Denver Art Museum

This Denver Art Museum is unique because it specializes in Native American and Western art. Inside the Denver Art Museum you will find a huge collection of Native American Art. The American Indian art galleries hold nearly 20,000 pieces of art from cultures and tribes all over the United States and Canada. The collection includes Pueblo ceramics, Navajo textiles, sculpture, basketry, beadwork and oil paintings. Check out the famous painting “Long Jakes,” by Charles Deas or the bronze sculpture “The Cheyenne” by famous American sculptor, Frederic Remington.

The museum is also home to many more galleries, including Modern art, Asian Art, African Art and Photography. There are lots of spots in the museum to get involved in art! Every gallery has a new adventure. Dress up in robes and hats from imperial china, solve an Oceanic puzzle, play African instruments or get your hands in some clay in the Mud Studio. On your way out, or your way in, stop and admire the cool design of the Frederic C. Hamilton building.

City Park

This park is not only the largest park in Denver, but is also home to the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The park has two lakes, trails for jogging and walking, children's playgrounds, tennis courts, athletic fields and an 18-hole golf course. The 80-acre Zoo is home to over 4000 animals, representing 700 different species. Animals of all kinds will delight you, including lemurs, leopards, Siberian tigers, Komodo dragons, king cobras, black rhinos, vampire bats, gorillas and more. Be amazed by Predator Ridge, the Komodo dragon habitat and Primate Panorama, three highlights of the zoo.

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is the place to go to learn about all things in our world and beyond. This interactive museum explores everything from the lives of animals and insects to the study of gems and minerals. Take a look at outer space in the Space Odyssey exhibit or head to the Expedition Health exhibit to look at cells from your own body. Go back in time and look at x-rays of real Egyptian mummies or explore a Cheyenne tipi.

Colorado Railroad Museum

If you love trains, this is the spot for you! The Colorado Railroad Museum takes you through the lively 125 year history of trains in Colorado. The Museum is located on 15 acres and all of the railroad equipment is on display outdoors. The Museum is home to more than 100 narrow and standard locomotives, cabooses and cars. Get up close to old cabooses, parlor-observation cars, post office cars and a Western coach car, to name a few. The museum building is a replica of a 1880s-style train depot. Exhibits include a working roundhouse, a fully functioning 90-foot, “Armstrong” turntable, model railroads, photographs and all things trains. Peek inside the window at the recreated depot telegrapher's office. If you happen to visit on a Saturday, take a quick ride on the historic Galloping Goose locomotive. All aboard!

Rocky Mountain National Park

You cannot go to Colorado without visiting the famous Rocky Mountains. This 400-square-mile National Park is only a 71 mile drive to Denver and is an easy day trip. Once in the park you can enjoy more than 350 miles of trails, walk through valleys of wildflowers, check out amazing waterfalls, and visit over 150 lakes, forests, snowcapped peaks and 60 mountains taller than 12,000 feet. If you like climbing rocks, there are boulders everywhere on the trail to Gem Lake. Wildlife sightings may include elk, moose, beaver, big horn sheep, three-toed woodpeckers and eagles.

The Beaver Boardwalk near the beginning of Trail Ridge Road leads you over a pond that was once home to a group of busy beavers. Their story is told on signs along the walkway. Sometimes during the summer, the bighorn sheep come down to Sheep Lakes. Don't forget to get your Junior Ranger Badge! Pick up a "Rocky's Junior Ranger Program" booklet at a Ranger Station or Information Center and become a Junior Ranger by completing the activities in the booklet.