City Park - Denver, CO

During the mid-19th century, the City Park neighborhood was a simple mining camp. However, as the population grew in Denver, this area became more attractive to residents because of the rolling landscape and beautiful, tall trees.

New York's Central Park influenced the design of Denver's City Park. The original architects designed this area to give residents a New York vibe with a Denver twist.

In 1878, the city of Denver passed legislature to allow acquisition of 1,280 acres of land to build a park. The Denver Zoo and Ferril Lake opened in the early years of the 20th century, making this an attractive neighborhood. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science opened to the public in 1908.

Thousands of people visit City Park every year, especially when the Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature and Science have free days. The biggest events at the Denver Zoo include the Halloween Boo at the Zoo for children and the Zoo Lights for an illuminated evening stroll in December.

Impressive restaurants, bars and entertainment venues appear along the Colfax Avenue side of the neighborhood. The Über Sausage is one of the most loved sandwich places in the neighborhood. It focuses mainly on German-influenced food, such as The Hatch, a savory sandwich with Hatch green chile pork sausage seasoned with all kinds of herbs and spices to make it an unforgettable meal.

Omonoia Greek Bakery appeals to those with a bit of a sweet tooth. This family-owned bakery has been in the City Park neighborhood for decades. Every single cookie tastes rich and exquisite, especially the cookies dipped in chocolate and filled with fruit.

For a big meal to fill you up, stop in at To The Wind Bistro. This traditional American restaurant doesn't let you down with its tender, savory buttermilk chicken. The husband-and-wife owners are incredibly welcoming at this incredibly snug spot, so make sure to call ahead of time for a seat. While you can't make reservations, you can get a seat held for you if you provide a 30-minute heads-up.

For fun night-time entertainment, be sure to stop by The Bluebird Theater. This live concert venue leaves you shocked that so much fun can be packed into such an intimate space. Take a short walk from the Bluebird Theater to PS Lounge. This laid-back bar makes the perfect spot for a quiet night for some cheap drinks and low-key conversations after seeing a show.

Residents of City Park have a wide variety of ways to get around the area. The bordering streets of Josephine Street, Colfax Avenue, Colorado Boulevard and 23rd Avenue are all hot spots for Denver's public transportation systems. Downtown Denver is just a quick bus ride west along Colfax.

Various local taxi companies serve the City Park area, as well as Lyft and Uber. These options provide City Park area residents with many options for exploring everything Denver has to offer.

City Park is the largest park in all of Denver, covering most of the land in the neighborhood. Rent paddleboats or animal-shaped boats to ride through Ferril Lake on a lazy summer day, and enjoy the light show at the lake's Prismatic Fountain in the evening. The park's old-fashioned bandstand and pavilion by Ferril Lake feature free live jazz performances in June and July.

Just to the north lies the City Park Golf Course, which adds even more beautiful scenery to the area. Golfers can enjoy the stunning scenery of the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains as they play a round on this 18-hole course or get in some practice on the course's driving range.

In 2005, the Denver Zoo was the most popular paid attraction in the Denver Metro area. The naturalistic enclosures and educational exhibits make the zoo an especially attractive place for families to visit.

City Park also hosts a 5K marathon every year called the Mustache Dache. Runners wear goofy mustaches to raise money for Movember, a cause dedicated to changing the face of men's health.

In the City Park neighborhood, the average one-bedroom apartment rents for $1,300. The area provides residents with several rental options from luxury apartments, to more economical alternatives. The cost of living in the City Park neighborhood is average for the Denver Metro area but lower than LoDo or the Cherry Creek neighborhood. City Park is filled with cheap activities such as the zoo, parks and museums. Locals can enjoy a wide range of activities on weekends, dates or simple outings without breaking the bank.

The few blocks of retail stores in the area around the City Park neighborhood provide some truly unique and locally owned shopping options.

Book lovers love the selection at local indie bookstore Tattered Cover. Originally founded in Denver, the Tattered Cover Book Store has been a local go-to spot for books for more than 40 years. They also host many live events and have authors speak there to attract visitors from all over the state.

Music lovers never want to leave Twist and Shout. This store sells T-shirts, posters, DVDs books, CDs and records. You could spend endless hours searching through all the vintage music and memorabilia while you find some real gems.

Coloradical creates Colorado clothing designed to make anyone proud to represent the state. Coloradical's clothing would be perfect for tourists seeking a souvenir of their trips to the Centennial State or locals who want to show off their pride in their home state.

The only grocery store within the City Park neighborhood is Sprouts, but other major retailers such as Safeway and Whole Foods are just a quick drive away.

The City Park Esplanade Farmers Market opens at Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street on Sundays. Make sure to pick up some locally grown peaches when they're in season.