Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not have a picnic in one of these scenic places?
Denver is an absolutely beautiful city, famously boasting over 300 days of sunshine a year. The beautiful parks in the city have taken some of the sting out of social distancing, because they offer a great chance to have some outdoor picnics. Here are five of our favorite places to have picnics in the Denver area!
Cheeseman Park
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Nestled slightly west of Downtown Denver, Cheeseman Park is an open, peaceful environment that's great for picnics. The sprawling greenery of the park grounds means that you'll never have an issue finding space. Despite being minutes away from several booming parts of Denver, the city noise never seems to reach Cheeseman Park, making it a nice retreat for a quiet day off. If you're looking to spend some quality time with foliage, the Denver Botanic Gardens is nearby!
Skyline Park
Courtesy of Flickr
Picnics here trade in nature for the energy of the city. Nestled comfortably in the shadow of the 16th Street Clocktower Cabaret, this location is perfect for both people-watching and enjoying some take-out on an overcast day. Unlike some of the other parks on this list, Skyline has the advantage of being an absolutely lovely place to gather during any time of the year. In November, the block is home to the Denver Christmas Market, an authentic German market. If hot spiced wine and big Bavarian pretzels can't improve an urban picnic, nothing can.
Lakeside Amusement Park
Courtesy of Flickr
This is a bit of an odd one, but hear us out. Yes, Lakeside Amusement Park is a terrifying place to spend time. Yes, it's so low-key terrifying that it plausibly inspired a haunted amusement park of the same name in Silent Hill 3. That said, Lakeside Amusement Park becomes a lot less terrifying when you're not cat-calling the grim reaper by riding the attractions. Although it doesn't win awards for scenery, it's a surprisingly pleasant picnic site. It's perfect for people-watching, and the neon flicker the illuminates the park grounds is slightly magical after sunset.
Confluence Park
Courtesy of Flickr
Confluence Park is tucked away on the tip of Lower Denver and boasts beautiful riverside picnic areas with plenty of sun. It makes the perfect spot for afternoon trips, Pokémon Go adventures, or just chowing down on some takeout on the way to LoDo. This park is built where the Platte River and Cherry Creek intersect, and it's got fantastic riverside trails. During the summer, it's the perfect place to cool off by chilling in the water.
Daniel's Park
Courtesy of Flickr
While this park is a little more of a drive, it's completely worth it. Located about an hour south of Denver, Daniels Park has beautiful trails and exceptional views. The park really comes alive at sunset, when the entire horizon lights up for hours on end. If you're lucky, you might be able to see some bison, as a large herd of them live within a fenced-in area on one side. Either way, this park managed to hit that perfect balance between quiet and energizing.
Do you know of any other great picnic locations? Let us know in the comments!
