Aurora
Although it is one of Colorado’s largest cities, Aurora is best known as a Denver suburb. This area includes Stapleton, Denver’s former airport. Stapleton has been redeveloped into an urban neighborhood with a traditional Main Street, shops, and a farmer’s market. Aurora’s other highlights include Buckley Air Force Base and the Plains Conservation Center, an 1,100-acre plant and wildlife preserve.
Castle Rock
Named for a prominent rock formation, Castle Rock sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains, within the lovely East Plum Creek Valley. A walk through this historic town offers a full range of shopping and dining experiences—from boutiques to the Outlets at Castle Rock, fast food to gourmet. Tee off at the Red Hawk Ridge Municipal Golf Course, or try a fanciful hot air balloon ride.
Centennial - Tech Center
Known locally as DTC, the Denver Tech Center is located about 30 minutes from downtown Denver. This suburb teems with commercial buildings and corporate offices. At night, white-collar workers unwind during happy hour at nearby pubs and sports bars. Or head to Park Meadows Mall or Southwest Plaza for shopping, dinner, and arcades.
Cherry Creek - Glendale
This neighborhood combines irresistible charm and tree-lined street with some of Denver’s best dining and shopping, like the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Cafés, restaurants, and coffee shops are interspersed among art galleries and day spas. Fillmore Plaza, the local town square, hosts ice skating in winter, a free movie series in the summer, and a parade of culinary and musical events.
Denver International Airport
Locals joke that the Denver International Airport is a shopping mall with a runway. Roughly 80 retailers and restaurants do business at the airport, one of the nation’s busiest. Located 15 miles east of downtown, the airport area caters to travelers who have early or late flights. Nearby, environmental work is helping turn the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge into an urban oasis.
Downtown Denver
Contemporary skyscrapers and the historic Lower Downtown (LoDo) make up downtown. Situated near Coors Field and the Pepsi Center, local bars and restaurants make LoDo the go-to place for Avalanche, Nuggets, and Rockies parties. The Denver Art Museum, Colorado History Museum, Denver Performing Arts Complex, and the I.M Pei-designed 16th Street Mall satisfy the desire for high culture and couture.
Golden
Colorado’s first capital city is home to Coors, one of the world’s largest breweries. Take a free tour, and enjoy free samples. Explore the historical architecture and the numerous museums, including the Colorado Railroad Museum. Buffalo Bill’s Gravesite and Museum retells Wild West lore. Nearby, The Clear Creek path offers hikers and bicyclists a healthy way to see the magnificent mountains.
Lakewood
Boasting a strong arts and cultural community, Lakewood is home to the Washington Heights Arts Center; the Lakewood Cultural Center, a large facility with a 310-seat theater; and the Belmar Center with shops and restaurants, a 400-person covered plaza terrace, and an outdoor skate rink. Numerous recreational parks offer amazing views of the Rocky Mountains, a sure inspiration to the local artists.
Littleton - Highlands Ranch
Easy to get to via light rail, spend the day exploring Littleton’s charming Main Street, where shops are tucked into historic, old buildings. The nearby Littleton Historic Museum has two working farms where visitors can interact with sheep, chickens, cows, and horses—a reminder that this suburb was once farming and cattle community.
Westminster
Located about 20 minutes northwest of Denver, Westminster once hosted the country’s largest apple and cherry orchards. Today, it boasts Waterworld, one of the nation’s largest water parks. That cool water will seem especially inviting after the annual Holy Cow Trail Stampede, a 10-k race 14 years running. The Westminster Mall offers the usual department stores plus 140 other shops.
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