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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
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There is no shortage of reasons for a family to be drawn to the city of Denver, Colo., for a vacation. Denver is a thoroughly modern 21st-century city that has not lost touch with its western heritage. The city is also a gateway to the majestic grandeur of the Rocky Mountains and the recreational opportunities to be found there. Museums, performing arts, amusement parks, top professional sports teams Denver has it all, but this article is not about any of that. The Mile High City is also home to miles of beautiful parks. There is no better way to rest your feet from walking around the city’s sights, rest your eyes from the dazzle of coins you just saw pouring out of the U.S. Mint, or rub elbows with the locals, than to spend a couple of leisurely hours in one of these lovely urban oases. Right in the heart of the city is Civic Center Park, anchored on the east by the City and County Building, the Colorado State Capitol on the west, and the Denver Art Museum on the south. This park is often the scene of large public gatherings, but it can also strike one as the eye of the storm. Civic Center Park is a calm pool surrounded by the hectic swirl of government and commerce. If the pull to be doing something is just too strong, take a free guided tour of the capital, or just climb up to the building’s 13th step and find yourself exactly one mile above sea level. A couple of miles to the east, you will find City Park. This is the home of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as well as a spectacular view of Denver’s skyline. The museum is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. and contains exhibits on Colorado’s geologic history, dinosaurs, and prehistoric people, as well as an IMAX theater. From the museum’s entrance, cast your gaze out over the lake for a picture postcard view of the city’s skyline with the jagged spine of the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Just south of City Park is Cheesman Park, home of the Denver Botanic Gardens. The Gardens house more than 17,000 species of plants from around the world. While you stroll through this exquisite display of global flora, your kids can explore the Children’s Secret Path, a world of natural surprises designed just for them. Finally, if you want to do as the locals do, pack yourself a picnic lunch and find a nice shady spot around one of the lakes in Washington Park. This just scratches the surface when it comes to parks in the city of Denver, not to mention the more natural settings to be found just a short drive out of town in places like Echo Lake Park and Red Rocks, site of the Red Rocks Amphitheater. So pull out your map of Denver, put your finger on one of the many patches of green, and go. Michael J. Medley is a senior writer for Inland Empire Family Magazine. IF YOU GO For those traveling by air, Denver is served by the state-of-the-art Denver International Airport. For those traveling by car, I-25 and I-70 are the main north-south and east-west, respectively, routes through the city. Complete visitor’s information about the city of Denver can be found on the Internet at www.denver.org, or contact the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800.233.6837 to receive a free visitor’s guide. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd. For information, visit www.dmns.org or call 303.322.7009. The Denver Botanic Gardens is located at 1005 York St. For information, visit www.botanicgardens.org or call 720.865.3500.www.yellowstonesafari.com or call 866.586.1155. Compiled by Michael J. Medley |
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