15 Things to Do in Denver When it Rains

The 4-storey Museum of Contemporary Art Denver stands out among the surrounding brick warehouses thanks to the whimsical pierced-heart sculpture guarding the entrance. Step inside, and make your way through the museum's 5 galleries – Photography, Paper Works, Large Works, New Media and Projects.

Depending on the show, each rotating exhibit can be fun, thought-provoking, and even confusing. Afterwards, spend some time relaxing on the museum's rooftop deck (weather permitting) with a lovely garden suspended above a pool of water. Have a drink and take in the 360-degree views of Denver's skyline.

Ball Arena is Denver’s state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility located downtown. If you happen to be in town during the game season (October to April), you can catch a Denver Nuggets basketball or Colorado Avalanche hockey game.

On top of sports events, the multipurpose arena annually hosts various family and comedy shows and touring big-name music performers. You can also join a guided tour of the stadium on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Coors Factory is the largest single brewing facility in the world. It’s in the small town of Golden, about 15 miles to the west of downtown Denver. The factory is open to the public, with self-guided audio tours available. Adults can participate in decent-sized beer-tasting opportunities, with non-alcoholic beers also featured.

The process of beer-making is more interesting than you’d think. So whether or not you’re a beer drinker, a visit is worthwhile. In addition, the shop has all sorts of goodies and Coors branded clothing. The queue can get very long on weekends, so try to go during the week or early on weekends.

The Molly Brown House Museum is sure to be a memorable experience if you're into old houses, ghost stories and Titanic history. The massive 14-room Victorian mansion is the former home of philanthropist and RMS Titanic survivor Margaret Brown. The historical home has been frozen in time and restored to its state when Margaret Brown and her husband lived there.

The house is open for tours. And through thoughtful exhibits, you can discover Margaret's fascinating life as an activist, socialite and philanthropist. Buying tickets beforehand is recommended.

Downtown Aquarium is where you can enjoy a variety of activities and impressive displays of marine life from all over the world. Among the many animals on display are stingrays, sharks, eels, and sea turtles. The aquarium hosts family-friendly programmes, such as becoming marine biologists and zoologists for a day, as well as snorkelling and shark cage experiences. You also get to watch music-choreographed mermaid shows at the Under the Sea Exhibit.

The Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum displays over 50 planes and permanent exhibits about prominent aviation figures. A must-see is the Amelia Earhart gallery, where you can see various artefacts and equipment used during her flying expeditions. Flight simulators let young visitors try their hand at flying over a dozen aircrafts or riding rollercoasters for about $7.50 per ride.

The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave is dedicated to the legendary William F. Cody, aka Buffalo Bill, and combines Old West history and memorabilia. Buffalo Bill was a skilled buffalo hunter and creator of renowned Wild West shows that gave a lasting impression of the American West.

During a visit to the museum, you can view exhibits about his fascinating life, as well as Native American objects and Old West firearms. Apart from the trip through history, the museum’s location in Lookout Mountain Park is worth a visit on its own. You can enjoy sweeping vistas from mountains to plains while picnicking or hiking.

Union Station is a historic train station in the heart of Denver’s Downtown. The 100-year-old landmark building is an important transport hub and meeting place for locals and visitors alike. While it was traditionally just a train station, Union Station now boasts cool places to shop, eat and drink.

Union Station is home to some unique independent stores selling jewellery, homewares, books, and art. You can find a pizzeria, gourmet sandwiches, ice creamery, trendy cafés, and award-winning restaurants. It’s certainly become a shopping and dining destination in Denver, even for non-passengers and visitors. It’s conveniently located close to Larimer Square and 16^th Street Mall.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is where you get to learn about natural history through interactive exhibits and family-friendly workshops. Located on Colorado Boulevard, it’s within a 5-minute walk of the Denver Zoo and City Park. Check out the North American Indian Cultures exhibit, which displays reconstructed homes of native tribes and authentic artefacts such as handcrafted pottery, beadwork, and weavings. Families get to enjoy a variety of activities in The Discovery Zone, from digging for fossils to riding in a kid-sized shuttle flight deck.

Butterfly Pavilion features 5 exhibits with over 5,000 insects and invertebrate creatures from all over the world. Its 668 sq m tropical conservatory is where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll with 1,600 butterflies floating above you. The conservation centre hosts interesting programmes all year round, from macro photography to yoga sessions in a tropical rainforest. Admission to the Butterfly Pavilion costs around $12 per adult and $8 per child (2 to 12 years old).

The Clyfford Still Museum is exclusively dedicated to the namesake 20th-century American artist. The museum's collection includes more than 2,400 pieces created by the painter, equating to 95% of his work. Those pieces include about 1,575 works on paper and 825 paintings on canvas as well as journals, sketchbooks, and his library.

The museum is housed in a beautiful modern building that’s considered one of Denver's best examples of contemporary architecture. Walking through the light-filled galleries, you have the unique opportunity to explore the large-scale, colour-splashed paintings of one of the most talented abstract expressionist painters of the 20^th century.

iFLY–Denver indoor flight centre is a go-to if you’ve ever wanted to experience the incredible feeling of free-fall. Wearing only a skydiving suit and a helmet, you’ll float into a vertical wind tunnel and soar on the wall-to-wall cushion of air.

This is the ultimate adrenaline rush – minus the parachute and jumping out of a perfectly servicable aeroplane. And no matter what the weather is like outside, you can ride the winds day and night. The adventure is suitable for anyone from ages 3 and up. No experience is necessary.

Urban Air Adventure Park is an indoor playground 8 miles from downtown Denver. It's packed with dozens of gravity-defying attractions that will suit the whole family. There are enough activities to keep you busy the entire day, from obstacle courses to trampolines to trapeze and climbing walls.

All that jumping and swinging makes one hungry. Fortunately, there’s an on-site café serving cold drinks, pizzas, and other tasty snacks. The best way to reach Urban Air Adventure Park from downtown is on the A-Line commuter train.

At Stranahan's Whiskey Distillery & Cocktail Bar in Denver, you can take an informative, entertaining tour of the distillery and discover how they distil their whiskey. Stranahan's Whiskey is an award-winning single malt whiskey from Colorado's first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition in the US.

The whiskey consists of 100% malted barley and Rocky Mountain water from Eldorado Springs. After the tour, you can taste the small-batch whiskey for yourself as the tour price includes tastings. Guests must be 21+ years old to enter. And if you're still thirsty, the adjacent cocktail bar serves excellent cocktails.

Ophelia's Electric Soapbox is a former brothel-turned-artsy bar, restaurant and music venue that’s housed in a late 19th-century Victorian Airedale building in downtown Denver. The boudoir-style décor and moody lighting hint at the building's origins.

On a rainy evening, nothing beats a fun ambience and live music in a spot like this. Be sure to visit on a weekend or a Thursday evening when you can enjoy a variety of national and international bands. Sunday brunch usually includes live folk or bluegrass performances.