Looking to do something on a strict budget? Check out this list for a free activity in Denver!
Red Rocks
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1439,1438,1437" orderby="rand"]
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is a staple visit for anyone in Colorado, as well as a fun free activity. The concerts and shows do require tickets, but when there isn’t an event going on the park is a great free place! There are tons of hiking trails to explore, and even a visitors center. Step inside and learn about all the amazing performers who have graced the Red Rocks stage over the years. You can also check out the Hall of Fame at the Trading Post! If you’re in need of a solid workout, join the people who use the stairs for their own personal gym! If gasping for air isn’t your style, bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery. This is definitely a can’t-miss free activity in Colorado.
Capitol Tour
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1440,1442"]
The Colorado State Capitol is a beautiful historic building located downtown. It also makes for an awesome free activity, especially if you’re particularly interested in Colorado’s history or our government. There are free, guided, 45-minute tours from 10am - 3pm every day the building is open. Visitors also have the option to go on a self-guided tour when the building is open, from 9am - 5pm Monday through Friday. The building does close on all state holidays excluding Martin Luther King Day and Presidents’ Day. If Colorado history interests you at all, you definitely will not want to miss this stop!
U.S. Mint Tour
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1444,1443"]
Did you know there are only four coin-producing mints in the country? They’re found in Denver (hence the inclusion on this list), Philadelphia, San Francisco, and West Point. The main U.S. Mint is found in Washington DC and is the only one in the country to print paper currency. The Denver Mint started producing currency in 1906, and also produced foreign coins for a period. They offer 45-minute long tours of the facility from 8am - 3:30pm Monday through Thursday. If you are planning on taking this tour please note that cameras, food, backpacks, and weapons are expressly not allowed on the tour. The Mint is also closed on federal holidays, so plan accordingly! This is a really fun and informative free activity, so be sure to check it out!
Coors Brewery
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1447,1445,1446"]
A national favorite, Coors beer is brewed right here in Golden! The brewery was founded in 1873 by Adolph Coors, a German immigrant. The brewery is open from 10am - 4pm Thursday through Monday and 12pm - 4pm on Sunday for tours. While this beer is available in almost every bar in the country now, that was not always the case! Come, enjoy this free activity, and learn about the days when Coors was only available east of the Mississippi. As an added bonus, you get TWO free glasses of beer at the end of the tour! That’s right, friends! TWO FREE BEERS! If you’re over 21, of course. If you want to be like a real local, take the ‘express tour!’ Skip the tour and go straight to the bar! Seriously though, this is a really interesting tour if you’re interested in how beer is made, especially at a mile high.
Washington Park
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1465,1464,1463"]
Known to the locals as Wash Park, this popular free activity is located at the intersection of S. Downing St. and E. Louisiana Ave. There are an abundance of running and walking paths for you to explore or exercise on, or to sit next to if people watching is more your speed. There are also fragrant and beautiful flower gardens to wander through during the warmer months. If fishing is something you enjoy, there are four lakes in the park where you can fish for free. There are also tennis and basketball courts available around the park for the public to use. On any given weekend, you’re very likely to find games on all these courts to drop in. So come on a warm day with a picnic, sit in the grass, and watch the people of Denver pass by.
Museum Free Days
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1466,1467"]
**Available to Colorado residents only**
The museum is always a guaranteed good day, and getting in for free can only make that better. All Denver museums have free days throughout the year, so this is the perfect free activity whether you like art, science, or flowers! The Denver Art Museum is free on the first Saturday of every month, and the Four-Mile historic park is free on the first Friday of the month. The free days at the Museum of Nature and Science vary from month to month, but the next upcoming ones at the time of this article are Oct. 24, 2016; Nov. 13, 2016; and December 12, 2016. We do recommend that you bring some form of ID to prove that you’re a resident to these free days. It’s also worth noting that the free days can get very busy and crowded, so you should plan to get there early.
Zoo Free Days
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1468,1469,1470"]
**Available to Colorado residents only**
The Denver Zoo also offers free days to Colorado residents, and they also vary from month to month. The next upcoming dates are Nov. 4, 2016; Nov. 7, 2016; and Nov. 17, 2016. The Denver Zoo, located in City Park, spans over 75 acres and is home to more than 4,000 animals. They have your standard lions, tigers, and bears, as well as some rarer animals like okapi, black rhinos, vampire bats, komodo dragons, and even more. Again, these free days can get very busy so you should plan to arrive early, and bring proof of residency.
The Great Outdoors
[gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="1474,1473,1475"]
Let’s be honest with each other here. The greatest free activity available in Colorado is the natural beauty that fills it. No matter the weather, there are trails for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and any other activities available all over the state. SO if you’re really looking for the best free adventure in Colorado, look no further than our beautiful mountains, sweeping plains, abundant lakes and rivers, and all the other natural wonders Colorado has to offer you.
Tom Beaty's online gallery: click HERE
