Lakeside ColoradoATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Lakeside, Colorado.
1. Lakeside Amusement Park
HISTORIC FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
Lakeside Amusement Park is a family-friendly destination in Denver featuring a wide variety of attractions for all ages. The park includes a scenic train ride around a picturesque lake with stunning mountain views, a menagerie merry-go-round, spinning rides, Skoota Boats, a 140-foot drop tower, coasters, and bumper cars. Established in 1907, the park is known for its landmark Tower of Jewels and flexible pricing options allowing visitors to purchase individual ride coupons or a full ride pass.
2. Tower of Jewels
ICONIC PARK LANDMARK
The Tower of Jewels is a 150-foot tall landmark structure located at the main entrance of Lakeside Amusement Park. Built in the Exposition and White City architectural styles, it was part of the original park construction in 1907 and illuminated by an estimated 100,000 electric bulbs when first created. The tower remains one of the most recognizable features of the historic amusement park that has entertained visitors for over a century.
3. Empower Field at Mile High
DENVER'S ICONIC STADIUM
Empower Field at Mile High, often called Mile High Stadium, is Denver's iconic sports venue and home to the NFL's Denver Broncos. Located near downtown Denver, the stadium sits at precisely 5,280 feet above sea level, giving it its famous nickname. The venue offers tours, hosts major sporting events, and provides visitors with spectacular views of both the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains.
4. Colorado State Capitol
HISTORIC GOVERNMENT BUILDING
The Colorado State Capitol is a beautiful government building sitting slightly higher than Denver's old town area. The stunning structure houses the Colorado General Assembly, the offices of the Governor of Colorado, and Lieutenant Governor, and features a gold-plated dome commemorating Colorado's gold rush. Visitors can take free tours of the building and stand at the official marker for the elevation of exactly one mile above sea level on the building's steps.
5. Sloan's Lake
DENVER'S LARGEST LAKE
Sloan's Lake is the largest lake in Denver and sits within the city's second-biggest park, accidentally created when a man digging for a well struck water. The lake offers recreational activities including boating, fishing, and a 2.6-mile paved trail perfect for walking, jogging, and cycling. Visitors enjoy spectacular views of the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains from the park's eastern shore.
6. Union Station
HISTORIC TRANSPORTATION HUB
Union Station is Denver's historic train station serving both local and long-distance trains while also housing a hotel and restaurant. The beautifully restored Beaux-Arts building offers food, drink, public restrooms, and serves as the starting point for the free downtown mall shuttle bus. Originally opened in 1881, the station underwent a major renovation in 2014 and now functions as a vibrant transportation, dining, shopping, and entertainment center.
7. Big Blue Bear (I See What You Mean)
ICONIC PUBLIC ARTWORK
Big Blue Bear, officially titled "I See What You Mean," is a playful 40-foot-tall bright blue bear sculpture peering into the Colorado Convention Center. Created by artist Lawrence Argent and installed in 2005, the bear has become one of Denver's most photographed and beloved public art installations. The whimsical sculpture appears to be looking through the convention center's glass wall, creating a unique visual connection between the building's interior and the outside world.
8. Colorado Railroad Museum
HISTORIC TRAIN COLLECTION
The Colorado Railroad Museum features a comprehensive collection of narrow and standard gauge locomotives, cars, and railroad artifacts chronicling the rich rail history of the Rocky Mountain region. Located on 15 acres in Golden, the museum includes a replica 1880s-style depot, a working roundhouse with turntable, and over 100 historic engines, cabooses, and coaches. Visitors can experience ride days throughout the year when historic steam or diesel locomotives pull passenger cars around the museum's half-mile demonstration loop.
9. Boettcher Mansion
HISTORIC MOUNTAIN ESTATE
Boettcher Mansion is a historic Arts and Crafts estate perched atop Lookout Mountain in Golden, originally built in 1917 as a summer home for Charles Boettcher. The elegant stone mansion is now owned by Jefferson County and serves as an events venue while offering public tours that showcase its distinctive architecture and beautiful mountain setting. Visitors can explore the meticulously preserved interiors featuring handcrafted woodwork, stained glass, and original fixtures while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
10. Lookout Mountain
SCENIC MOUNTAIN DESTINATION
Lookout Mountain offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Denver metropolitan area and the plains to the east, as well as the Continental Divide to the west. The mountain is home to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, where visitors can learn about the famous Wild West showman and his legacy. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the mountain's extensive trail system for hiking, mountain biking, and paragliding, all accessible via the scenic Lariat Loop drive.
11. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
NATURAL ACOUSTIC WONDER
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is a world-famous outdoor concert venue nestled among massive 300-foot sandstone formations that create perfect natural acoustics. The 9,525-seat amphitheater has hosted legendary performances since 1941 and is surrounded by a 738-acre park featuring hiking trails, dinosaur fossils, and stunning geological wonders. When not hosting concerts, the venue serves as a popular spot for fitness enthusiasts who run the stairs and participate in yoga sessions against the backdrop of the dramatic red rock formations.
12. Downtown Golden
CHARMING HISTORIC DISTRICT
Downtown Golden is a picturesque historic district nestled along Clear Creek with a distinctive small-town charm despite its proximity to Denver. The walkable area features Victorian-era buildings housing unique shops, restaurants, galleries, and the world-famous Coors Brewery. Visitors enjoy the area's creek-side paths, cultural attractions like the Golden History Museum, and the iconic "Welcome to Golden" arch spanning Washington Avenue.
13. Water World
MASSIVE WATER PARK
Water World is one of America's largest water parks spanning over 70 acres with more than 50 attractions ranging from lazy rivers to extreme thrill slides. The park features unique attractions like Voyage to the Center of the Earth (a water journey through prehistoric scenes) and Thunder Bay wave pool that generates waves up to 6 feet high. Families particularly enjoy the specialized areas for children of different ages, including Wally World, Turtle Bay, and the Caribbean Family Adventure zone.
14. Butterfly Pavilion
TROPICAL INSECT ZOO
The Butterfly Pavilion is a unique invertebrate zoo housing more than 5,000 animals, including 1,600 free-flying tropical butterflies in the Wings of the Tropics conservatory. Visitors can hold Rosie the tarantula, explore interactive exhibits featuring sea creatures in touch tanks, and learn about the crucial role of insects and invertebrates in our ecosystem. The facility includes both indoor tropical gardens and outdoor native habitat gardens that demonstrate how to attract local pollinators.
15. Stanley Marketplace
ECLECTIC URBAN MARKET
Stanley Marketplace is a community-focused urban market housed in a renovated 1940s aviation manufacturing facility that once produced the ejector seats for the first supersonic aircraft. The marketplace features over 50 locally-owned businesses including restaurants, boutiques, fitness studios, and service providers all under one roof. Visitors appreciate the unique industrial architecture, family-friendly atmosphere, and the marketplace's commitment to sustainability and community engagement through regular events and gathering spaces.