Things to do in Aurora

Though these two urban centers sprawl into each other, Aurora is less densely populated, with more natural space for your family to enjoy. The 97 developed parks and 5,000 acres of open space support its reputation as a great place to enjoy healthy and outdoor activity. Take your group of nature enthusiasts to this sporty town, and you’re bound for adventure.

Delights of a Sports Town

Aurora's outdoor focus creates a kaleidoscope of activities to entice you and your crew. You can splash and paddle in the Aurora Reservoir or go on a daring scuba dive to explore a sunken plane; hit golf balls into 180 different championship holes; hike, run, bike, walk your dog or ride a horse along such multi-use pathways as Sand Creek Greenway Trail or High Line Canal Trail; play tennis or pickleball at city courts; or practice kick-flipping at Aurora skate parks.

Searching for Artful Surprises

The best art surprises you, and nothing sneaks up quite as delightfully as big sculptures in unexpected outdoor settings. For example, the "Steel Stampede" installation by Douwe Blumberg depicts a herd of ponies in full gallop on the main trailhead at the Morrison Nature Center. Bike the city with your family to see these metal horses and track down the other 269 pieces of public art displayed in Aurora. The Art in Public Places Program, funded by an art tax on city construction, places super-sized sculptures in parks and other public places, and integrates art into the exteriors of buildings around town.

Discover Aurora's Local Nature

If you’re a nature lover, you will love Aurora! You can hike through protected prairie grasslands at the 1,000-acre Plains Conservation Center, where you might spot some raptors; and you can visit the Morrison Nature Center at the Star K Ranch for a peek at such animals as mule deer, painted turtles, snapping turtles, red-tailed hawks and great-horned owls. And for animal lovers, it’s definitely worth the 50-minute drive to Keenesburg, where you can observe lions, tigers, bears and wolves roaming freely across 720 acres at the Wild Animal Sanctuary, which rescues animals from circus cages.

Exceptional Eateries

Take the gang out to Aurora's beloved breakfast spot, Three Little Griddles (6040 S. Gun Club Rd. F2, Aurora). They offer all the egg classics as well as sweet or savory griddlecakes, plus house specialties like biscuits and gravy or corned pork hash. For an evening meal, you can create your own spring rolls at the Golden Saigon Vietnamese Grill (2648 S. Parker Rd., Aurora), where they bring you the fixings—rice noodles, lettuce, Thai basil, veggies and the house sauce, along with your choice of meat or fish—and you put them together. It's fun and delicious at the same time!

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