1. Have a picnic in Cherry Creek State Park
Enjoy fresh air in the beautiful outdoors at Cherry Creek State Park also known as “Denver’s spacious backyard playground”. There’s so much to see and enjoy in the park which surrounds an 880-acre reservoir. The natural prairie environment is action packed in the summer and laid back and quiet in the fall. During your visit there you can enjoy in activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, model airplane flying, or having fun at the family shooting range. Other features and amenities include a designated picnic area, a boat ramp, walking trails, and campgrounds.
Address: 4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014, Phone: 800-244-5613
2. Go shopping at Southlands
A modern Main Street in the heart of southeast Aurora, Southlands is a hub for fashion, dining, and entertainment. It’s a wonderful place to gather with friends and family as the atmosphere is charming, comfortable, and convenient. The centerpiece of the area is the Southlands outdoor lifestyle center and it’s surrounded by a community plaza, Main Street, a state-of-the-art health club facility, a theatre, restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail stores.
Address: 6155 South Main Street, Aurora, CO 80016, Phone: 303-627-5000
3. Go swimming in Aurora Reservoir
The Aurora Reservoir spans over 31,000 acres and has three coves: Senac, Lone Tree, and Marina.
In addition to being a recreational area and stunning green space, the reservoir and its surroundings also provides drinking water to the city of Aurora.
There are many things that you can do while you’re there such as jogging, hiking, biking, boating, and, fishing - anglers often head there to catch catfish, trout, or walleye. Visitors are invited to go swimming in the small seasonal swim beach or enjoy scuba diving in the designated diving area. Other features and amenities include a boat dock and a rental equipment shack.
Address: 5800 South Powhaton Road, Aurora, CO 80016, Phone: 303-690-1286
4. Learn about local history at the Aurora History Museum
A part of the Library and Cultural Services Department, the Aurora History Museum was established in 1979. Though it has moved out of the original building it was housed in, the museum continues to display a large collection of artifacts and documents. These exhibits showcase the people and events that shaped the history of Aurora and Colorado.
There are several rotating exhibits which highlight different aspects of the city such as Drink Local: Aurora’s Craft Beer Scene which is an exhibition that showcases the history of craft beer in the area whilst inviting current companies from the brewing industry to participate. Admission is FREE.
Address: 15051 E Alameda Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80012, Phone: 303-739-6660
5. See a performance at the Vintage Theatre
The Vintage Theatre came to be as a group of friends discussed their love for the arts over martinis in 2002. Within a few years they bought a lovely theater and their company grew, providing a haven for the community to enjoy cutting-edge theatre, improv, staged readings, workshops, classes, and more. The theatre has three performance spaces: the 145-seat Jeffrey Nickelson Auditorium, the 67-seat Bond Trimble Theatre, and the 60-seat lobby-raised stage. All of the areas provide a full bar service and are sound proofed and temperature controlled. Visitors can enjoy performances throughout the year.
Address: 1468 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010, Phone: 303-856-7830
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
6. Visit the blacksmith shop at Plains Conservation Center
The Plains Conservation Center is a state-designated natural area and outdoor education facility that was created in 1949. With the goal of conserving the state’s prairies, the center is also a wonderful place for people to learn about conservation efforts and Colorado’s eco-history. There are two sites of significance there: the Aurora site and the West Bijou site. The Aurora site includes a historic barn, blacksmith shop, and schoolhouse in addition to a recreated Cheyenne camp with tipis. The West Bijou site is the place of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event which led to the extinction of dinosaurs. You can see all this and more as you explore the center.
Address: 21901 E Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO 80013, Phone: 303-326-8380
7. Watch a horse race at Arapahoe Park
Arapahoe Park is a horse-racing track that is known to host Arabian horse, Paint Horse, Quarter Horse, and Thoroughbred horse racing. The racing season usually goes between mid-May into mid-August. The track is home to famed races such as the Mile High Derby and the Mile High Futurity. It’s a fun place to spend the day even if you don’t gamble on horse races as the atmosphere is so exciting and lively.
As you watch the horses, you can sit, talk with friends, have a drink, and enjoy a delicious meal. Amenities include plenty of free parking, bars and concessions stands on the Grandstand level and third and fourth floor.
Address: 26000 East Quincy Avenue, Aurora, CO 80016, Phone: 303-690-2400
8. Have lunch at Stanley Beer Hall
Stanley Beer Hall is a friendly modern American neighborhood restaurant set within Aurora, Colorado's Stanley Marketplace, opened in 2016 within a former reclaimed aviation factory facility. The restaurant, which is overseen by 5280 Hospitality and helmed by executive chef Theo Adley of RiNo Yacht Club, is best known for its extensive regional draft list, showcasing 30 of the state's best independent microbrewery favorites, along with other West Coast brews. Guests can pour their own brews using the restaurant's unique IPourIt self-serve system, which showcases ABV and tasting note information on each brew.
Laid-back bistro fare is served at Stanley Beer Hall throughout the day, including creative burgers, fun bratwursts, and sandwich options such as grown-up grilled cheese and Carolina-style pulled pork. Other entree options include barbecue baby-back pork ribs, Scottish salmon fish and chips, and pan-Asian inspired options such as curry with seasonal vegetables.
Address: 2501 Dallas St #100, Aurora, CO 80010, Phone: 720-749-5098
9. See a performance at the Aurora Fox Arts Center
Situated amidst the Aurora Cultural Arts District, the Aurora Fox Arts Center is the place to go when you’re in the mood to enjoy a professional, Broadway-quality production.
The 245-seat performing arts facility opened in 1985; it is housed in a completely renovated former movie theatre that was originally built in 1946. The intimate performance space is a fun and lively way to spend the evening and makes for a great date night with your significant other. In addition to the performance space, the arts center also has an attached rehearsal space and scenery shop facilities.
Address: 9900 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010, Phone: 303-739-1970
10. Spend an afternoon in On Havana Street
On Havana Street is a unique and culturally diverse district in Aurora, Colorado, originally created as a neighborhood initiative in 2007 to enrich the lives of area residents with lively events and businesses and draw in regional visitors. More than 20 events are showcased within the district throughout the year, including barbecue festivals, car shows, art showcases, and live music performances.
Over 500 businesses line the district, which spans approximately four miles along Havana Street between 6th and Dartmouth Avenues. Visitors can enjoy karaoke fun at Family Karaoke, see art gallery exhibits at East End Applied Arts, or rent bikes at Bicycle Village for exploration of the region's other attractions. A wide variety of global cuisine options are also showcased, along with retail stores ranging from thrift stores and boutiques to national chains such as Ulta and Target.
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