Aurora is a vibrant city located just outside Denver, Colorado that offers visitors a variety of interesting attractions to explore.

Attraction	Description
The Aurora Fox Arts Center	A hub for performing and visual arts, featuring a theater, art gallery, and art education programs.
Aurora History Museum	Chronicles Aurora’s growth with historical artifacts, photos, and interactive displays.
Morrison Nature Center	Offers 130 acres of nature trails, meadows, and interactive exhibits focused on environmental science.
Plains Conservation Center	A living history village and farm preserving Aurora’s agrarian heritage from the late 1800s.
Aurora Reservoir	Provides opportunities for boating, paddleboarding, fishing, and hiking around an 800-acre reservoir.
Cherry Creek State Park	Offers boating, swimming, hiking, and year-round outdoor activities around an 880-acre reservoir.
Aurora Sports Park	A prime destination for sports enthusiasts with venues for various sports and recreational activities.
Village Greens Park and Golf Course	Features an 18-hole golf course with mountain views, a pro-shop, and outdoor dining.
Aurora Fox Studio Theatre	Provides an intimate setting for innovative and contemporary theater productions.
Aurora Cultural Arts District	A hub for arts, community events, and self-guided tours featuring performing and visual arts.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum	Showcases Colorado’s aerospace heritage with aircraft displays, exhibits, and flight simulators.
Aurora Municipal Center (AMC)	The central government campus with LEED Gold-certified architecture and public services.

From historical sites and cultural institutions to family-friendly activities and outdoor recreation, Aurora has something for travelers of all ages and interests.

The Aurora Fox Arts Center

Name and Location:

• The Aurora Fox Arts Center, located at 9900 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The Aurora Fox Arts Center is a cultural hub in Aurora, hosting a variety of live performances, including theater, music, and dance.

What to Expect:

• Enjoy entertaining and thought-provoking shows, including plays, musicals, and community events. The center also offers educational programs.

Visitor Information:

• Check the center’s website for upcoming shows, ticket prices, and performance schedules.

The Aurora Fox Arts Center is a hub for performing and visual arts located right in downtown Aurora. This multifaceted center includes a 287-seat theater that hosts concerts, plays, musicals, and other live performances throughout the year. The Arts Center also has an art gallery displaying works by local artists, art education programs for both children and adults, and opportunities for community engagement through the arts. Visitors can catch a show in the theater, admire works by Colorado creators in the gallery, or partake in classes offered on topics like painting, photography, and more.

Aurora History Museum

Name and Location:

• Aurora History Museum, located at 15051 E Alameda Pkwy, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Aurora and the surrounding region, highlighting its cultural heritage and development.

What to Expect:

• Explore engaging exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs that offer insights into the city’s past, including its growth and transformation.

Visitor Information:

• The museum offers free admission. Check their website for current exhibits, hours, and special events.

To learn more about Aurora’s heritage, make a stop at the Aurora History Museum. Exhibits at this free museum chronicle Aurora’s growth from its founding in 1891 to the diverse modern city it is today through historical artifacts, photographs, oral histories, and engaging interactive displays. Some key pieces include a settlers’ wagon from a family who traveled west in the 1800s, vintage neon signs from iconic local businesses, and a World War II-era control tower from the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. In addition to the permanent collections, the Aurora History Museum also hosts temporary and travelling exhibitions focused on various aspects of the region’s history.

Morrison Nature Center

Name and Location:

• Morrison Nature Center, located in Star K Ranch at 16002 E Smith Rd, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• This nature center provides a serene natural setting for outdoor enthusiasts and educational programs about the local environment.

What to Expect:

• Enjoy peaceful nature walks, birdwatching, and educational displays that showcase the area’s flora and fauna.

Visitor Information:

• The nature center is free to visit and open year-round. It’s a great place for nature lovers and families.

The Morrison Nature Center is a hidden gem with 130 acres of nature trails and vegetation that showcase Colorado’s natural landscapes. Visitors can hike over a mile of trails that wind through meadows, prairie land, pine woods, a creek, and more to get a taste of Aurora’s natural surroundings. The Nature Center also has interactive exhibits inside its LEED-certified green building focusing on environmental science as well as a variety of programming like nature walks, lectures, summer camps, and classes for all ages. Plus, it’s free to explore the nature center (though donations are appreciated), making it a budget-friendly activity.

Plains Conservation Center

Name and Location:

• Plains Conservation Center, located at 21901 E Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The center is dedicated to preserving and educating the public about the Colorado prairie ecosystem and its history.

What to Expect:

• Explore the open prairie landscape, view historic homesteads, and participate in educational programs and tours.

Visitor Information:

• Check the center’s website for information on tours, programs, and visitor guidelines.

To step back in time to Aurora’s earlier agrarian days, head to the Plains Conservation Center. This living history village and farm seeks to preserve and educate visitors about what plains life was like in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Spread out over 200 acres, the site has restored historic prairie homesteads filled with artifacts and furnishings showing what life was like for Aurora’s early settlers and farmers. Costumed interpreters are on hand to answer questions, provide demonstrations, and even let guests help with daily heritage activities like farming, cooking, and crafts. Special events and festivals held throughout the year celebrate various aspects of plains culture as well.

Aurora Reservoir

Name and Location:

• Aurora Reservoir, located at 5800 S Powhaton Rd, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The reservoir is a man-made water body known for outdoor recreation, including boating, fishing, and picnicking.

What to Expect:

• Spend a day by the water, fishing for trout, kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply enjoying a lakeside picnic.

Visitor Information:

• Visit the reservoir’s website for information on water activities, rentals, and park amenities.

The Aurora Reservoir provides a scenic spot to enjoy popular water recreation activities like boating, waterskiing, paddleboarding, and fishing just minutes from downtown. Managed by the city, this 800-acre reservoir has a swim beach, marina, picnic areas, and over six miles of trails circling its perimeter for hiking and biking. Anglers can cast lines for a variety of fish from the shores or designated fishing docks, while boating enthusiasts will find ramps, slips, and equipment rentals available. Various community events also take place around the reservoir, like outdoor concerts, races, and holiday celebrations with fireworks displays over the water.

Cherry Creek State Park

Name and Location:

• Cherry Creek State Park, located at 4201 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The park offers a scenic escape in the Denver metropolitan area, with a reservoir, trails, and a variety of outdoor activities.

What to Expect:

• Explore hiking and biking trails, go boating, enjoy a day at the beach, or camp in a natural setting.

Visitor Information:

• Check the park’s website for details on activities, camping reservations, and park hours.

Cherry Creek State Park brings the splendor of Colorado’s landscapes to the suburbs of Aurora by way of its massive 880-acre reservoir. As one of the state’s most-visited parks, Cherry Creek is popular for activities like boating, stand up paddleboarding, swimming, and fishing during summer while trails for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and more allow enjoyment year-round. Two marinas provide services like boat slips and rentals, while facilities around the park have everything from picnic shelters to an equestrian area to an off-leash dog zone. Special events and educational programs also occur periodically, spotlighting Aurora’s beautiful natural surroundings.

Aurora Sports Park

Name and Location:

• Aurora Sports Park, located at 19300 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The sports park is a premier facility for various sports and recreational events in Aurora.

What to Expect:

• Attend sporting events, tournaments, or enjoy the park’s playgrounds and open spaces for family outings.

Visitor Information:

• Check the park’s calendar for events, games, and park amenities.

Home to facilities that have hosted national and international competitions, Aurora Sports Park is a prime destination for sports enthusiasts. Spanning over 250 acres, the complex contains venues for field sports, ice hockey, court sports, a BMX track, skate park, velodrome, and more. Signature facilities include the Aurora Tennis Centre with 22 outdoor and indoor tennis courts, the Aurora Sports Centre hockey rinks, the Runway 35K velodrome track, and the Aurora Municipal Grounds mega-sports field complex. Events from local little league tournaments to Olympic Team Trials utilize the premier sports infrastructure, with many facilities also available for casual community use.

Village Greens Park and Golf Course

Name and Location:

• Village Greens Park and Golf Course, located at 9300 E Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village, CO (near Aurora).

History and Significance:

• A public park featuring a golf course, providing opportunities for recreation and relaxation.

What to Expect:

• Enjoy a round of golf on the scenic course, or visit the park for picnics and outdoor activities.

Visitor Information:

• Visit the golf course’s website for tee times, rates, and park amenities.

For recreation in a scenic setting, head to Village Greens Park and Golf Course. Nestled along Aurora’s Cherry Creek corridor, this well-maintained municipal course offers an affordable round of golf with gorgeous mountain views. Designed by PGA Champion Dave Hill, the 18-hole, par-72 course mixes challenging holes with open fairways suitable to players of varying abilities. The clubhouse has additional amenities like a pro-shop, concessions, and The View Bar & Grill restaurant with outdoor patio seating overlooking the slopes. Adjacent Village Greens Park also has walking trails, sports fields, picnic shelters, and a playgroundarea as well.

Aurora Fox Studio Theatre

Name and Location:

• Aurora Fox Studio Theatre, located at 9900 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO.

History and Significance:

• The studio theatre is an intimate venue within the Aurora Fox Arts Center, hosting smaller-scale productions.

What to Expect:

• Experience captivating and up-close performances, including plays, musicals, and experimental theater.

Visitor Information:

• Check the theatre’s website for upcoming shows, ticket prices, and performance schedules.

Part of the Aurora Fox Arts Center complex, the Aurora Fox Studio Theatre provides an intimate setting for innovative and contemporary theater productions in the Denver metro region. As a smaller 99-seat theater, it supports new works, avant-garde and edgy performances, interactive audience experiences, and experimental theatrical styles that might not normally be staged at larger theaters. Productions range from thought-provoking world premiere plays and dance performances to late-night comedy, improv and variety shows for mature audiences. Theatergoers looking for cutting-edge, bold works can often find them gracing the Aurora Fox Studio stage.

Aurora Cultural Arts District

Name and Location:

• Aurora Cultural Arts District, encompassing various art galleries and cultural venues in downtown Aurora.

History and Significance:

• The district promotes local artists, cultural events, and creative expression in the community.

What to Expect:

• Explore art galleries, attend cultural events, and discover the vibrant artistic scene in Aurora.

Visitor Information:

• Check the district’s website for information on art walks, exhibitions, and cultural happenings.

Aurora’s Cultural Arts District brings together history, art, and community events throughout several neighborhoods northeast of downtown. Centered around venues like the Aurora Fox Theater and History Museum, the district also contains art galleries, studios, restaurants, the city’s central library branch, and sculptures dotted along public streets and spaces. Monthly First Friday events invite the public to explore area businesses through arts, entertainment, special offers, and more. Visitors can pick up a self-guided tour map to take in over 30 creative destinations encapsulating performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and Aurora’s unique heritage all in one walkable area.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

Learn about Colorado’s aerospace heritage stretching from the Wright Brothers to present day at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Located on the former grounds of Lowry Air Force Base, this Smithsonian-affiliate museum has dozens of aircraft on display from World War II fighters to Cold War jets to experimental air and space vehicles in the massive hangar facility. Engaging exhibits chronicle topics like the Tuskegee Airmen, women aviators, astronauts, and flight technology advancements through stories, artifacts, hands-on components, and even flight simulators. An archive and restoration facility allows visitors to observe preservation work in action too.

Aurora Municipal Center (AMC)

As Aurora’s central government campus, the Aurora Municipal Center brings city services together under one LEED Gold-certified architectural marvel of a building. Designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, the AMC building is meant to represent the diverse landscape and people of Aurora through designs echoing the area’s plains, rivers, forests and mountains. Inside, visitors can take care of needs like getting permits, paying bills, attending court, registering vehicles/pets, requesting records, and more at various city departments without having to visit multiple offices around town. Public art pieces plus free exhibits and events also make the AMC a cultural destination.

Conclusion

From renowned performance theaters and vast green spaces to family-friendly museums and an architecturally impressive city hall, Aurora has no shortage of attractions to delight visitors. History buffs, arts patrons, sports fans and outdoor enthusiasts alike will all find ample options for culture, entertainment, recreation, and enrichment located in and around Colorado’s third largest city. Whether planning a quick day trip from Denver or getting to know the community better as a local, these top 12 attractions are just a sampling of what Aurora has in store for those who come to explore.