Aurora, Colorado Attractions & Things To Do

Cherry Creek State Park.

Surrounding an 880-acre reservoir, the 4,000-acre Cherry Creek State Park is Denver's natural playground, with rolling hills, a beautiful lake, beach, and 12 miles of scenic walking, biking, horseback and cross-country skiing trails. Winding through grasslands, cottonwood trees and marshes, Cherry Creek Trail, Perimeter Trail, Shop Creek Trail and Wetlands Trail are multi-use trails for biking, walking, jogging, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. Enjoy boating, sailing, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, fishing and ice skating on the clear lake. Cherry Creek marina offers boat ramps, slips, bait and boating lessons. The beautiful park is a winter wonderland for sledding, snow shoeing, and snowtubing. The park also provides volleyball nets, picnic areas and an airfield with asphalt runways for model airplane flying. Visit www.cherry-creek.org. [Top]

Downtown Aurora.

Centered around a mile-long pedestrian promenade lined with outdoor cafés and flower baskets, Denver's vibrant downtown offers exciting attractions and shopping, including Denver Pavilions and the Denver Art Museum. Downtown is also home of Auraria Campus and Elitch Gardens theme park. Denver's beautiful downtown cityscape is a mix of Victorian and turn-of-the-century architecture juxtaposed with contemporary skyscrapers that glisten in the downtown skyline. Visible from downtown is a spectacular mountain panorama with 200 soaring peaks.

LoDo.

The Lower Downtown Historic District, "LoDo," is a hip and exciting mixed-use neighborhood with one of the nation's greatest concentrations of Victorian buildings and warehouses, refurbished to house cool restaurants, art galleries, shops, bars and the brew pubs and micro breweries that make Denver "the beer capital." The birthplace of Denver, the vibrant 23-square block area is an eclectic urban oasis and the coolest place in Denver to eat, shop and play. LoDo is home to famous attractions such as Coors Field, Elitch Gardens, Pepsi Center, Museum of Contemporary Art, Opera Colorado, Impulse Theater, and Children's Museum of Denver, and incredible shopping at Denver Pavilions, Larimer Square and Little Raven Vineyards. Visit www.lodo.org.

Aurora Zoo.

Famed for its conservation efforts and one of the most popular zoos in the country, Denver Zoo is an extraordinary 80-acre refuge housing 3,500 animals, representing over 650 species, from across the globe. Encounter rare and exotic animals, primates, reptiles, birds, and fish, including amur leopards, king cobras, black rhinos, coral reef fish, elephants, zebras, vampire bats, and gorillas. With naturalistic habitats like the new Predator Ridge, Tropical Discovery, Primate Panorama and the Dragons of Komodo exhibit, the Denver Zoo is enhancing the lives of some of the world's most endangered species. New to the Zoo is a six-foot-two giraffe named Pongo. Visit www.denverzoo.org. [Top]

Downtown Aquarium.

Denver's Downtown Aquarium is a fun entertainment and dining destination with a wonderful aquarium boasting more than one million gallons of underwater exhibits that highlight ecosystems from around the world. The Aquarium houses over 500 aquatic animals and fascinating exhibits such as an interactive Sting Ray Reef touch tank and Under the Sea, with rich caves and crevices full of fish species and sharks. Enjoy the sights and sounds under the waves at exhibits such as North America, At the Wharf, Coral Lagoon, The Rainforest, The Desert and Sunken Temple. Enjoy dining at the Aquarium Restaurant as you sit around a 150,000 gallon aquarium with views of reticulated rays, shovel-nose guitarfish, majestic sawfish and amazing creatures. Visit www.downtownaquarium.com.

Coors Field/Colorado Rockies.

Home of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies, the 2007 National League Champions, and Coors Field is a spectacular baseball stadium in Denver's Lower Downtown ("LoDo") district. The 76-acre urban ballpark treats millions of baseball fans to great sightlines and mile-high seating with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. Surrounding the stadium's green seats, the upper deck's 20th row is painted purple, signifying one mile above sea level. In addition to exciting Rockies baseball games, Coors Field also presents concerts and special events. Visit www.colorado.rockies.mlb.com. [Top]

Aurora Museum of Nature and Science.

The Rocky Mountain region's resource for science education, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science presents diverse exhibitions, programs, and activities highlighting the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The Museum enlightens curious minds through scientific discovery and the presentation of the world's treasures. Current exhibitions include: Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters, Extreme Ice, Discovery Zone, Egyptian Mummies, Gems & Minerals, North American Indian Cultures, Prehistoric Journey, Space Odyssey and wildlife exhibits. See giant dinosaurs, two ancient Egyptian mummies, colorful crystals, photographs of glacial environments, and views of dramatic Martian canyons. Visit www.dmns.org.

Water World.

The country's biggest and wettest water park, Water World offers aquatic-powered fun and entertainment for the whole family. Featured on the Travel Channel's list of best waterparks, Water World features 18 slides, rides, pools, and attractions, including Thunder Bay, Lazy River, The Wave, Storm, Captain Jack's Wave Pool and Turbo Racer. Ride the highest speed slides in the world - Flat Line, Red Line, and Pipe Line. Twist and turn through three enclosed body slides on the Bermuda Triangle, speed through darkness on Spaceball, and race down four awesome body slides on the Thrill Hill. Visit.www.waterworldcolorado.com. [Top]

Elitch Gardens Theme Park.

Denver's ultimate theme park, Elitch Gardens offers family thrills and adventure. Colorado's Coaster Capital, Elitch Gardens features more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including thrilling super coasters like Half Pipe, Boomerang, The Mind Eraser and Twister II, for daring adventures. Adrenaline junkies love thrill rides like Tower of Doom, XLR8R - a mega-high free fall swing - and Shipwreck Falls. The park also offers family rides like Tea Cups and Big Wheel, and 13 pint-sized attractions in Star Toons Studio. Splash your way around Denver's downtown oasis, Island Kingdom Water Park, featuring wet and wild slides, rides, thrills, waves, and pools, including RipQurl and The Edge. Enjoy fun events like Fright Fest, Summer Music Festival, and Lowrider Invitational. Visit www.elitchgardens.com.

Four Mile Historic Park.

On the banks of Cherry Creek, four miles from downtown Denver, Four Mile Historic Park is a 12-acre oasis and the site of Denver's oldest landmark - Four Mile House - as well as pioneer exhibits, events, and guided tours that transport you to Colorado's frontier past. Once a stage stop, wayside inn, and tavern on the Cherokee Trail, Four Mile House and the surrounding park offer activities that highlight Colorado's rich history. Young pioneers can pan for gold, cook over an open fire, and engage in activities that were enjoyed 150 years ago. Enjoy guided museum and grounds tours and annual events like the Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration, Great Pumpkin Harvest Festival and A Colorado Christmas. Visit www.fourmilepark.org. [Top]

National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.

The National Western Complex is Colorado's premier meeting, event and show place. Comprised of the Events Center, Expo Hall, Hall of Education, Stadium Arena and Stadium Hall, the complex features 600,000 sq. ft of space for staging expos and events like the Denver Home Show and Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show. National Western Complex hosts the National Western Stock Show, the world's leading livestock and horse show and rodeo. PRCA's 2009 "Indoor Rodeo of the Year," the rodeo presents action-packed bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, tie-down and team roping, and barrel racing. Enjoy competitive livestock and horse shows, food and special events, such as the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, filled with cultural pageantry, bull and bareback riders, trick roping, and mariachi. Visit www.nationalwestern.com.

Invesco Field at Mile High.

Home of the NFL's Denver Broncos, Invesco Field at Mile High is a world-class sports and entertainment venue in Denver's Sun Valley neighborhood. The 76,125-seat stadium also hosts the city's Major League Lacrosse team, the Denver Outlaws, Colorado State Rams football games, and a variety of first-class events and major concerts. Visit www.invescofieldatmilehigh.com. [Top]

Aurora Art Museum.

With incredible art in amazing spaces, the new Denver Art Museum enlightens us to the beauty of world art and architecture. The museum's impressive collections feature contemporary and modern arts of European, American, Asian, African American, Oceanic, pre-Columbian, and Spanish Colonial origin, as well as architecture, design, graphic, and textile art. For current and upcoming exhibits, visit www.denverartmuseum.org.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.

Housed in a 1930's Air Force hangar, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum features dozens of historic airplanes and space craft. After you are greeted by the massive B-52 Stratofortress, you will enjoy collection highlights that include a rare B-18A Bolo, Century Series fighters, an RF-84K Thunderflash parasite, an Alexander Eagleroc, Star Wars X-Wing fighter, and the famous B-1A Lancer. Visitors learn about the history of flight, avionics, and the Flying Tigers. Check out the Colorado Aviation Historical Society Heritage Hall. Visit www.wingsmuseum.org. [Top]

Pepsi Center/Aurora Nuggets.

The region's leading sports and entertainment venue, Pepsi Center offers clear sightlines, dramatic views, open space, cutting-edge sound and lighting, and massive scoreboards and monitors. Since 1999, Pepsi Center has hosted spectacular events, hockey and basketball games, concerts, ice extravaganzas and circuses. The five-level facility - seating 20,000 - is home of the NBA's Denver Nuggets, NHL's Colorado Avalanche, AFL's Colorado Crush and NLL's Colorado Mammoth. Pepsi Center offers fine and casual dining and plush lounges, including Blue Sky Grill, Ridgeline and Denver Post Newsroom, which offer views of the Grand Atrium, Denver and Rocky Mountains. Pepsi Center also features the Qwest Business Center with state-of-the-art conference rooms and high technology amenities and the Altitude Authentics store, which specializes in Denver sports team merchandise. Visit www.pepsicenter.com.

 

Aurora Botanic Gardens.

Denver Botanic Gardens delights with beautiful gardens, pristine natural environments and living plant collections. The Gardens at York Street offer beautiful gardens and collections with a diversity of plants from around the world. Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield is a picturesque nature preserve along the banks of Deer Creek with nature trails, a wildlife observation area, gardens, exhibits, a historic farm, a 19th-century schoolhouse, beehives, picnic areas, and Deer Creek Discovery area. Mount Goliath, a mountain peak in Arapaho National Forest, offers a trail through sub-alpine and alpine areas. Enjoy Rocky Mountain vistas of the Divide peaks, delicate wildflowers, wind-sculpted bristlecone pines and wildlife. Enjoy guided tours through these spectacular sites. Visit www.botanicgardens.org.

Molly Brown House Museum.

Home to the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, who got her nickname by surviving the sinking of the Titanic, this Denver museum is fully restored and furnished with period pieces. Known for her flamboyance, Molly Brown was a formidable woman in Denver society. Special events such as teas and readings are offered at the historic home. Visit www.mollybrown.org. [Top]

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre.

Located in Morrison, Colorado, 25 minutes from our hotel, Red Rocks is a natural open-air amphitheatre in Red Rocks Park, set deep into the towering red rock formation surrounding the stage. One of the most renowned music venues in the world, and once considered one of the Natural Wonders of the World, Red Rocks offers amazing acoustics and aesthetics for a variety of summer concerts, events and movies. The summer concert series brings some of the top bands, performers, symphonies and music festivals to Denver. Grab blankets and wine or beer, and enjoy a spectacular evening in a breathtaking setting. In the distance, you can see the glow of the downtown Denver skyline. For concert tickets, visit www.redrocksonline.com.

Aurora Sports Park.

The Aurora Sports Park is a popular recreational destination for soccer, football, softball or baseball players and sports fans. The large sports park features 23 full-size soccer fields, 12 baseball/softball fields, 5 open fields, four playgrounds, picnic areas, and concession areas with restrooms. Aurora Sports Park is home to several soccer, baseball, softball and football leagues and tournaments. For game information, visit www.auroragov.org or call (303) 326-8401. [Top]