6 quirky things you must do in Denver

There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Denver—from enjoying adventure sports to drinking beer to watching pro sports at parks named after beer (the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field!). Visitors also love to explore the Mile High City’s many museums, stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens, hear live music at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, and shop and dine in Larimer Square. But what if your objective is to venture off the beaten path and experience some of Denver’smore unusual destinations—say, a museum devoted to miniatures or a Mexican restaurant in a strip mall featuring cliff divers? Here are six unconventional attractions you won’t find in the guide books:

Buckhorn Exchange | Flickr CC: Emily Matthews

Stuff yourself at the Buckhorn Exchange

Founded in 1893, the Buckhorn Exchange is a famous Denver steakhouse. In fact, it’s the city’s oldest restaurant, and if you’re hunting for a place with wild atmosphere, look no further. The interior boasts 575 pieces of taxidermy, including bighorn sheep and giant buffalo, and on the menu are such adventurous appetizers as fried alligator tail, smoked rattlesnake and the house specialty, Rocky Mountain Oysters with horseradish dippin’ sauce. (Hint: These oysters are not from the sea.)

Get away from it all at Denver Flotation Center

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or prone to sensory overload, head to the Lucid Dreams Denver Flotation Center and float your cares away. A 60- or 75-minute float session in a sensory deprivation tank—an isolated chamber filled with 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in 10inches of water—is designed to bring about a meditative calm. It might also make you feel like an astronaut in deep space, with the high salinity content providing a sense of weightlessness. Call it a natural high.

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Casa Bonita | Flickr CC: Seren Wild

Dive into one-of-a-kind atmosphere at Casa Bonita

Sostrange and memorable is Denver restaurant Casa Bonita, located in a Lakewood strip mall, that South Park devoted an entire episode to the 52,000-square-foot “Mexican Disneyland.” Cliff divers, a waterfall, puppet shows, haunted caves, mariachi bands and arcade games are just a few of the many attractions. Be warned: The food on the menu—every person over age 2 must purchase a meal to enter—is not the draw here. But in our opinion, it’s worth buying some sopaipillas to experience the suburban Denver institution that made Cartman so happy.

Check out Williams & Graham, a bar tucked behind a bookcase

While not exactly off the beaten path, storied Denver cocktail bar Williams & Graham nonetheless feels like a secret. And that’s by design. Located in a corner in the Lower Highlands neighborhood in a building disguised as a bookstore, the modern-day speakeasy is accessed via a bookcase door. Once inside, you’ll find a wood-paneled bar, warm lighting, high tufted booths, and a thoughtful menu of well-executed classic cocktails and new favorites. (Warning: Wait times can be long.)

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys | Flickr CC: Jeffrey Beall

Wile away an afternoon at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys

Welcome to the Dollhouse. Located in a yellow Dutch Colonial cottage, the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys is dedicated to the wee and the whimsical, from fully furnished mini mansions to tiny cars, planes and train sets. It’s a charming place to spend an afternoon—if you’re down with dolls, that is. Want to really step into a storybook? Enjoy a traditional English tea at the Oak and Berries Tea Room (by reservation only).

Sense paranormal activity (or not) at Cheesman Park

Whether or not you believe in ghost stories, you’ll stumble upon plenty of them if you research Cheesman Park, an 80-acre green space in the heart of downtown Denver. The land once belonged to the Arapaho, and in 1858, became the site of a city cemetery. When the cemetery fell into disrepair, families were given 90 days to claim the bodies of their deceased loved ones. In 1893, a shady contractor named E.P. McGovern was hired to move unclaimed bodies, and he left an estimated 2,000 corpses in the ground. Now ghost stories abound. Is it simply an idyllic park or a spot for paranormal paranoia? See for yourself.