You don’t have to break the bank to have a great time in Denver. Throughout the city, there are countless attractions and activities that will cost you absolutely nothing, including museums, festivals and tours.
HEART OF ART
Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood brims with more than 30 innovative art galleries and artists’ studios showcasing the innovative wares of nationally renowned talent and regional up-and-comers. First Friday Art Walk, a shuttled gallery tour that takes place the first Friday of each month, is a terrific way to tour art marts like Walker Fine Art (300 W. 11th St.). The Golden Triangle art galleries are bordered by Speer Boulevard, Colfax Avenue and Lincoln Street. Shuttle tours begin at the Osage Street Light Rail Station.
COLORADO STATE CAPITOL TOUR
200 E. Colfax Ave.
The Colorado State Capitol, modeled after the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., is a stunning spectacle embellished with stained glass depicting events and people inherent to Colorado, coupled with gorgeous Colorado white granite, rose onyx and yule marble. To see if you’ve got what it takes to adjust to the altitude, climb the 99-step spiral staircase to an open-air deck affording jaw-dropping views of the city skyline and Rocky Mountains. The Corinthian-styled building, famed for its gold-plated dome rising 272 feet above the ground, offers temporary exhibits, visitor galleries, and complimentary tours by reservation. Note: The Capitol Dome will be undergoing major structural renovations for 2-3 years and not offering tours during that time-frame.
TATTERED COVER BOOK STORE
2526 E. Colfax Ave.
No visit to Denver would be complete without a journey through the Tattered Cover Book Store, one of the top independent booksellers in the country. This astounding literary marvel boasts several metro Denver locations, but the store in the renovated Lowenstein Theater on a burgeoning stretch of East Colfax is the talk of the town. Grab a latte from the in-house java joint, plop down in one of the overstuffed chairs or sofas to wrap your hands around the latest best seller, or attend a free book signing or author lecture from big-names like John Gray, Al Gore, Annie Leibovitz and Garrison Keillor. Tattered Cover’s newest location is at Denver Union Station.