100 Things to do in Colorado in 2019

Sure, it’s nice to have our incredible state highlighted by national publications like USA Today (who just named Winter Park the best ski town in North America) or Vogue (who wrote about the Denver restaurant, bar and street art scene) — but when it comes down to it, we don’t need non-Coloradans telling us why our state is simply the best. From the mountains to the plains, from north to the south and everywhere in between, Colorado has an adventure at every mile marker. Whether you want to travel for art or the outdoors, see the sights in Denver or spend a few nights in a picturesque setting, there is never a dull moment — especially when you have a list of 100 things to do in Colorado in 2019. Some of these are special to the year — as in, you won’t see them in 2020 — and some are the tried-and-true Centennial State bucket list items. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or just arrived, check off all these activities and thank us later.

Go here to see our 2020 list!

1. Go on the new Meow Wolf ride at Elitch Gardens, Kaleidoscape
2.  Explore Zapata Falls near the Great Sand Dunes National Park
3. See what the fuss is about at the new gin disco palace, Yeah Baby
4. Spend an afternoon in the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) for only one penny on Saturdays (for Colorado residents)
5. See the designs and outfits from Dior over a span of 70 years at the Denver Art Museum
6. Go skiing or snowboarding at all of the Colorado resorts on the new Ikon Pass
7. Fill your belly with some of the best ramen in Denver
8. Drive it like you’re playing a video game at the life-size version of Mario Kart
9. Check out Fifty-Two 80s for merchandise from your childhood
10. Feel “elevated” by visiting the International Church of Cannabis in Denver, painted on the inside by famous artist Okuda San Miguel
11. Support local artists by purchasing some of their creations at a local art boutique, like RiNo Made, Helikon Gallery or Cooper+Dash
12. Taste a little something at each new restaurant opening in 2019
13. Brave the wilderness more than your typical weekend car camping spot and go dispersed camping
14. Explore a whimsical forest at the Museum of Outdoor Art’s new exhibition Natura Obscura 

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15. Chill and meet other like-minded people at Denver’s new treehouse-inspired clubhouse, Archipelago
16. Welcome Denver-born artist Jordan Casteel back to the Mile High City with her first solo exhibition at the Denver Art Museum
17. Participate in the 2019 Womxn’s March Denver
18. Finish the ski season with an end-of-year ski party in one of Colorado’s mountain resort towns
19. Celebrate all things Denver on 303 Day (March 3)
20. Chase a storm with experts on one of these storm chasing tours 
21. Visit the mountain town of Breckenridge not for outdoor pursuits, but for culture at the International Festival of Arts (BIFA) 
22. Take a date to one of these romantic venues
23. Visit the artistic incubator Understudy for a new exhibition almost every month
24. If you’re lucky enough to find tickets, live the glory days of rock ‘n’ roll with the Rolling Stones at Mile High Stadium
25. Go back in time at the Colorado Renaissance Fair 
26. Gain a new appreciation for chalk at the Chalk Art Festival on Larimer Square
27. Take a scooter adventure on one of Denver’s five ride-share scooter programs
28. Try out skydiving without risking your life at the virtual reality skydiving experience
29. Take an art scavenger hunt around Boulder to find some of SMiLE’s street art
30. Attend a socially-relevant performance at Curious Theatre Company
31. Explore one of Denver’s 12 international bakeries to feel like you’re traveling while staying at home
32. Connect yourself to nature and music at the annual Arise music festival
33. Eat dinner and enjoy a performance at Beckon’s 17-seat, ticketed restaurant

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34. See KISS or Elton John for the last time on their farewell tours
35. Visit the most comprehensive exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
36. Feel whimsical at the returning Unicorn Festival
37. Take your out-of-town visitors on one of these 10 short hikes near Denver
38. Hop into a retro sidecar to explore Colorado‘s hidden gems
39. See Weird Al with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks
40. Shop at the newly opened Zara
41. Catch see some great local performances and up-and-coming national acts at The Underground Music Showcase
42. Visit one of America’s “coolest towns” — Durango — as decided by Budget Travel
43. Try out snowshoeing with these beginner routes
44. Explore some of Colorado’s hidden caves
45. Discover new local music at Red Rocks’ local set series
46. See the only US showing of Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature at the Denver Art Museum
47. Find your fitness at Denver’s first and only SoulCycle 
48. Search social media to find a free piece of art hidden around Denver on the first Tuesday of September for World Art Drop Day
49. Scream and sing along like you’re a pre-teen at Backstreet Boys’ Denver stop on their world tour
50. Get pumped out at North America’s largest climbing gym, Earth Treks in Golden

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51. Watch world-class street artists paint the walls and alleys of RiNo at the 10th annual CRUSH festival
52. Meet local authors and inspire your inner writing muse at the annual Denver Lit Crawl
53. Educate yourself on your local city council members
54. VOTE on November 5
55. Watch indie movies and possible Oscar nominations at the 42nd annual Denver Film Festival 
56. Spend a week dressing in your most fashionable clothes at Denver Fashion Week 
57. Take a blast to the past at the Media Archeology Lab
58. Visit the Noosa farm in Fort Collins to see how their yogurt is made
59. Take selfies with an Alpaca at the Great Western Alpaca Show
60. Spend one of your Sundays helping those in need by making sack lunches for the homeless with Impact 
61. Take the perfect fall road trip to see the leaves changing colors
62. Terrify yourself at one of Colorado’s scariest Halloween attractions
63. Witness the largest washing machine collection in the world at the Lee Maxwell Washing Machine Museum
64. Relive a scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at the Indiana Jones Bed & Breakfast in Antonito
65. Sneak into the back of an ice cream shop to experience a unique speakeasy
66. Try Archery Dodgeball (it’s less  dangerous than it sounds)
67. Fill up on all the best beer at the Great American Beer Festival
68. Laugh like it’s 2005 when Dane Cook or Adam Sandler come to Denver on their respective comedy tours
69. Meet owls and other birds of prey in person at Hawkquest  — a Colorado nonprofit
70. Combine art gallery hopping and breakfast nibbles at the Art of Brunch
71. Eat with an incredible view at one of these Colorado restaurants that highlight the surrounding scenery

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72. Take a date to a sexy or cozy cocktail bar
73. Go to a concert at the newly opened Mission Ballroom in RiNo
74. Go UFO spotting at one of these extraterrestrial locations
75. Rent a luxury cabin for cheap to have an extravagant winter weekend in Colorado
76. Try indoor skydiving with virtual reality to feel like it’s the real thing.
77. Stretch with animals at Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga
78. Buy an iconic western snap shirt, bolo tie or necktie at the Denver institution, Rockmount Ranch Wear
79. Let your cute radar go off the scale at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Toys and Dolls
80. Develop a green thumb and grow your own houseplants
81. Visit one of Colorado’s most endangered places before it’s too late
82. Aspire to become a pilot with flight simulators and other tools for flying at the Boeing Blue Sky Aviation Gallery
83. Get to know your local butcher (and stop buying pink slime meat from the grocery store)
84. Get down at an after-hours party with Peer Review
85. Take a trip to Vail to walk through the Stickwork sculptures from artist Patrick Dougherty
86. Donate to your favorite local charities on Colorado Gives Day
87. Watch the Grand Illumination of Union Station and the Civic Center Building for the holidays
88. Record your own podcast at House of Pod or Podspace
89. Spend your summer and sunny days on one of Denver’s 100 patios
90. Feel relaxed and caffeinated with some CBD coffee
91. See the winter splendor at the Ice Castles in Dillon

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92. Cut your own Christmas tree, the right way
93. Go to all three of Death & Co.‘s bars and watch a magic show while you drink
94. Adventure around the state to find mysterious and magical castles
95. Go somewhere outside Colorado — just so you can miss the Centennial State
96. Read more 303 Magazine
97. Support your local journalists
98. Complete all the things on the Colorado bucket list from 2017
99. Complete all the things on the Colorado bucket list from 2018
100. Remember to be grateful that you live in Colorado (see 1 – 99)