15 Best Things to Do in Cherry Hills Village (CO)

Located just south of Denver between Littleton and Aurora, Cherry Hills Village is a small municipality of about 7,000 residents that wasn’t incorporated until 1945.

Though Cherry Hill Village is small, it’s one of the state’s most affluent communities and has a much higher average family income than most other areas.

Though the attractions within town limits are few, visitors to Cherry Hill Village have easy access to national parks and world-class ski resorts, as well as history, art, live entertainment, and cultural venues in the city.

Below are 15 things to do in and around Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.

1. Annual Exotic Car Show

Each year, the town of Cherry Hills Village hosts a car show that takes place the first week in September when the weather in the Rocky Mountain State is usually perfect.

This event is held outdoors and includes an impressive collection of modern and vintage cars from private collections all over the west.

Admission is free, and for those who’ve got a classic ride they’d like to show off, it’s possible to download an application on the municipality’s website to participate.

The event also includes great food and music and is located in the parking lot of city hall, which makes it convenient to get to on foot.

2. Annual Winter Celebration

Winter tends to come earlier in Colorado than it does in many other states. The Annual Winter Celebration is a much-anticipated event that’s a great way for first-time visitors to experience the holidays and winter seasons like never before.

The event was previously called the Holiday Tree Lighting, but it has grown to include additional activities, hence the name was recently changed.

It’s another free, family-friendly Cherry Hills Village attraction that’s held at Village Center. Though the ceremonial Christmas tree lighting is still the celebration’s main event, other activities include a hayride, time with Santa, and storytime for little ones.

3. Barnhouse Tap

Barnhouse Tap is located on South Broadway in Englewood and is considered by savvy beer lovers to be one of the Denver area’s best brewpubs.

Barnhouse generally has about 40 beers on tap at any one time, and they come in a range of colors, flavor profiles, and alcohol contents to suit most taste buds.

For those who’d rather have a hard cider or a glass of wine, they’ve got a big selection of those too. The outdoor patio is popular with dog lovers who’d rather not leave their four-legged friends at home.

Appetizers and sandwiches are available, and during the spring and summer, they often host live entertainment in the evenings.

4. Cherry Hills Sushi Co.

Due to the wonders of modern refrigerated transportation, it’s possible for restaurants like Cherry Hills Sushi Co. to have access to fresh seafood from both coasts and around the world.

Previous guests have described the sushi restaurant as trendy, comfortable, and inviting, and according to those in the know, they’ve got the best sushi and sashimi in the area.

Cherry Hills has a big selection of beer, sake, and wine. For those with little or no sushi experience trying it for the first time, the staff is knowledgeable and helpful, so don’t be shy about asking for a little guidance if you fall into that category.

5. Harvard Gulch Golf Course

For visitors who’d rather not spend a small fortune on an 18-hole round of golf, the 9-hole Harvard Gulch Course in nearby Denver would be a great alternative.

The course measures just about 900 yards from the longest tees, which means it’s possible to get in a whole round in slightly over an hour.

Harvard Gulch features treed areas and sand hazards that make it both scenic and challenging, and it’s a great course for kids and those without much golf experience.

The course has been open since 1982 and compared to its more traditional 18-hole contemporaries, greens fees are amazingly cheap.

6. Roxborough State Park

Colorado is home to a huge variety of state and national parks. Though many of the largest and most popular of them are located hours away from Denver, some are quite close and offer perfect day trip options for those who’d rather not waste valuable vacation time in a car.

Roxborough State Park is located on Roxborough drive in nearby Littleton and is comprised of more than 3,000 scenic acres that offer lots of outdoor recreation activities from which to choose.

The park was officially established in the mid-‘70s and includes majestic rock formations, Native American archaeological sites, and tons of trails that are open to hikers, runners, and mountain bikers.

7. Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater is located on Greenwood Plaza Boulevard in Englewood, just a short drive from Cherry Hills Village. With a seating capacity of nearly 20,000, it’s the largest venue of its kind in metro Denver.

The amphitheater is a live entertainment venue that hosts contemporary and traditional concerts as well as dramatic theater and other productions during the summer season.

Tickets to popular shows tend to go quickly, so it’s wise to purchase them beforehand to avoid a frustrating sold-out situation.

The park adjacent to the theater is a great place to explore as well and includes sculptures and artwork from local and regional artists.

8. Devil’s Head Distillery

Though first-time visitors might mistake it for an automotive transmission or engine repair shop, Devil’s Head Distillery is one of the area’s premier small-batch distilleries and is particularly popular with savvy spirit lovers from all over metro Denver.

Their products include gin infused with local juniper, barley vodka, and whiskey aged in charred oak barrels. When the tasting room is open, their bartenders whip up amazing classic cocktails unlike anything most visitors have ever had.

Devil’s Head is only open a few days a week, so you’ll definitely want to check their website before making a special trip.

9. South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center

South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center are located in Littleton on about 900 acres and were originally set aside in the mid-1960s.

At the time, the Army Corps of Engineers were busy working on the nearby Chatfield Dam. Today, the attractions draw outdoorsy types, animal lovers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts from far and wide.

The Carson Nature Center features a variety of exhibits that focus on the natural world. It also serves as a welcome center for those looking to set out on the multi-use trails on foot, bike, or horseback.

The reservoir is popular with anglers, and kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming are favorite pastimes as well.

10. The Museum of Outdoor Arts

Museum of Outdoor Arts, Englewood — Museum Of Outdoor Arts

Though the Denver area has a thriving art scene, it’s often the exclusive realm of artists, collectors, and gallery owners, and average folks tend to have little access to quality art.

The Museum of Outdoor Arts was founded in 1981. Since then, it has been dedicated to preserving and promoting art, architecture, and design in a unique venue.

MOA’s collection is less traditional than many of its contemporaries, and includes quirky oddities from regional and internationally acclaimed artists in a variety of mediums, like paintings, sculptures, and even robots.

The museum is located in Englewood and is inexpensive by museum standards.

11. Southlands Mall

During the spring and summer months, the weather in Colorado is often perfect.

The Rocky Mountain State usually has more than 300 sunny days per year, but in the winter, the weather can be harsh, frigid, and generally uninviting.

Southlands Mall is located on South Main Street in Aurora and is the perfect place to spend a few hours indoors when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Southlands is anchored by big-name retailers like Barnes & Noble, American Eagle, and Best Buy. There are plenty of dining options as well, ranging from fast food and coffee shops to sushi, gourmet burgers, and pizza.

12. The Littleton Museum

For small museums, being affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute is a feather in the cap that most museums can only dream of achieving.

The Littleton Museum is located on South Gallup Street and was the first facility of its kind in Colorado to receive such a distinctive accreditation.

The museum’s grounds include nearly 50 acres, and it’s a must-visit attraction for those looking to get up to speed on the area’s history and culture without traveling to multiple sites.

Exhibits include art, Native American artifacts, and a living history farm where children have an opportunity to get their hands dirty under the tutelage of museum staff.

13. Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms

Spread across nearly 700 acres of preserved land on West Deer Canyon Road in Littleton, the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms are comprised of a number of landscaped gardens that feature both native and exotic species of plants, flowers, and trees.

There’s also a popular butterfly garden that’s open seasonally from spring until the end of summer. During the holiday season, there are fun family activities like a corn maze, Halloween pumpkin festival, and Christmas events.

The farm also features small plots for local families who prefer to grow their own produce during the relatively short growing season.

14. The Plains Conservation Center

The Plains Conservation Center on East Hampden Avenue in Aurora was established more than seven decades ago to preserve the state’s vast prairies that stretch from central Colorado to the neighboring states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.

It’s the state’s premier destination for those interested in learning about ecology and history. For many, it’s their first glimpse into the Dust Bowl days of the early 20th century that were characterized by disappearing soil, destitute farmers, and billowing clouds of dust that often stretched thousands of feet into the sky.

The center includes two distinct sites that feature lots of dinosaur-era relics too.

15. Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

Even for those who don’t fancy themselves aviation enthusiasts, airplanes are just downright cool for the young and old alike.

Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum sports an impressive collection of both civilian and military aircraft, including a massive B-52 Stratofortress, an F-111 fighter-bomber, and an F-14 Tomcat like the one made famous by the iconic movie Top Gun.

The museum is located on what was once part of Lowry Air Force Base, which operated in an official capacity from the late-‘30s to the mid-‘90s.

Admission is inexpensive, and most visitors spend a few hours on-site before heading off to other adventures.