Springtime is officially here in Denver! While we might experience some late spring snowstorms, warm weather is on the horizon. Here are a few ways to make the most of springtime in the Mile High City.

Colorado Rockies Game – Major League Baseball kicks off in April and attending a ball game is the perfect way to start enjoying the warm weather in Colorado.

Denver Botanic Gardens – The Botanic Gardens features seven diverse gardens that highlight plants from Colorado and neighboring states.

Denver Parks – The City of Denver offers more than 4,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways. Whether you are looking for a relaxing stroll through the park or a picnic with your honey, there is a park close by for you to enjoy.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater – If you’re going to a concert or just want to explore the 868 acres of deer, dinosaurs, pines and prairie, geological wonders and spectacular vistas, Red Rocks has you covered.

For more information on things to do in Denver, please visit: www.visitdenver.org

Denver is located just east of the Rocky Mountains and sits one mile above sea level.  During your next trip, take a look at our 5 must-see places in Denver:

16^th Street Mall- Located in the heart of Denver, 16^th Street Mall stretches a mile long. 16^th Street offers a free bus and plenty of restaurants and shopping.

Colorado State Capitol Building- Built in the 1890s and opened in November of 1894, the building stands as a great symbol. The west steps of the Capitol are home to the famous “One Mile Above Sea Level” engraving on the 13^th step.

City Park- Denver’s largest park is home to typical park activities such as sports fields, walking paths and lakes. But it is also home to The Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The Denver Zoo is the 4^th most popular zoo in the U.S. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is also a must see as it is full of treasures from the Earth.

Molly Brown House Museum- Once the home of Titanic survivor Molly Brown and frequent Brown Palace Hotel visitor, this building now serves as a historical museum to the story and history of Molly Brown.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre- What was once listed as among the Seven Wonders of the World, Red Rocks is more than just an outdoor concert venue. Red Rocks is home to 862 acres of geological amazement and isn’t lacking magnificent views.

What does it take to become an artist—or rather, one of the world’s most famous artists? Find out at the Denver Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Becoming Van Gogh, which is showcased October 21, 2012 – January 20, 2013. This comprehensive retrospective explores Van Gogh’s major creative milestones as a largely self-taught artist, displaying more than 70 of his paintings and drawings, as well as important pieces by artists who influenced him. Becoming Van Gogh weaves its multi-dimensional story by combining works from more than 60 private and public collections from across the globe, giving visitors a glimpse into the extraordinary life of this iconic visionary.

Enjoy your own “Starry Night” at the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa with an artistic hotel package in the Mile High City. This special deal includes an overnight stay for two in one of our sumptuous guest rooms; an in-room, Van Gogh-themed amenity, which was designed exclusively by our Executive Pastry Chef; and VIP admission to Becoming Van Gogh, shown only at the Denver Art Museum. This limited “Starry Night” package is available October 21, 2012 – January 20, 2013 and can be booked by calling 800-321-2599.

Some of the most captivating Denver attractions this season will be found in Denver galleries and museums. We have the top art exhibits, shows and things to do in Denver, Colorado this fall.

WHAT: Frohawk Two Feathers

WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art

WHEN:  Now – September 9, 2012

MCA Denver Colorado showcases the first solo museum exhibition dedicated to the work of Frohawk Two Feathers, the pseudonym for LA-based artist Umar Rashid. The exhibition includes more than 20 paintings, works on paper, and sculpture. Frohawk Two Feather’s collective work brilliantly re-imagines history and recounts the story of Frengland, his fictionalized European empire. By reinterpreting colonial history, his work shows the subjective nature of historical recollection. The artist created new works exclusively for the exhibit that further that expand the narrative to the Western United States.

WHAT: Garry Winogrand: Women are Beautiful

WHERE: Denver Art Museum

WHEN:  Now – September 30, 2012

From his early years as a Manhattan magazine freelancer in the 1950s to his final days in Los Angeles, Garry Winogrand snapped pictures of street style. When he sensed a perfect composition, he would capture candid images of anonymous strangers – predominantly, women. A 35mm Leica camera enabled Winogrand to quickly photograph as women stepped into taxis, sat in parks, mingled at parties and exited boutiques. ‘Women are Beautiful’ features nearly 50 captivating photographs of the hundreds that Garry Winogrand took.

WHAT: Kizuna: West Meets East

WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens 

WHEN:  Now – November 4, 2012

The Botanic Gardens signature exhibition of the season unites two installation artists working in bamboo: Tetsunori Kawana and Stephen Talasnik. Through different techniques, both artists create large-scale natural works of art with bamboo as their medium. In addition to these serene living installations, the Bill Hosokawa Bonsai Pavillion and Tea Garden were recently unveiled as additions to the Japanese Garden – another must-see while visiting the Denver Colorado Botanic Gardens.

WHAT: Theodore Waddell’s Abstract Angus

WHERE: Denver Art Museum

WHEN:  Now – December 2, 2012

Theodore Waddell arrived on the New York scene in the early 60s, just a decade after abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock ruled the art world. Waddell extracted elements of this abstract art influence before applying them to his own works from his native Montana. Here he painted figures that symbolized cattle on snowy backgrounds, finely walking the line of abstraction and realism. This 23 piece exhibition is a narration of how Waddell’s abstract paintings, sketches and drawings challenge the norm of all Western Art having a realistic form.

WHAT: What Is Modern?

WHERE: Denver Art Museum

WHEN:  Now – March 24, 2013

An impressive show dedicated to furniture and decor from the early nineteenth to the early 21st century. Curator Darrin Alfred has assembled revolutionary furniture, lighting and graphic masterpieces. The exhibition takes a chronological look at how technological advancements informed the development of modernism, starting with a bentwood chair from 1808 by Samuel Gragg. The objects represent a lineage of innovative thinking that embodies the modern experience. “In its simplest form, the term modern implies the up-to-date, a current development, or, better still, a spirit in step with its own time,” muses Alfred.

WHAT: Sixteenth Street Mall Festival of the Arts

WHERE: 16th Street between Arapahoe and Stout

WHEN:  September 14 – September 15, 2012

The Art District on Santa Fe in collaboration with the Denver Theatre District debuts the first annual 16th Street Mall Festival of the Arts. This exciting new event will feature artists and galleries from Denver’s famed Santa Fe Art District. Explore and purchase painting, sculpture, photography, drawings, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, metal and wood works, or enjoy the live performances, demonstrations and videos. This is sure to be one of the best new things to do in Denver, Colorado.

WHAT: Andy Berg: New Works

WHERE: Rule Gallery

WHEN:  September 21 – November 3, 2012; Reception on Friday 9/21 from 6 – 9PM

Artist Andy Berg explains “Painting for me is an opportunity to play for the creative act alone. I approach the process with no restrictions or truths, which allows in the best of moments, for it to become whatever it becomes. There is value in the process rather than in the result. By not identifying with or attaching to the result, I am able to find meaning as it relates to the process.” Visitors of the exhibition step into the experience as they view the dynamic results of Berg’s mystery.  Berg’s artwork presents his contemporary view of spontaneity and creativity to Denver, Colorado.