Curator’s statement
Denver, Colorado, is a perfect winter destination for solo, group or family travel as it offers various outdoor activities, cultural attractions, craft beer scene, scenic drives, holiday festivities and even indoor attractions. Denver serves as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and offers easy access to world-class winter outdoor activities. While Denver serves as a convenient base for accessing nearby ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains, there are plenty of Ski Lodges within the mountain towns (like Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Aspen) close by that are available for everyone to enjoy this vibrant and exciting destination. Whether one is hitting the slopes, enjoying cozy indoor experiences or just leisurely sipping warm hot drinks by the fireplace of a chosen Colorado ski lodge, there's definitely something for everyone in the Mile High City during the winter months. Explore these highly recommended ski lodges in Denver, Colorado, and book your next winter adventure.
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Things to do in Denver
There's definitely something for everyone in the Mile High City during the winter months in addition to the obvious world-class outdoor activities that nearby ski resorts or ski lodges near Denver, Colorado at the base of Rocky Mountains offer. Below are some of the few:
Despite the cold weather, Denver's cultural scene remains lively during the winter. You can explore renowned museums like the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Clyfford Still Museum. Additionally, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts hosts a variety of theater productions, concerts and other performances throughout the season.
Denver comes alive with festive cheer during the winter months. You can experience holiday lights displays, ice skating at downtown rinks like Skyline Park or the Rink at Belmar, and seasonal events such as the Parade of Lights and the Christkindl Market.
Denver is known as the "Napa Valley of Beer" due to its thriving craft beer scene. You can warm up with a pint of locally brewed beer at one of the city's many breweries, brewpubs or beer bars.
If you prefer to stay warm indoors, Denver offers plenty of indoor attractions to explore. Visit the Denver Botanic Gardens' indoor conservatory, enjoy shopping and dining at Larimer Square or the Cherry Creek Shopping Center or relax at one of the city's cozy coffee shops or brewpubs.
Denver serves as a starting point for scenic drives from Ski Lodges through the nearby mountains. You can embark on picturesque drives along routes like the Mount Evans Scenic Byway or the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, which offer breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks and alpine landscapes. See recommended day trips from Denver, summarized separately below.
Day Trips
Here are recommended top-rated day trips from Denver that're likely to go fast:
Breckenridge Ultimate Full Day Mountain Tour
Visit Red Rocks Park, Continental Divide and Breckenridge
Small Group Tour of Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods from Denver
Shared Half-Day Mountain Tour in Red Rocks, Evergreen and Echo Lake
Red Rocks and Beyond
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For more travel tips, check out Fora Advisor Alexandra Farrington’s trip report, Top Ski Lodges Across Colorado.
This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Denver.