Colorado offers so many different activities in the summer months for people of all ages, but for seniors, the one thing you must ask is does your senior enjoy the outdoors or indoors more? Does the heat bother them? Do they prefer the heat? Do they enjoy walking, or would they prefer to sit and enjoy the sights? Do they like interaction, or do they enjoy just sitting back and relaxing? When you have these answers, you can continue to plan for them to have an absolutely wonderful time for a day or even days of activities.
For the seniors who would prefer to stay out of the heat, look to the higher elevations for outdoor activities or look to indoor activities. Below is a list of ideas to help with your fun filled day.
Indoor Activities:
Colorado has many Museums that are sure to be a hit on any menu for the day.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- located at 2001 Colorado Blvd Denver, CO 80205
- Hours: Open everyday from 9am to 5pm.
- Free wheel chairs and canes are provided if needed at their front desk.
Founded in 1900, this museum is sure to please along with the Museum, it also includes a planetarium and an Imax theater. You can find the schedule of the exhibits and showings by clicking on this link: http://www.dmns.org/
Senior(65+) discounted rates for admissions for non museum members are: Museum $10.00, Imax $8.00, and Planetarium $14.00
Denver Art Museum
- Located at 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204
- Hours: Tuesday thru Sunday 10am to 5pm.
Founded in 1893 as the Denver Artist’s Club, this Museum has had many homes but has settled at this wonderful location in 1971. The Denver Art Museum is an art museum located in the Civic Center of Denver, Colorado. The museum is one of the largest art museums between the West Coast and Chicago.
Click on link for schedule of exhibits: http://www.denverartmuseum.org/
Senior(65+) discounted admissions for non members is $18.00. The first Saturday of every month is free admission for everyone.
National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
- Located at 120 W 9th St, Leadville, CO 80461
- Hours: Open every day 9am to 5pm.
The National Mining Hall of Fame is a museum located in Leadville, Colorado, USA, dedicated to commemorating the work of miners and people that work with natural resources.
For more information and events click here: www.mininghalloffame.org
Admissions for Seniors(65+) is $7.00.
Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
- Located at 7711 E Academy Blvd #1, Denver, CO 80230
- Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday Noon to 5pm
The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum is located on the former grounds of Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. The museum, which opened in 1994, is housed in the Hangar #1 built in 1939. The museum preserves the history of Lowry AFB’s operations from 1938 to 1994 in its collections, archives, and research library.
For more information and events click here: www. wings museum.org
Discounted admissions for Seniors(65+) is $9.00
Byers-Evans House Museum
- Located at 1310 Bannock Street Denver, CO 80204
- Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm
The Byers-Evans House was home to two prominent Denver families and is one of the city’s most historic landmarks. Built in 1883, it has been beautifully restored to the period between 1912 and 1924. Polished wood finishes, brightly patterned wallpapers, ornate mantles, and period draperies form a backdrop for a rich variety of Evans family furnishings.
For more information click here: http://www.historycolorado.org/museums/byers-evans-house-museum
Senior (65+) discounted admissions for non members is $5.00.
** these are just a few of the many museums in Colorado, if none of these are to your liking, then check out more at: www.colorado.com/activities/museums
Outdoor Activities:
Colorado is one of the most visual states in the United States, from it’s Mountains Majesty to it’s State parks, caves, zoos, and other outdoor activities.
Georgetown Loop Railroad
- located at 100 Mountain St, Silver Plume, CO 80476
- Hours: departures begin at 10am and end at 3:40 (reservations are recommended as the train occasionally fills up quickly and you have many choices) Phone number for reservations: 1-888-456-6777.
The Georgetown Loop Railroad was one of Colorado’s first visitor attractions. Completed in 1884, this spectacular stretch of three-foot narrow gauge railroad was considered an engineering marvel for its time. This is a ride to remember! The beauty of the rugged Rocky Mountains surrounds you as our old-time steam locomotive or one of our powerful diesel locomotives winds up the Clear Creek canyon. Pass by remains of gold and silver mines and breathtaking views along the line, in fully enclosed and open cars. To find out more click here.
A ride on the train will cost $25.95 to $34.95 for adults.
Denver Botanic Gardens
- Located at 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206
- Hours: Open every day 9am to 5pm
Denver Botanic Gardens, a top-ranked US botanical garden, offers spectacular garden displays, outdoor art exhibits, gardening classes and workshops. For more information and special events, please click here: www.botanicgardens.org
Wheel chairs are available to loan at no charge. Admissions for Seniors (65+) is $9.50
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
- Cost: Varies
- Hours: Also varies depending on the park and activity
Colorado also offers many state parks for sight seeing, hiking and having a very relaxing day with wildlife. Colorado’s naturally grown plants and trees, are beautiful to visit especially in the summer. If you are a fisherman, hiker, boater or seeking a hunting spot for the fall look at Colorado’s Parks & Wildlife site at: cpw.state.co.us
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Located at 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd. Colorado Springs, Co 80906
- Hours: Open every day 9am to 5pm with last admission purchase taken at 4pm
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is located in Colorado Springs on 146 acres housing 550 animals representing 119 species, including a tram, a carousel and miniature train. For more information please click here: www.cmzoo.org
Standard wheel chairs are available for $12/day. Admission cost for seniors (65+) is $15.25.
Cave of the Winds
- Located at 100 Cave of the Winds Road Manitou Springs, CO 80829
- Hours: Open daily through the summer 9am to 9pm
Of all the caves in Colorado, this is probably the most popular cave for its location and beauty along with it’s impressive and fun tours through the cave. To get more information for this cave click here: caveofthewinds.com
Admission/tours cost $15.00 to $30.00 per adult depending on which tour you choose.
Denver Zoo
- Located at 2300 Steele St Denver, Colorado 80205
- Hours: Open everyday from 9am to 5pm
With 4000 animals representing 700 species on 80 acres, this zoo offers all a zoo can offer. For more information please click here: www.denverzoo.org
Wheel chairs are available to rent for $7/day and electric scooters can be rented for $30/day. Admission cost for non-member senior (65+) is $12.
Endless Colorado Activities
Colorado offers so many activities all year around for all ages, but the summer months offer so much beauty, from the snow on the highest peaks to the warmth and natural beauty of its flat lands. The relaxing and awe of its landscapes from simply just driving around and sight seeing to an actual activity at one of its many venues. Seniors definitely benefit maybe a more with Colorado’s history, we not only experience things that maybe we remember in our youth, but we also experience new things and learn something we may not have known and that tied in with the beauty and tranquility of the land just going from place to place makes us feel young again.