Recreational opportunities are incredible
year-round, from mountain biking and
hiking to skiing and snowboarding and
everything in between. There are a thousand
enjoyable ways to keep busy throughout the
year. This might be one of the factors influencing Colorado’s ranking as the fittest state,
with the lowest obesity rate in the nation.
It might also contribute to why the PEW
Research Center found Denver to be the
number one city most people named when
asked where they’d like to live.
Denver’s park system, the largest in the U.S.,
is another attractive amenity. Hundreds of
parks and thousands of acres of open space
provide inviting places for residents to hike,
bike and snowshoe right in their own backyards. Greenbelts connect miles of parks and
towns, providing safe and convenient places
to go bicycling. Parks are spread throughout
the region, with areas for team sports, which
are used extensively by the many recreational
leagues found in Denver. From kickball to
horseshoes, volleyball to soccer and everything in between, Denverites find a way to
have fun on lazy weekends and after work.
Coloradans love their snow. The world-class
ski resorts and scenery of the Rocky Mountains are just a short drive away, and a major
draw for residents of every stripe.
Not a skier? Don’t worry. Following Denver’s
seven professional sports teams and plenty
of spectator sports will keep you busy
throughout the year. Football, baseball,
soccer, hockey, and more make Denver a
sports fan’s paradise.
Denver’s teams have done quite well in the
past, with the Colorado Rockies baseball
team making it to the World Series in 2007
and the Denver Broncos winning the Super
Bowl on more than one occasion. During
the Rockies inaugural season, 4. 4 million
enthusiastic fans broke Major League Baseball attendance records. The quarterback who
took the Broncos to the Super Bowl on two
occasions, John Elway, now owns several
popular Denver restaurants (see our listing
in the Dining Section for more information).
The Denver Nuggets keep basketball fans
satisfied, regularly selling out games.
Less traditional sports like lacrosse are also
popular here. The Colorado Mammoth and the
Colorado Outlaws have boosted the popularity
of the sport in Denver, with as many fans here
as for Denver Nuggets basketball games. The
Mammoth’s victory in the league championship
in 2006 only drove momentum for expanded
interest in the support. Even a professional rugby
team—the Denver Barbarians—has proven
popular with metro Denver residents.
Denver’s cultural amenities and attractions
are world class, from museums to amusement parks, theatres to zoos and more. For
example, Denver’s Performing Arts Complex
is the second largest such facility in the world.
Cultural attractions are plentiful for the entire
family, including the kids. Denver’s Children’s Museum has attracted “kids and their
grownups” fore more than 25 years, providing
a fun and educational learning environment.
Denver’s active theater, arts and cultural
communities are supported by the city. The
Scientific Cultural Facilities District (SCFD)—
created by voters in 1988—provides a
consistent source of funding to both scientific
and cultural organizations. Since its inception,
more than 300 organizations throughout the
metro area benefited from the SCFD, which
distributes more than $30 million annually to
local organizations. Denver recognizes that by
supporting the arts, the city benefits. A recent
report found that Denver’s arts and cultural
community created $1.85 billion in economic
activity in 2013.
There’s no shortage of amazing experiences
in the Mile High City. Browse the following
information, which provides a sampling of
Denver’s assorted opportunities for leisure
and recreation. Have fun!
It’s easy to see why the metro Denver area is such an appealing
place to live and play. Three hundred days of sunshine each
year and a stunning landscape make this a perfect place for
people who love getting outside.
LEISURE & recreation
