👨👩👧👦 Denver Things to Do When Your Parents Visit
When the Parents Come to Town
Happy Monday, Denver ! 🧩🎉
Hosting visitors can be fun… until you realize not everyone wants to hike a mountain or spend an afternoon at a brewery. The good news? Denver has plenty of memorable things to do that don’t involve steep trails or pints of IPA. If you’ve got family visiting soon, here are some easy, fun, and very Colorado ways to show them around.
Looking for more things to do in Denver? Dive into Things to Do in Colorado, Kid-Friendly Hikes, or discover our favorite Colorado Day Trips.
Before Denver became famous for craft beer, what industry originally fueled the city’s growth in the 1800s?
Click an option to vote
Denver Things to Do When Your Parents Visit
🌿 Relaxing & Scenic Spots
📍1007 York St
One of Denver’s most beautiful attractions, the gardens feature winding paths, themed plant collections, and plenty of benches to relax and enjoy the scenery. Even a short stroll feels like a mini vacation, and the variety of landscapes—from Japanese gardens to desert plants—keeps things interesting.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge Drive
📍6550 Gateway Rd
Want a wildlife experience without a hike? The refuge offers a self-guided wildlife drive where you can spot bison, deer, prairie dogs, and hawks right from your car. It’s basically a safari just minutes from downtown Denver.
🏛️ Museums & Culture
📍100 W 14th Ave Pkwy
Even if your visitors “aren’t museum people,” the Denver Art Museum tends to win them over. The striking architecture alone is worth the visit, and the galleries feature everything from Western art to rotating global exhibitions.
📍1200 Broadway
An interactive museum packed with Colorado stories—from early mining towns to ski culture. It’s engaging, informative, and surprisingly fun even for visitors who don’t normally love museums.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
📍7711 E Academy Blvd
Located in a historic hangar, this museum features real aircraft, space exhibits, and interactive displays that aviation buffs and curious visitors alike tend to love.
🚂 Unique Colorado Experiences
📍Georgetown, CO
This historic narrow-gauge train ride winds through the mountains just west of Denver. It’s scenic, relaxed, and feels like stepping back into Colorado’s mining-town past.
📍Manitou Springs
One of Colorado’s most iconic train rides climbs all the way to the summit of Pikes Peak—no hiking required. The views along the way are spectacular.
📍Colorado Springs
You can drive through the park and stop at scenic viewpoints to admire the towering red rock formations. The visitor center also offers exhibits and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views.
🐾 Fun Attractions
📍2300 Steele St
A great option for all ages with easy paths and plenty of places to rest. You can see everything from elephants to tigers while enjoying a relaxing day outdoors.
📍700 Water St
A quirky and entertaining stop featuring massive tanks, marine animals, and exhibits about aquatic ecosystems. It’s a fun, low-effort activity when you want something different.
📍Westminster, CO
Step into a tropical conservatory filled with hundreds of free-flying butterflies. It’s colorful, peaceful, and surprisingly fascinating—even for adults.
🐐 Rocky Heard You…
He saw what you were excited about this week — and he decided to share a few can’t-miss events over on Instagram. If you like visuals, behind-the-scenes moments, and quick hits of what’s happenin’, this one’s for you.
📸 See what he’s sharing → 📍 Denver
Give it a tap, a like, or a share — Rocky notices 👀
Mile High Happenings
Monday, March 9
Tuesday, March 10
See our full calendar → Denver Event Calendar
Real Talk ☕
What’s Happenin’ is 100% free and independently run (yep, it’s just us). If this newsletter helps you discover cool things around town, your support helps keep it going and growing. We truly appreciate any and all love. Thank you for being part of the community.
💼 Local Jobs Worth Checking Out
You asked for it — we delivered. In our recent poll, a big chunk of you said you want a small job board in the newsletter, so here it is! We believe great communities connect people to great opportunities. Here are a few roles submitted by readers and local businesses:
Local Jobs
Full-time
🏡 Featured Listing of the Week
Dreaming of a new address? Each week, we’re spotlighting a standout home in town — from charming bungalows to modern builds and everything in between.
💘 Date Spot in Denver
Denver makes dating easy—in the best way. Think sunset walks in LoHi, artsy wandering in RiNo Art District, garden strolls at Denver Botanic Gardens, or drinks and people-watching at Union Station. Casual, cozy, or a little romantic—Denver’s got a spot for it.
👉 Vote and we’ll share the top picks—chosen by locals—in an upcoming issue. 💌
🍽 Not sure where to eat tonight?
Our Restaurant Finder takes the guesswork out of dining by showing you the best local restaurants based on real reviews and vibes, not just ratings. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a date-night spot, we’ve got you. No endless scrolling, no decision fatigue...just solid recs.
🧠 Need a brain break?
Play trivia, crosswords, and word searches built just for locals. These games aren’t just fun...they’ll test how well you actually know your city. Great for killing time, learning something new, or proving you’re the true local legend.
🗳Denver’s Best Pastries 🥐
We’re opening voting for the bakeries and cafés turning butter and flour into magic. Croissants, cookies, cakes, Danishes — the ones worth crossing neighborhoods for.
👉 Vote for your favorite pastry spot and help crown Denver’s best.
See You Wednesday
Denver might be known for its mountains and breweries, but the city has plenty of experiences that are just as memorable without either. From scenic wildlife drives to world-class museums and historic train rides, there are lots of ways to impress visiting family.
Trivia Answer: B) Gold mining — Denver was founded during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in 1858. ⛏️
💬 Got ideas for making What’s Happenin’ Denver even better?
I’d love to hear from you. Just hit reply — I read every message and always respond when I can.
We’ll be back Wednesday, see yah!
— Ben
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