Dinosaur Ridge is home to some of the most famous and well preserved dinosaur tracks in the world…read moremaking it a must-visit if you're a dinosaur or natural history/science lover in the Denver area! Technically entry to the attraction is free. Visitors are welcome to hike the trail that takes you past the preserved prints and fossils and interpretive signs in the area but on both visits I've been I've opted to do the bus tour (and I'm always glad about it during the drive up the large hill). I find that doing the driven tour gives additional context that I would never have if I just walked the trail myself (which is usually the case) or they point out things I would never have noticed on my own...like the raptor claw on the cliffside. Doing the guided bus tour also gives you entry into the small single-room museum that's next door to the gift shop. Plan to spend between 1-1.5 hours here (if going the tour route).

Next time I may pay for the tour bus instead but just couldn't stomach $30 a head. We hiked up to…read morethe main Croc River sighting area and definitely saw a lot. Thinking all the events happened millions of years ago and during the Cretaceous Era when much of what we saw was under water. Since clouds, thunder and lightning were approaching, the staff warned us about the potential of being called back. Thankfully once we hit the trail the weather was good other than being cloudy. Saw a lot, learned a lot and experienced the wonderful world of hiking uphill. haha. Definitely worth it and will be back soon to check out the entire ridge!

Bears are my favorite animal, and blue is my favorite color. Who knew there would be such a bright…read moresight greeting us all at the convention center for our conference? The Big Blue Bear gets 5 stars from me! Fun for the whole family to take pictures with!

Cool little spot to take Photos especially if you're attending a conference at the Convention…read moreCenter The sculpture is huge.

Millennium Bridge is what happens when Denver decides a staircase over train tracks needs a…read morebranding strategy. On paper, it's a pedestrian bridge connecting the Union Station side of downtown to Commons Park. In practice, it is one of Denver's most self-aware pieces of infrastructure. It does not just help you cross from one area to another. It makes sure you know you are having an experience. The bridge goes up and over the railroad tracks just south of Union Station, which gives the crossing more drama than your average urban walkway. You are not just getting from downtown to the other side. You are ascending above rail lines, light rail, and the low-grade chaos of that whole area like a person briefly rising above Denver's ongoing negotiation with itself. The design is civic theater. Big white mast. Cables. Clean lines. Early 2000s optimism. It has "public project that wanted to be iconic" energy. Denver could have built a plain functional bridge. Instead it said, no, let's make this pedestrian overpass look like it's aspirational. And then there are the stairs. The stairs are where the bridge really reveals itself. Because yes, this is a sleek architectural statement. But it is also, very literally, a bunch of stairs asking whether you meant it when you said you wanted to walk. There are elevators, thankfully, for anyone with luggage, mobility needs, or no interest in turning a casual crossing into a leg day. Denver may give you the aesthetic, but it would also like you to put in a little effort. What the bridge connects is actually useful. Union Station, downtown, and the 16th Street area on one side. Commons Park and the Platte Valley side on the other. So yes, it serves a real purpose. But it also feels like one of those places where Denver gets to pretend it's a denser, more polished city for about six minutes. The vibe is extremely local. A little aspirational. A little performative. A little windy. You cross it and see trains below, glass towers nearby, and just enough skyline to think, okay, maybe this town does clean up well. Then somebody on a scooter whips by, a runner treats the stairs like Red Rocks training, and your trance breaks. That is probably why the bridge works. It is dramatic without being truly grand. Useful without being humble. A piece of infrastructure with main-character syndrome. Would cross again.

Beautiful Denver Millennium Bridge is the world's first cable-stayed bridge using post-tensioned…read morestructural construction. It's located near downtown in Riverfront Park. The bridge is one of 3 pedestrian bridges between Downtown Denver and the Highland neighborhood. The 1st pedestrian bridge crosses the train tracks, 2nd a creek & 3rd interstate 25. These 3 bridges were built in 2002 & cost $9,000,000 each.

As downtown Denver grew, the need for urban landscape also grew. The downtown area needed greenery…read moreand as a result Skyline park was born. It was created as part of the Skyline Urban Renewal Project launched by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority in 1964 to redevelop downtown areas. Constructed began in 1972 and lasted until 1975 and was designed by acclaimed landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. Halprin designed the sunken, three-block plaza with geometric concrete planters, stepped seating, and canyon-like fountains meant to mimic Colorado's red-stone foothills and natural arroyos. Documented as the first project in the nation to survey a mid-century modern landscape through the Historic American Landscapes Survey. By the 1980s, use of the park dropped, and the sunken, walled design faced criticism for being hard to maintain, difficult to host events, and attracting crime and homeless people. After a long debate between preservationists and business owners, much of Halprin's original sunken design was demolished or altered in 2003, removing berms and replacing most features with flat lawns and a simpler layout. In February 2026 on a $30 million comprehensive transformation led by Denver Parks & Recreation, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and the design firm RIOS. The renovation removes remaining barriers and stairs to create a flat, accessible space for downtown, featuring a central interactive water plaza that converts into an ice-skating rink in the winter, a new park café/bar, fire terraces, and open event spaces. Phase 1 construction is targeted to continue through 2027.

I wandered in expecting a patch of grass downtown, but it turned out to be more than that--a little…read moreurban playground wedged between buildings, where something's always happening. In the summer, kids are running through splash pads and people lounge with iced coffees like it's their personal terrace. Winter? There's an ice rink and a cozy little vibe that makes downtown feel like a Hallmark movie. It's not huge, but it packs in charm--ping pong tables, food trucks, random art, and the kind of people-watching you only get in a place that never really quiets down. It's one of those spots you don't plan on staying long in... but somehow, you do.

We had such an amazing time white water rafting with Liquid Descent! Our guide, Kayla, was…read morefantastic. She made us feel safe and comfortable from the very beginning, and gave clear instructions so we always knew what to do. She tailored our ride to how "spicy" we wanted to make it, so since it was our first time rafting, that made us feel great. The trip was the perfect level of excitement for us as beginners. It was fun, thrilling, and adventurous without ever feeling overwhelming. My sons, ages 10 and 13, had an absolute blast and want to plan another trip back. We even got to see a bald eagle along the river, it was phenomenal. The weather was perfect, and the whole experience was incredibly well organized. It's also just under two hours from Denver, making it a great day trip. We really appreciated the free parking, and they kept our car keys safely in the office while we were out on the river. We felt completely comfortable leaving everything else locked in our car. We couldn't have asked for a better first rafting experience. We would absolutely recommend them to anyone, especially families and first-time rafters. Definitely opt for the photo package too - the pictures we received were stunning and memorable. Huge thanks to Kayla and the Liquid Descent team!

I can't say enough good things about our experience with Liquid Descent. My daughter and I signed…read moreup for the beginner rafting trip... and while she was excited... I was terrified. I was so nervous walking in, but from the moment we arrived, every single staff member made us feel welcomed, safe, and supported. Our guide, Koa, was the perfect balance of fun, kind, and incredibly skilled. He guided us through the rapids with such confidence and ease while also making sure everyone felt safe and included. He checked in on us several times throughout and made sure we were having fun, asked us if we wanted to "spice it up" a bit or keep it mellow and just really let us know this was "our" trip and he's cater to what we wanted. I quickly found myself letting go of fear and enjoying the moment... something I didn't expect would happen. Koa's energy was contagious, and his calm, respectful nature made us feel like we were in the best hands possible. At one point on the river, another rafting company had a mishap and we had to pull over and wait for them to recover and get their riders back into the raft safely. Koa explained what had happened with total grace - no judgment, no gossip - just a calm and respectful explanation. He also spoke so kindly of his own coworkers and even the owner of Liquid Descent. You could tell he genuinely cares about the rafting community and takes pride in his work and LOVES his Liquid Descent family! Every employee we encountered was friendly, encouraging, and helpful - from getting us fitted with helmets and life jackets to cheering us on as we headed out. As someone who started out nervous, that kind of supportive vibe made a huge difference. They encouraged me, and they helped me push past my comfort zone in the best way possible. What a GREAT memory! We will remember this day not only for the thrill of the rapids, but for the kindness and heart of the people who guided us through it! If you are considering rafting in Colorado, go with Liquid Descent. I'm so glad we did!

The famous 40-foot giant Blue Bear--officially named "I See What You Mean" by artist Lawrence…read moreArgent--is located at the Colorado Convention Center in Downtown Denver. You can find it peering into the building along 14th Street, right between Stout Street and California Street (just a couple of blocks away from Larimer Square and the 16th Street Mall). You can't visit downtown Denver without stopping by 'I See What You Mean' (aka the Big Blue Bear) at the Colorado Convention Center. Standing 40 feet high on 14th Street, it's one of the most charming public art installations in the city. Fun fact: the iconic bright blue color was actually a printing mistake during the design process, but the artist loved it! It's completely free to visit, highly walkable from nearby spots like Larimer Square, and always brings a smile.

Our favorite art install of the Big Blue Bear. This is right next to the convention center and…read moreclose to the 16th street mall.

A quick yet beautiful spot! It was quite a busy time for instagrammers we walked through the path…read moreand made the most of the view! I wore my crampons because it was icy and chilly. Gorgeous with the snowy mountains.

Great free park. If you're only in Denver for a short time and want to see mountains and the…read moreplains, this is the spot. Not far off I-70. Some light trails if you want some exercise at 7400 feet. Always a little Cooler up here. I wish they never closed the snack bar/ gift shop. There are bathrooms and a pretty good amount of parking. The buffalo bill museum still exists in its "old form." See it soon before the city/county of Denver (the owner of all this land, despite it being well outside Denver city limits) changes it.

Crossing the Highland Bridge in Denver feels like walking a ribbon of modern design stretched high…read moreabove the rush of the city. One side is the bustling LoDo district, the other the quieter charm of the Highlands--and in between, this graceful steel arch gently carries you across I-25 like it's no big deal. The bridge itself is sleek, with curved railings and soft lights that glow just enough at night to make it feel welcoming, not flashy. I passed joggers, cyclists, a couple holding coffee cups and deep conversation, all moving along like this walkway was their favorite shortcut--and honestly, I get it. It's not just functional, it's scenic. From the middle of the bridge, you get a postcard view of Denver's skyline, especially stunning at sunset when the city lights start flickering to life. The hum of the highway below fades out just enough to let the moment feel peaceful. It's a short walk, but one that makes the city feel more connected--like two worlds meeting in midair.

"People are unhappy because they build walls instead of bridges. Let them be known as Bridge…read moreBuilders." - K. Orion (on the plaque) This is a cool 320 foot cable bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists. The triple rib steel arch is approximately 70 ft high at its' apex. The bridge deck is suspended by the cable stays! There are actually three bridges that are used to get from 16th Street in the Highland Neighborhood to Commons Park near Union Station in Downtown Denver. The first two bridges are Platte River Bridge and the Millennium Bridge. On Google Maps, the Highland Bridge & Platte River Bridge is called Highland Cable Bridge and ends in Commons Park. This particular bridge is the third one. It spans Interstate 25. It begins in the Highland Neighborhood community where everyone walks around. It for sure connects Central St & 16th Street to Platte Street Plaza on the south end near Platte Street. It may connect Platte Street Plaza to Commons Park if it is indeed part of the Highland Bridge. I'm a little befuddled. Earlier in the day, I parked over on Little Raven St and walked through Commons Park over to Platte Street. I deemed that Highland Bridge was too far to cross at the time. I drove my car to Central Street. I parked for free on Central Street close to the entrance of this bridge. If you're up for a walk and want to avoid parking meters in downtown, this is the place to park! I walked across the bridge from Central to Platte Street Plaza. There's a circular ramp that you can use if you prefer to use it over stairs. Great option for bicycles, skaters, wheelchairs & ADA compliant. The bridge deck is 13 feet high. This circular ramp has this sculpture called National Velvet at the bottom. It's an oddity to say the least. ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/national-velvet-denver?hrid=WCAitjhje8Tjf-HrHljjPg&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) ) Over on Platte Street, I visited the Habit Doughnut Dispensary. It was such a hot walk, but the doughnut place had their outdoor misters on and that was such a relief. I sat inside to eat my doughnut before heading back. Once i was back at Central Street, I debated on walking to Little Man Ice Cream. Since I was already overheating, I chose to drive up to it. I almost regretted that decision because the free parking was all taken. There is a paid lot across the street, but I wanted to avoid paying to park. After circling a few times, I finally got into a spot in front of the store! If you can endure the exercise from Central Street or further, it would be better to walk. This bridge is the perfect way to get from Point A to Point B (or anywhere in between)! I stopped over the Interstate to watch the cars below. The bridge is easy to walk across. This is definitely a great addition to the other two bridges and the Highland Neighborhood!!