Summer in the Mile High is officially in full swing, and we’ve got the temperature gauges to prove it 🌡️ 🥵 Looking for ways to keep cool and have fun? Here’s our list of all the best things to eat, see, and do around Denver this month.
🌊 Cool Off In Clear Creek
Beat the heat in quintessential Colorado fashion by tossing a tube into Golden’s ice cold Clear Creek. Then, after you’ve worked up an appetite, hit downtown Golden for a slice at Woody’s Wood-Fired Pizza and a pint at The Golden Mill self-serve taproom.
- 🚩 Tuber beware: This isn’t your rec center’s lazy river. Tube responsibly by checking the flow level and safety announcements before jumping in.
🎨 Sip, Shop, and Stroll at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Looking for an excuse to spend the day outside soaking up the sunshine? Don’t miss this year’s award-winning Cherry Creek Arts Festival July 4-6 showcasing dozens of local artists, entertainers, and culinary vendors for a weekend full of free family-friendly fun.
🐠 Find Underwater Adventure at the Denver Aquarium
Explore life under the sea at Denver’s Downtown Aquarium where you can meet mermaids, pet stingrays, and get up-close and personal with five different species of shark.
🦐 Savor the South at Rougarou in Five Points
The masterminds behind local cocktail fave Yacht Club are slated to bring Creole cooking to the Five Points neighborhood this month with the planned debut of Rougarou, a new Southern restaurant at 2844 Welton Street inspired by recipes from the team’s roots in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
☕ Take a Mountain Detour for Coffee Bean N Bakery
On your way to or from your next mountain adventure be sure to make time for a pitstop in Pine, Colorado, for fresh, daily made baked goods, hot breakfast classics, and signature iced brews at Coffee Bean N Bakery. (We recommend the cinnamon rolls!)
🤿 Fun for the Family at Pirates Cove Water Park
Skip the long lines and high price tags of other water parks when you opt for this summertime gem in Englewood complete with water slides, a lazy river, a spray garden, and a pirate ship play structure. The park is open every day for the summer season from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- 📅 Mark your cal: Don’t miss Pirates Cove’s Adult Nights — kid-free and featuring live music from 6-8 p.m. on select eventings.
😌 Bask in a Patio Mister
Nothing says “summer” quite like a cold beverage on a hot day under a refreshing patio mister. We asked Denver reddit users for their favorite summer patios to keep cool on, but some of our personal faves include Stoney’s Uptown, Postino 9CO, Park Burger, Joy Hill Pizza, and any Denver Beer Co. location.
👙 Big Soda Lake at Bear Creek Lake Park
Grab your floaty, pack a picnic, and pull up a patch of sand at Big Soda Lake in Bear Creek Lake Park. Find beachy bliss here every day from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. until Labor Day. Entrance is $10 per vehicle ($15 on weekends and holidays), or free if you bike or hike in.
- 🚣 Start planning: Rent your paddleboard or kayak here.
Psst! There’s even more where these came from — tune into the City Cast Denver podcast for more recommendations!
