Green Valley Ranch - Denver, CO

The suburbs around Denver International Airport developed along with the airport itself. Chain restaurants and hotels sprung up to support travelers coming through DIA, though families have also flocked to the area for a safe place to raise children. In the years since the opening of DIA, the suburbs continue to grow and form an identity of their own.

Residents find most museums in the Green Valley Ranch area in Aurora and south of Denver. The Aurora History Museum displays exhibits about the town’s history. The Wings Over The Rockies Air & Space Museum in southeast Denver portrays the history of airplanes.

Visit cultural centers like Spark It Studios, which functions as an art school for people of all ages, and head to downtown Denver for festivals and events happening year-round.

Locals can find plenty to do in Green Valley Ranch, as well as just south in Aurora. Bars and clubs remain a short drive away, while restaurants along the main roads of Tower Road and Green Valley Ranch Boulevard draw in residents who want a genuinely good bite to eat.

For genuine African food, go to African Grill & Bar for fufu, plantains, rice, spinach, and more. Taste the crunchy samosa and tender lamb kebab, along with the spicy jerk chicken.

Get some simple diner food at Moonlight Diner, where the staff serves breakfast all day. Order the renowned green chili and try the Southwest cakes, which consist of cornbread pancakes covered with gravy and green chili. Top off your meal with a thick milkshake to finish the diner experience.

Anyone in the mood for tacos should head to Tacos Selene in Aurora. With a variety of meats and taco options, Tacos Selene serves zesty tacos al pastor and flavorful quesadillas. Go by the salsa bar to pick out salsa for your tacos, but be aware that a lot of the salsa packs a pretty powerful kick.

Drink a vast array of beers at Green Valley Beer Garden for a great nighttime activity. Play bocce ball and other games as you sip a craft beer or cocktail, and keep an eye on the events calendar for weekly specials.

Locals can find dancing and music in the Aurora region at places such as the Wine and Roses Jazz Supper Club, where you can order a meal and listen to live music. Soiled Dove Underground in Denver hosts many local groups, and you can grab a beer while watching a band. Head to The Kasbah for some R&B dancing around Green Valley Ranch. Residents can find even more nightclub options in downtown Denver.

Green Valley Ranch residents often use their cars to drive around the neighborhoods, especially to get to restaurants and shopping off the larger roads. However, those who live around Green Valley Ranch Boulevard can safely walk for errands in this spacious neighborhood. Enjoy ample parking in Green Valley Ranch while you do your shopping. Then, get to Denver quickly via car by taking nearby Highway 70 to Highway 87 to get to the city’s center.

RTD Denver, Denver’s public transit system, serves Green Valley Ranch well with several bus lines along Himalaya Road and Green Valley Ranch Boulevard. Call a taxi from Denver’s metro area — many cabs pick up fares while traveling to the airport. Another transportation option, Uber, cuts the cost of cabs a bit with its ridesharing service.

Like many neighborhoods in Denver, Green Valley Ranch allows for biking options. The flat roads benefit bikers who need to get someplace quickly, and the main thoroughfares feature bike lanes.

Town Center Park in Green Valley Ranch, located next to the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center, houses athletic fields and a playground for residents who want to get out and enjoy a day at the park. Walk or bike on a path through the park and play some basketball on the courts. Remember to keep dogs on-leash, and take your children along for a fun day playing out in the grass in this free park.

For a unique experience at a unique park, visit the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. This massive refuge houses more than 300 species of migratory and resident wildlife, and you can attend free educational nature events all year. Take a nine-mile auto tour through the refuge to spot the bison pasture, woodlands and wetlands. The refuge does not permit dogs within its borders, but you can walk your pooch on the trails surrounding the outside of the area to get some exercise.

Visit downtown Aurora for events such as art gallery openings, holiday celebrations and open houses throughout a year. Keep an eye on the community events calendars so that you can find the perfect festival to enjoy with other Green Valley Ranch residents.

Green Valley Ranch and the surrounding neighborhoods in Aurora have a slightly higher cost of living than the national average, on par with Denver’s average. The median rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Green Valley Ranch costs around $1,000 per month.

Getting to Denver’s city center costs about $4 one-way through RTD Denver. Invest in a monthly pass for $140 to save on bus fare, especially if you plan to be a regular commuter. Driving in Green Valley Ranch costs less than in other areas — the average gas price in the neighborhood costs about 7 percent less than the national average. Make sure to grab a beer at one of the numerous pubs in the region; the average price of a beer is $4.

Most Green Valley Ranch locals head to the Town Center at Aurora mall for major clothes and accessories shopping. With anchor stores Macy's, Dillard's, JC Penney, and Sears, this is a popular shopping destination for area residents. Other stores include Claire's Boutique, the Children's Place, Zumiez, Vans, and Hollister.

Locals need to leave Green Valley Ranch for consignment stores and boutiques such as Plum Consignment in northeast Denver. Find designer jeans for more affordable prices at Plum Consignment, as well as lotions and handbags. Travel to Peak Candle Supplies, also in northeast Denver, to find unique candle-making gifts and homemade soaps. Finally, pass by Savory Spice Shop to buy spices for coffee, tea and food. Check out some of the suggested recipes with the spices to make a new, tasty meal.

Green Valley Ranch residents get many groceries from King Soopers and Walmart, both located within the neighborhood. For smaller stores that specialize in ethnic food, head to Atzlan Neveria & Palelia or Chihuas Carniceria for fresh meat. Stapleton Farmers Market, located in northeast Denver, provides produce and handicrafts during the summer, along with hosting some gourmet food trucks. Bring your children and let them play while you browse the individual tables.