Everyone’s looking for a bargain these days. And why not? The best things in life are free! The Mile-High City of Denver offers visitors some fabulous free things to do. Here are my picks:
Ride the 16th Street Trolley. The 16th Street Pedestrian Mall is the main thoroughfare in downtown Denver. Its 15 blocks are lined with dozens of shops and restaurants, and especially in the warm-weather months, there’s often streetside entertainment going on–from impromptu jugglers to musicians strumming guitars. The trolley that runs up and down the mall is free, so take a ride to get an overview of what’s along the mall, or to get from one end to another in a hurry.
Tour the U.S. Mint. Find out how money is made at Denver’s U.S. Mint building. Tours are free, offered on the hour from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Make a reservation on the Mint’s website; reservations are highly recommended, though you can take a chance that there will be availability for a walk-up tour.
Teach your kids at the Denver Art Museum. Families who visit the Denver Art Museum can ask for Family Backpacks, filled with activities, games and puzzles to do in several galleries, or Art Tubes, little mini-activities if you don’t have time tour the entire museum. Also, general admission to the DAM is completely free every first Saturday of the month. Otherwise, prices are $13 adults ($10 CO residents) and $5 for kids 6-18 ($3 CO residents).
Play at a park. Denver has more than 200 of them! Take a jog or ride your bike around Washington Park, with its pretty flower gardens in the summer. Bring the children to the swings and slides at Cheesman Park. Go fishing in Sloan’s Lake Park (adults need a fishing license; kids don’t).
Hit the trails. With more than 850 miles of off-street bike paths, it’s no wonder Denver residents are among the fittest in the nation! Make like the locals do on this vast urban trail system, and bike, walk, run or roller blade along the popular paved paths that follow Cherry Creek or the Platte River.
For more free or cheap things to do in Denver, check out the chock-full-of-deals website Mile High on the Cheap. Coupons, bargains, free admission and special MHOTC-reader promotions are compiled by in-the-know area residents and travel writers Claire Walter and Laura Daily.
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