Everyone Should Explore These 10 Stunning Places Around Denver At Least Once
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R. Phillips
Author
No matter if you’ve lived in the Mile High City all your life or recently transplanted here, these stunning places around Denver offer endless opportunities for discovery, whatever your pleasure. From unbelievable architectural marvels to awe-inspiring natural wonders, there’s so much to explore in our magnificent metropolis nestled at the base of the Rockies. If you haven’t visited these spectacular spots as of late, go ahead and be a tourist in your own town and learn a little history and heritage along the way.
There is much to explore in and around the Colorado State Capitol and Civic Center Park. The eye-catching dome contains gold leaf that was mined in Colorado and added to the building in 1908 in honor of the Colorado Gold Rush, while the interior boasts White Yule Marble from state quarries and is believed to be the entire supply of Colorado Rose Onyx. Also of note is that the 13th step leading to the west entrance is exactly one mile high. (Photo op!)
What was founded as the Denver Artist's Club in 1893, has since grown into a monumental display of art and architecture, with over 70,000 works on permanent display. The North Building, constructed in 1971, is a 210,000-foot, seven-story structure which has a castle-like facade and more than one million reflective glass tiles on its exterior, and the Hamilton Building, which opened in 2006, was inspired by the geology of the Rockies, contains 9,000 titanium panels to reflect the Colorado sunshine, and has a whopping 146,000-square-feet of collections to explore.
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You can't miss the distinctive Daniel & Fisher Tower located on the 16th Street Mall Downtown. It stands at 325 feet tall and has a four-sided 20-floor clock tower with a 2½ ton bell above its observation deck. When it was built in 1910, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi, and today you can still experience unmatched views of the Denver skyline, Rocky Mountains, and beyond.
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Denver's Union Station has been the central transportation hub and railway station for the Mile High City since its inception in 1881. Following a massive renovation that was completed in 2014, it's now home to a plethora of notable shops, restaurants, bars, and even a luxury hotel.
The Denver Performing Arts Complex sits on 12 acres, covers four city blocks, and is the second largest performing arts center in the nation after the Lincoln Center in NYC. It houses 10 performance spaces with over 10,000 seats, connected by a glass roof that is an impressive 80 feet tall.
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Don't miss a visit to the whimsical Dancers, while you're exploring the grounds at DPAC. This massive and unique sculpture designed by Jonathan Borofsky towers 60 feet high, is constructed of 25 tons of steel and fiberglass, and is accompanied by a piece of music composed by the artist which plays continuously from speakers at the base of the installation. Sure you may have driven by this masterpiece dozens of times, but have you taken the time to truly explore its excellence?
The Denver Millennium Bridge is the first of its kind IN THE WORLD! It boasts state of the art construction and engineering techniques to support its dramatic 200-foot mast with post-tensioned steel cables connecting the deck and foundation. It's also one of our beloved city's most stunning spots to snap photographs, so be sure to have your camera in tow.
With 23 acres containing 45 gardens and over 30,000 plants, the Denver Botanic Gardens has something splendid to experience no matter what time of year you visit.
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The Denver Museum of Nature and Science was conceived in 1868, founded in 1900, and now boasts over 1,000,000 objects and artifacts on display at their 716,000-square-foot complex at City Park. And don't dare miss out on visiting the 5,000-square-foot Anschutz Family Sky Terrace located on the 4th level of the West Atrium of the museum with phenomenal views of City Park, the Denver skyline, and the magnificent Rocky Mountains.
From awe-inspiring geological wonders to the legendary amphitheatre, Red Rocks Park offers 868 acres of nature trails, local wildlife, sweeping vistas, shopping, dining, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, and more. Whatever you fancy, you'll discover it at the remarkably unique Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre.
For more moments of Mile High discovery check out these 14 Secret Spots Around Denver Where Nature Will Completely Relax You This Fall.
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