15 Best Things to Do in Greenwood Village (CO)

Greenwood Village is located south of downtown Denver just west of Interstate 25.

The town had slightly more than 16,000 residents at the time of the last census and is perfectly positioned to offer visitors an impressive array of both urban and rural activities; many of them are just a few minutes away.

Denver, Centennial, and Aurora offer plenty of dining and shopping options, as well as theaters, museums, and historical attractions. There are several local, state, and national parks close by as well.

Below are 15 things to do in and around Greenwood Village that rank highly on many traveler’s itineraries.

1. Cherry Creek State Park

State Parks are usually inexpensive or free to visit, and typically offer guests a variety of recreation options to choose from.

Cherry Creek State Park’s most prominent feature is its massive lake that’s comprised of nearly 900 surface acres.

During the summer, the lake attracts boaters, swimmers, anglers, and kayakers. The trails that weave their way through the park are popular with horseback riders, cyclists, and hikers.

For those interested in spending a night or two in the great outdoors, the park has more than 100 individual campsites, most of which have full water and electrical hookups for RVs.

2. Kennedy Golf Course

Unlike most courses that have just 18 holes, Kennedy Golf Course in Denver features 36.

Twenty-seven of the course’s holes are regulation length, but for those who’d rather not spend four or five hours on the links, there’s a short 9-hole, par-3 course that generally takes just over an hour to play.

The course’s amenities include a popular restaurant, a lighted driving range, and a mini-golf course that’s open from dawn until dusk when the weather is good.

It’s a family-friendly attraction that has a little something for everyone regardless of age and skill level, and it’s inexpensive as well.

3. Aurora Reservoir Recreation Area

At more than 30,000 surface acres, Aurora Reservoir is a massive impoundment that supplies much of the city’s water, and the surrounding park is a magnet for outdoorsy folks who prefer to enjoy nature without straying very far.

Aurora Reservoir Recreation Area features designated swimming and sunbathing areas, and there’s plenty of space for picnics, biking, and walking as well.

The reservoir is open between Memorial Day and the end of September; during that time, there are lifeguards on duty between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Don’t expect to have the place to yourself if you visit on weekends during the summer.

4. Milano Coffee

Milano Coffee is located on East Arapahoe Road in town and opens bright and early at 5:30 during the work week.

That’s earlier than most of its competitors, and it’s one of the reasons it’s so popular with those who get an early start.

In addition to hot and cold coffee drinks, they serve Italian soda, tea, and smoothies, as well as yogurt, fruit, and baked goods.

Milano offers guests both in and outdoor seating, the latter of which is separated from the street, so you won’t have to contend with pesky road noise.

They’re open daily but have slightly reduced hours on the weekends.

5. Surena

Due to their relative proximity to Denver and the area’s colleges and universities, many small towns like Greenwood Village have surprising varieties of restaurants featuring international cuisines.

Rumor has it that Surena was the first Persian restaurant to open in Colorado. For those who’ve never tried it, Persian food features exotic flavors and unique spices that are foreign to many palates.

Stew, soup, saffron rice, and kabobs are perennial favorites, and previous guests have raved about their black tea as well.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is trendy, inviting, and comfortable and includes traditional Persian art, furniture, and dinnerware.

6. The Denver Colorado Temple

You don’t have to be a died-in-the-wool Latter Day Saint to appreciate the Denver Colorado Temple’s amazing architecture.

The temple was officially opened in the mid-‘80s and includes beautifully landscaped grounds, stained glass windows depicting significant events in the church’s history, and a spire that towers over the church and grounds.

Guided tours are available, but only to those who call ahead to let the staff know when they’ll be coming and how many will be in their party.

Tours include historical narration from active church members and officials that most guests find both entertaining and enlightening.

7. Aurora History Museum

The Aurora History Museum is located on East Alameda Parkway and has been open since 1979.

Over the years, the museum has amassed an impressive collection of historical artifacts and memorabilia relating to the area’s founding, and much of it dates back to the early part of the 1800s.

Though much of what’s on display is of a historical nature, there are some rotating exhibits as well that touch on contemporary themes like the state’s craft beer renaissance.

Expect to see historic documents and photographs, Native American artifacts, and first-hand accounts of those who settled in the area when it was largely dangerous and unexplored.

8. Resolute Brewing Company

Colorado has always been big beer country, but for much of its existence, it was dominated by the massive Coors Brewery in nearby Golden.

Decades ago, craft breweries began to pop up all over the place, and these days, travelers to The Rocky Mountain State are usually never far away from at least one.

Resolute Brewing Company is located on South Yosemite Street in Centennial. Though it has only been open since 2016, it’s drawn a loyal following.

Resolute Brewing’s favorite brews include wheat beer, ambers, stouts, and hoppy IPAs. It’s dog-friendly as well, and has both in and outdoor seating.

9. The Streets at SouthGlenn

Located on South Vine Street in Centennial, The Streets at SouthGlenn is a new and improved version of a shopping mall that operated on the site for more than three decades between the ‘70s and early 2000s.

The Streets has been open since 2009 and includes retail anchors like Macy’s, Best Buy, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The perfect place to spend a few hours out of the elements, its amenities include a movie complex with more than a dozen screens, and lots of tasty dining options that range from burgers and pizza to Asian cuisine, seafood, and steaks.

10. The Plains Conservation Center

The Plains Conservation Center is a popular Aurora attraction that’s the perfect place to spend a few hours for those interested in getting a unique insight into the area’s history and ecology.

The facility has been around for more than seven decades; its primary goals are education and continuing the conservation efforts necessary to protect the state’s natural wonders.

The site is broken into two distinct areas, the first of which includes historic buildings, a blacksmith’s workshop, and a settler-era schoolhouse.

The second area is focused on the area’s natural history, of which the mass dinosaur extinction that took place in the Cretaceous Era is the most prominent.

11. Bear Creek Greenbelt

For much of the spring and summer, the weather in Colorado is absolutely perfect for outdoor activities.

Many visitors to the Greenwood Village area spend large chunks of their time behind the wheel traveling to the state’s big-name attractions, but there are plenty of options closer to home as well.

Bear Creek Greenbelt is located in nearby Lakewood and stretches for nearly four miles. It’s appropriate for most reasonably fit people regardless of age.

The parking lot and trailhead are located on South Estes Street, and the trail passes through meadows and both treed and wetland areas that are home to a variety of birds and animals.

12. Aurora Fox Arts Center

Aurora Fox Arts Center is located on East Colfax Avenue in downtown Aurora’s arts district and features a theater that seats nearly 250 guests.

The center offers year-round performances, many of which are Broadway-style shows that far exceed most visitor’s expectations.

The theater in which the center is now housed was originally a movie house that was built in the mid-‘40s; live music, dance, and recitals are on the center’s calendar of events as well.

Many popular performances sell out weeks before their dates, so if possible, it’s wise to purchase tickets well in advance of your visit.

13. William F. Hayden Green Mountain Park

Lakewood’s William F. Hayden Green Mountain Park is spread over nearly 2,500 scenic acres along South Rooney Road, and it’s one of the city’s largest parks.

The park features an extensive network of multi-use trails that offer walkers, runners, and bikers incredible vistas of the Green Mountains, as well as the downtown Denver skyline when conditions are favorable.

The trails range from easy to difficult, and for the uber-fit, it’s possible to hike to the tallest peak overlooking the park.

Bird watching, photography, and wildlife viewing are popular park pastimes, and it’s common to see deer, fox, and a variety of birds – especially in the morning and early evening when many of them are most active.

14. The Clue Room

It’s been said that The Clue Room in Centennial was Colorado’s first escape room. Though there are probably others who also claim to be the first, it’s one of the area’s most visited attractions for those who like to add suspense and mystery to their vacation experience.

The Clue Room offers a number of distinctly themed rooms. For those who’ve never tried one, they’re unique activities that are fun for a variety of ages and interests.

Escape rooms are great for date nights, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and corporate team-building functions, and most of them take only slightly longer than an hour.

15. Downslope Distilling

Though Colorado is most well-known for its abundant craft breweries, the distilling of small-batch spirits has taken off in recent years as well.

Downslope Distilling is located on South Dawson Circle in nearby Englewood and produces ten distinct spirits from several ingredients, including rye, sugarcane, agave, and barley.

Guided facility tours are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but reservations must be made in advance.

Some of their most popular products include American rye, rum, vodka, and an agave spirit that resembles tequila. They also offer multi-day courses for those who’d like a more in-depth insight into how spirits are made.