Dave & Busters
- TOCA soccer and Sports Center
- Kickin it Kids Gym
- Bowlero
- Nickel Play
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These are all listed in no particular order.
If you’re a little more adventurous, you can get in on the open gyms offered at aerial aerobics and gymnastics venues all around the city. Most do some sort of open play time, some are based on the age of the child or the experience level.
We hope this list pulls you out of your funk and helps you explore our beautiful city!