This is a great little taste of Japan just off the bustling traffic of Colorado Boulevard -- it's…read moreone of the Denver Sister Cities International's designated parks that symbolize the close relationships we have with our Sister Cities. We've been Takayama's Sister City for over 60 years, and we have deep close friendships with the people of Takayama. It's a city nestled in the "Japanese Alps" that famous for craftsmanship, artistry, and the Hida region's wagyu beef. The Denver Takayama Sister City Committee (www.denvertakayama.org) hosts events throughout the year, and sponsors both adult and student trips to Japan, and welcome trips from Takayama. Each spring and fall, we meet at this very cool little park to trim the bonsai trees, pull weeds and clean up the site.

For years living in Denver I had no idea why there was a City of Takayama Park... (Or a City of…read moreBrest Park, or a City of Cuernavaca Park, etc.) As it turns out, Denver participates in the Sister Cities International Program and has ten sister cities, including Takayama in Japan. Takayama became Denver's sister city back in 1960. It is said that the two cities share similar traits, including mountainous geography nearby. The relationship has lead to many cultural exchanges over the years. As a park, City of Takayama isn't the most fascinating in you'll ever find. It is mainly open space between the wooded north edge of Cherry Creek and Cherry Creek North Drive. It's main feature is that the Cherry Creek Trail runs through it, which is a great trail that runs all the way out to the reservoir - I personally miss biking this on a regular basis when I lived in Denver. Other than that, there are a few markers that note the relationship between the two cities. Perhaps this is not a destination park, really one that you just pass through or drive by. But, kind of cool to know that there is something more behind it. You can also find out more about the Denver Sister Cities Program at: http://denversistercities.org/

This is one of Denver's smallest parks with 80 acres surrounded by the Capitol Hill neighborhood…read moreand the Denver Botanic Gardens on the east side. There is both a paved and gravel path around the outside perimeter and a large grassed open space inside. There are 4 walk-in entrances on the west side and 3 entrances on the east side. No parking inside. A part of the former loop road which closed in 2020 is open to cars on 12th Ave. No car access from 8th or 13th Ave. Plenty of porta-potties including handicap accessible. No other services. I walked around the park from the southwest corner in 35 minutes, about 3500 steps.There is a marble pavilion on the east erected in 1907 with rose gardens on both north & south sides and 3 fountains fscing west when Spring returns. I had difficulty in finding street parking on the west side. During my walk, I saw plenty of spots to park on the east side.

Cheesman park is always a good time. During the warmer months this place is full of life! Great…read morespot to spend the day!

The day started at union station and for awhile did not know if the guide was going to show up…read more When time came, two guides popped out, split people into two group and led us to the van. PRO TIP: try avoiding the most back row if you have long legs or any stress with mobility. Because once you sit there, the seat is assigned and you will have to deal with being cramped in a tighter space. And you basically are always the last one to get off. This was one of the biggest cons. Moving on, the tour itself was great. We stopped by a cafe on the way to and back, for food and bathroom breaks, and pretty soon, the van took us to the Rocky Mountain with beautiful views and even saw many wildlife - the big horn sheep, elk, deer (i think), and, not to forget, smaller animals like birds, mouse, and chipmunks, but no moose spotted. Nonetheless, the breathtaking view of the Rockies is certainly worth the journey. The guide was very knowledgeable about trees and shared many stories about the places and tips for visiting Denver in general! She also took us to a few Native American owed stores that featured indigenous art that were very cool to see. One thing to note is that I think the Colorado Sightseer, the tour company, had listed at least two slightly different itineraries, and I might have been sent to the one I did not pick. I noticed because I intentionally picked the tour with visits to two visitor centers, vs the one I went on only took us to Beaver Meadows. Not a big deal bc I did get still get my stamp, and the tour used most of the day's time efficiently by visiting many attractions. But this might be something you want to make sure if the stops matter a lot to you. Nonetheless, with a group tour, it is understandable and expected for the itinerary to potentially change. For instance, the day I went, the tour guide actually too us to visit places in different order to avoid crowds. Another thing to really appreciate is that the tour provided some snacks, extra gloves/beanies, which were really a lifesaver in the cold mountains. I know I was not fully prepared for it and so glad I could borrower some!

Our day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was great. Anne was a super guide, giving us loads of…read moreinformation about the area. Bonus was her recommendations for places to each in Denver. I wish we had a Lo Dough in the OC!

Cranmer Park is a beautiful park on the north side of the Cherry Creek Shopping District and…read moreneighborhood. It's main attraction is the sundial that is installed in the middle of the park and can be used all year long. There is also a detailed history of the surrounding area inscribed in the concrete around the sundial. Good place to visit while in the area.

A lovely huge green space that boasts soccer fields, picnic areas, and the famous sundial. No…read morepedestrian path, but you can make your way around the lawn easily enough. Fantastic place to bring the dogs (but no fence around the place as it isn't a dog park, so be careful if your pup is prone to running off) and there were probably a dozen getting their exercise in when I visited. One of the main draws is the view - on a clear day, you can see from Pike's Peak to Long's Peak.

Yesterday was community day for Pokémon players hoping to get lucky and catching a shiny lechonk…read more It was a very pleasant day and the park was very blissful with patrons enjoying the park and the day. I will say it was very disappointing as there weren't many Pokemon players like there used to be back in the day. Due to my back injuries I couldn't enjoy the park as long as I used to.

What a marvelous park! So conducive to many different athletic hobbies! Not to mention a birder's…read moreparadise! Loved how easy it was to park. This park has me thinking about moving to Denver ;-)

I love this place. It was the old "Eggs & Bacon." they tore up the old one and went with a more…read morefun and bigger Looney Tunes theme rebuild. My kid loves it.

Garland Park is a extremely large park that is tucked away in the four mile history neighborhood…read more It encompasses several large sports fields and also connects to the Cherry Creek trail and other walking and biking trails. A quick peek through the trees and you can spot small but spectacular cascading water falls and other features from the flowing creek. A good place to stop and visit.

Use to be my favorite place Great spot for dogs and kids.Beautiful place Wonderful memories.Always…read morevisit when in when I am in Denver.The best park ever.

Lovely place to spend time in but skip the cafe; the food is dire and the employees can't make…read moreespresso drinks to save their lives. ;D Go there for the plants and nature; for the peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, to take pictures, to learn about plants, or just to relax in the most fantastic "park" in the city. Highly recommended... except for the cafe. ;)

I enjoy the peacefulness and serenity of walking through Botanical Gardens. We were in town for…read morespring break and I read that the Denver Botanic Gardens was amazing. We decided to check it out. We arrived to Denver Botanic Gardens on a Saturday morning. The gardens are located in a nice lush area in Denver. Free parking is accessible in the parking garage across. There's nothing better than starting your morning with a brisk walk through a natural setting of tranquility. I felt that with the Denver Botanic Gardens as soon as we started our journey. Besides the magnificent vast variety of curated plants and flowers, there was themed gardens, harmonious architecture, indoor conservatories, and cultural ponds. The Japanese gardens were my favorite. A cozy cafe is available for small bites and refreshments as well. The property is extensive and immense but just the right size to explore. There were plenty of benches everywhere to relax and rest. I found that to be a nice touch. Beautiful picture opportunities were boundless. Overall we enjoyed our experience at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The staff were all nice and accommodating. The atmosphere was welcoming and family friendly. Price point was fair. I would love to share the experience with other loved ones when we eventually come back into town.

This is my favorite local park. It is decently sized and located east of Speer Blvd and west of…read moreMonroe Street. Monroe Street ends at Speer Blvd which you can only go North/West on. A one way street which many seem to not realize. It has a private parking area and street parking. The north side has the tennis courts and a children's playground. It is also a dog park and many people take their dogs here. There are a LOT of mature trees and some benches. I don't see trash cans, so not sure who maintains the park. In the summer time the trees provide a lot of nice shade to have a picnic. I frequently see games of tag football, regular football, frisbee and fetch with the furry companions. I have enjoyed many lunches and even some dinners here watching the sunset behind the Rockies. I take my trash with me to dispose of at home or elsewhere that has a trash can. I have seen many people pick up after their pets, which I think is fabulous. Make sure you bring bags to do this too! I am not sure if any are provided for at the park. I haven't seen any. Overall a wonderful green and clean park!

We went here for a festival and there wasn't much shade, parking, or things for the kids to do…read more There's the playground section, but it was crowded at the time. The festival had good food, but the overall layout wasn't arranged well.