While Denver is known for its world-class attractions, there are tons of delightful hidden gems, from unique tours to amazing greenspaces to smaller museums with big stories to tell. Here's a rundown of some of the coolest spots that are typically only a slight detour from the major attractions but will enrich your experience all the more.

 

 

Only-in-Denver Experiences

FlyteCo Control Tower Tour 

How often do you get to tour an old air traffic control tower attached to a brewpub overlooking an international airport that no longer exists? Answer: Never, or at least not until now. Get an inside look as you climb 11 stories and learn the history of the former Stapleton International Airport. From the top, you’ll get panoramic views of the metro area.

 

Historic Elitch Theatre Tour 

Located in the West Highland neighborhood, famous Golden Age actors like Grace Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks and Vincent Price graced the stage. Built in 1891, it’s a remnant of Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park before it was moved downtown. Learn about the secrets and legends behind the theater on a tour during the summer months (May through October). 

 

Daniels & Fisher Tower Tour

You don’t need to go to Italy to experience a piece of Venice. This two-thirds replica of the Campanile of St. Mark’s that literally towers over the 16th Street promenade offers self-guided tours. 

 

Four Mile Historic Park 

Located only 1.5 miles from the chic Cherry Creek Shopping Center, don’t be surprised to see people not exactly observing modern fashion trends. This 12-acre farm is home to Denver’s oldest structure. See the museum and stroll the gardens. You’ll see workers and volunteers wearing 19th-century attire. 

 

Denver Trolley

Relive the days of the Denver “breezer” streetcars. Hop on at the REI Denver Flagship Store in Confluence Park and go for a 30-minute ride along the South Platte River (Memorial Day through Labor Day; fares required). 

 

Cultural Places Worth Exploring

 

Sakura Square

Celebrate the Japanese American community by visiting this downtown area. You’ll find restaurants like Sakura House and JJ’s Bistro, as well as several retail shops. 

 

Far East Center 

On South Federal Boulevard, enter through the pagoda and start shopping and eating from a plethora of Asian vendors, offering everything from noodle bowls to Chinese herbs. 

 

Quality Hill Park/LGBTQ+ History 

In the Capitol Hill neighborhood, learn about the city’s gay rights story at a special exhibition in the park. It’s part of Denver’s developing Lavender Hill Cultural District that spans several neighborhoods. You can also take a 90-minute tour with Historic Denver Walking Tours.

 

Westwood Creative District

Morrison Road cuts diagonally through the heart of this district, where you can get a taste of the Mexican American culture at Kahlo’s Mexican Restaurant or Cultura Chocolate, a Latina-owned bean-to-bar chocolate-making company. Admire the street art while you’re there.

 

Parks and Greenspaces With Something Special

 

Arkins Promenade/RiNo ArtPark 

Get a great view of the South Platte River from a 400-foot-long elevated walkway in the River North Art District (RiNo). The Arkins Promenade has received kudos from the architecture world. It's next to the RiNo ArtPark, a hub that brings together artists and creatives. 

 

Bluff Lake Nature Center 

It's an environmental success story where a blighted piece of land near the city was turned into an urban oasis with nature trails and one of the best places along the Front Range for birdwatching.

 

Ninth Street Historic Park

This one is so easy to miss because it's right in downtown. Located on the Auraria Campus, it's a leafy, one-block stretch of preserved homes dating from the late 1800s. The land once served as a meeting place for the Arapaho. 

 

Berkeley Lake Park 

Located in the lovely Berkeley neighborhood bordering the Tennyson Street Cultural District, this park is the perfect place to escape crowds and take a one-mile walk around a lake. It also has one of the nicest dog parks in town.

 

Inspiration Point Park 

You'll get some breathtaking panoramas of the Front Range here. Even locals don't seem to know about it. There's a short loop, under a mile, where you can get some steps in.

 

Observatory Park 

Located near the University of Denver, the park has rolling green lawns, tennis courts and something a little more conspicuous: the historic Chamberlin Observatory. The Denver Astronomical Society offers public stargazing nights (requires advanced registration).

 

Babi Yar Park: Holocaust Memorial

This 27-acre public memorial, located in southeast Denver, honors the victims of the Nazi massacres in Kyiv, Ukraine, during World War II. It features a Grove of Remembrance where 100 trees represent the estimated 100,000 people who were murdered, along with monuments, gardens and pathways.

 

DC Burns Park

See a series of giant sculptures, mostly created in the 1960s, in this triangular park tucked away in south Denver. 

 

Small Museums With Big Stories

 

Forney Museum of Transportation

You'll find an assortment of unique vehicles here, like a roadster once owned by Amelia Earhart, an early electric car, steam locomotives, bicycles, motorcycles, etc., etc., etc.

 

Kirkland Institute of Fine & Decorative Art at the Denver Art Museum 

Colorado's own Vance Kirkland is celebrated here with his famous dot paintings that required a unique contraption that you'll learn about. The collections are shown in salon-style format, combining decorative and fine art in different rooms. 

 

Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library

An extensive collection of exhibits and reference materials traces Black history in the West. The library also houses extensive collections of publications, personal papers, church histories and artworks that document everything from political to music history.

 

American Museum of Western Art 

It's the Wild West of art museums in an 1880s building. The Anschutz Collection houses 300-plus paintings from more than 180 artists.

 

Black American West Museum & Heritage Center  

The museum details the contributions Blacks made to the settlement of the American West and brings the stories vividly alive through historic photographs and rare artifacts. The building itself was once the home of Dr. Justina Ford, Colorado’s first African American female doctor.

 

Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) 

Learn about terrorism's history in the world and how to prevent it in the future at this unique learning center. There are extensive interactive displays and multimedia presentations.

 

Denver Firefighters Museum 

Explore the heroic history of the fire department and learn about fire safety and prevention through a dynamic mix of exhibits, hands-on activity stations and educational programs. If you have kids, they'll especially love it. 

 

Center for Colorado Women’s History

Located in an Italianate-style historic home built in 1883, hear remarkable stories of Colorado’s women pioneers. You can take a 45-minute guided museum tour.

 

National Ballpark Museum

One of the finest baseball collections in the world is located near Coors Field. Highlights include a tribute to Colorado baseball history, seats from classic ballparks, one-of-a-kind baseball artifacts, autographed jerseys, baseballs, uniforms and bats.