With two weeks left of school, DU students begin to stress about finals, moving out and summer jobs. It’s important to make sure that we didn’t miss out on anything while living in Denver for the school year. In an ever-growing and fun-filled city, there are countless things all DU students should make sure they do before they leave this wonderful environment for a few months:
1. Visit Union Station and explore downtown
Union station is an easy light rail ride away, and if you haven’t gone yet, now is the time. “I go to Union Station to study all the time,” sophomore Devon Yach studying finance from Chicago comments on his frequent visits to Union station. “It’s a lot easier for me to study there instead of a stuffy, overcrowded coffee shop, and it’s an easy light rail ride.” Beyond studying, Yach visits Union Station and the downtown area for fun restaurants, excellent shopping and exploring the exciting downtown environment.
2. Visit Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Usually a popular destination for DU students on a day off, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a ‘must-see’ for anyone looking for something to do with their spare time. Nestled in Denver’s City Park with the Zoo, the Museum of Nature and Science is offering a very popular Vikings Exhibition until Aug 13, as well as their usual exhibits which include Expedition Health, Gems & Minerals, Space Odyssey, Prehistoric Journey, North American Indian Cultures, Russian Folk Life, Wildlife Exhibits, Egyptian Mummies and the Discovery Zone. The museum is open 9a.m.-5p.m. everyday and tickets range between $11 and $25 depending on how old you are and which exhibits you see.
3. Spend the afternoon at Elitch Gardens and Theme Park
Roller coasters may not be your style of fun, but don’t worry. Elitch’s water park opens Memorial Day Weekend, which provides a fun way to spend the day with friends and soak up those sun rays. For those of you who have a wild side, Elitch’s amusement rides are a thrilling way to spend the day. In May, the park’s hours vary, yet more days than not you have the option of taking an easy light rail ride to a very exciting day spent with friends. Tickets bought online are over $10 cheaper than tickets bought at the gate, priced at $35.
4. Try Denver’s hottest restaurant: Cattivella.
Translating to “Naughty Girl,” Cattivella is a restaurant you must visit and one you are bound to come running back to. Award-winning chef and owner, Elise Wiggins has mastered the art of Italian food with her decades of experience in crafting delicious Italian meals. With a wood-burning oven, various five-star dishes are crafted for hungry food-lovers, as the open kitchen offers to its diners the opportunity to watch their meal be made for them personally. With stunning views of the mountains and an experience you will never forget, Carrivella is a restaurant you must visit while living in Denver.
5. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the day
Whether you came to Denver for the mountains or not, a day hike is a must before you head home for the summer, and Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect place to do so. Only a short one-and-a-half-hour car ride away, a day trip spent hiking and exploring the many trails Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer will freshen your soul for the next couple weeks of hard work and finals. Hopefully, it will fill your “adventure fix” until you come back to Denver in the fall.
