Looking for the perfect way to wrap up your Southwest summer travels and activities? Warmer days bring countless ways to play in Denver. From cultural festivals to outdoor adventures, Denver has no shortage of adventure and fun for everyone. Below, Visit Denver put together a variety of diverse and dynamic seasonal highlights and places to go. Next stop: Denver!

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New in Denver

Summer 2024 has added a host of new hotels, festivals, restaurants and more to The Mile High City, including the highly-anticipated Populus Hotel, opening this season as the first carbon-positive hotel in the country.

New restaurants are arriving in every neighborhood, including Kawa Ni, an izakaya-style pub and eatery in LoHi; Traveling Mercies from James Beard Award–winning chef Caroline Glover; and Blackbelly Market, the second location of the Boulder-based, Michelin Green Star-recipient deli, Corsica, serving coastal French- and Italian-inspired shareable plates.

Art and culture

Denver’s arts scene shines brighter than ever with blockbuster exhibits and street art. The Denver Art Museum has an abundance of exhibits for explorative minds, including Biophilia: Nature Reimagined, brining together more than 70 imaginative works, including architectural models and photographs, objects, fashion, digital installations and immersive art experiences that collectively highlight the transformative power of nature (Exhibit ends August 11). The museum is also featuring “Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place” through Oct. 2024. The exhibition was created by photographer Fazal Sheikh, who created three projects on the Colorado Plateau from 2017 to early 2023.

While the weather is warm, visitors can get their art fix on during First Friday art walks across the city, from  The Art District on Santa Fe to RiNo and Tennyson Street. And returning for its second year, Denver Walls mural festival, part of the globally-renowned World Wide Walls, will take place from Oct. 3-5, 2024 in RiNo.

Outdoor activities

Outdoor enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the “Spirit Guides Outdoor Art Tour” at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Experience the wonder and awe of Spirit Guides in the gardens on this tour that explores the outdoor sculpture exhibition as well as related plant themes.

Denver is a biker’s paradise with its seemingly endless bike lanes and trails. With over 20,000 acres of city and mountain parkland and more than 250 individual urban parks, there are endless ways to soak up a sunny day with friends and family (and get a work out in).

For those looking for a Rocky Mountain adventure, Rocky Mountain National Park offers a treasure trove of activities from ample hiking trails to wildlife watching or simply admiring the splendor of the scenery. 

Culinary Delights

Indulge in Denver’s award-winning culinary scene, featuring diverse cuisines and innovative dining experiences. Check out one of Denver’s 26 Michelin Guide-recognized restaurants, sample favorites at local food halls or savor seasonal offerings at Denver’s many farm-to-table restaurants. Enjoy a Colorado-brewed beer on a warm patio with friends or sip on seasonal cocktails at some of the best cocktail lounges and speakeasies in the region.

Family-friendly fun

Explore Denver’s prehistoric history on fossil-rich land at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science or Dinosaur Ridge. There are endless free or discounted activities for kids of all ages.

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, Denver’s downtown amusement park is offering a buy one day, get the rest of the summer free opportunity. “The Fun Pass” is $62.99 and includes unlimited park admission through October 13.

Music and performing arts

Denver’s vibrant music scene hosts a wide range of live performances at iconic outdoor amphitheaters such as Red Rocks or intimate venues such as the Bluebird or Ogden Theater on Colfax Ave. There are opportunities to experience live music in Denver all summer long, including City Park Jazz, the summer concert series at the Denver Botanic Gardens and free concerts at Levitt Pavilion. Don’t miss an intimate jazz show and dinner at Denver’s Nocturne. Denver also hosts multiple music festivals, including the Five Points Jazz Festival, which is celebrating 20 years this summer and Underground Music Showcase. There is something for every music taste.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Off-Center, an immersive and experiential theatre, will launch a new show running from July 11 through August 11, 2024. Titled “Dark Field,” the show is Making its US premiere in Denver this summer following sold-out runs reaching over 500,000 audience members in the UK, Australia, Asia, and Mexico. It is a spine-tingling collection of immersive audio experiences inside custom-built shipping containers — and in complete darkness. Darkfield utilizes its signature 360-degree audio along with sensory effects and hyper-realistic sets to place you in the middle of intense narratives that will leave you questioning reality. Located behind The Ramble Hotel.

Summer in Denver offers something for everyone, from arts and culture to outdoor adventure and culinary delights. For more information on planning your summer getaway to Denver, check out Visit Denver.