Denver

HISTORY

Denver has a rich history, starting as a gold mining town and quickly becoming a hub for other mountain mining areas, then a main stop for the railroad, bringing in more people. After World War II, Denver began to change from being mostly dependent on the processing and shipping of minerals and ranching products to a more urban area. Federal activity and oil and gas development fueled an increase in downtown buildings and suburbs grew from this as well.

Today, Denver is home to a variety of businesses, including technology and retail along with the oil and gas and federal components. The "Mile High City" has over 700,000 residents in the city, and with the combined metro area, over 3 million residents! People come to Denver for work and for play, enjoying all the great outdoor activities the state has to offer and the beautiful sunshine.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Downtown

The downtown area is large and thriving, and you'll see lots of people walking and biking to get around. Between business skyscrapers and mid-rise to high-rise condos, there are also tons of options for dining, shopping and entertainment. One of the main attractions through downtown is 16th Street, where there is a free shuttle to take you up and down blocks that house a high concentration of eating and retail options. Other areas to explore in "LoDo" (Lower Downtown) include the historic Larimer Square and the Dairy Block, as well as Union Station, where you will also connect to the light rail that can take you to many suburbs or the airport.

Entertainment

If you are looking for fun, Denver has so many options to choose from! The State Capitol and the U.S. Mint offer tours. There are many museums including the Denver Art Museum or the Denver Museum of Nature and Science - even a Children's Museum full of hands on fun for the little ones. For nature lovers, check out the Denver Zoo, the Downtown Aquarium, or the Denver Botanic Gardens. If shopping and restaurants in downtown aren't enough, you can also try Cherry Creek Shopping District. You can also spend a day at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park for roller coasters on one side and a large water park on the other!

Denver also has multiple professional sports teams, offering you plenty of options to cheer on your favorite football, basketball, hockey, baseball and even lacrosse and soccer players! And, if you'd prefer some music or theater, Denver has that too! Concert venues range from the large Pepsi Center or Fiddler's Green, to smaller but popular venues like the Ogden, FIllmore or Bluebird. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a large complex encompassing the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Buell Theater and so many more.

Parks and Trails

Coloradans love to be outside, so Denver has over 80 miles of off-street trails within city limits. These often connect to on-street bike lanes and to trails into other suburbs. See more at the Denver Government website. Denver also has parks throughout the city, including multiple dog parks, as well as many recreation centers, swimming pools, and eight golf facilities.