Located south of Denver, less than a two-hour drive from the city, Pueblo is one of Colorado’s great destinations with a rich history, diverse culture, and spectacular outdoors. The family-friendly destination is an interesting blend of museums and historical buildings on the one hand and hiking trails and camping sites on the other. Whether you’re in Pueblo for a couple of days or a week-long vacation, don’t miss your history lesson at Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, wildlife spotting at Pike San Isabel National Forest, and dining at D.C.’s On B Street, one of the city’s best fine dining restaurants. The list of activities and experiences in the region is much longer, so keep reading to see our list of the best things to do in Pueblo, Colorado.
1. Soak in the view from Pueblo Historic Arkansas Riverwalk
Inspired by San Antonio’s Riverwalk, Pueblo Historic Arkansas Riverwalk spreads over 32 acres (13 hectares) in downtown Pueblo. The region attracts tourists and locals alike with its gondola boat rides, entertainment, and dining spots. Pueblo Riverwalk is pet-friendly and hosts various festivals and events, turning into the most lively part of the town during weekends and summer days. People can grab a bite to eat, have a drink, sunbathe on the grass, go for a picnic, take a walk to admire the art pieces, or go on a boat ride.
Pueblo Historic Arkansas Riverwalk
Address: 101 N Union Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: Pueblo Historic Arkansas Riverwalk
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
2. Get glimpses of the past at El Pueblo History Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
El Pueblo History Museum is the local history museum that tells the town’s tales through its exhibits and collections. Some of the most innovative exhibits available at the museum are Children of Ludlow and Borderlands of Southern Colorado. The museum also hosts an 1840s plaza and trading post that were recreated, so people get a glimpse of those long-gone times. Various events occur at the museum too, so make sure you check their calendar before your visit and book tickets in advance if you find something that catches your eye.
El Pueblo History Museum
Address: 301 N Union Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: El Pueblo History Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
Price: 5 USD
3. Learn more about arts and history at Buell Children’s Museum
If you’re visiting Pueblo with the entire family, you’re all going to enjoy a visit to Buell Children’s Museum. The various hands-on arts, history, and science exhibits will not just keep the kids engaged and curious but entertain the grown-ups as well. The museum hosts permanent and limited-time exhibitions, different performances and events, and teaches various educational classes for the little ones.
Buell Children’s Museum
Address: 210 N Santa Fe Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: Buell Children’s Museum
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 12pm, 1pm - 3pm (closed from Sun - Tue)
Price: 10 USD
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4. Stroll across Union Avenue Historic District
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Union Avenue Historic District is Pueblo’s century-old business district that spreads northwest of Arkansas River. The district is part of the National Register of Historic Places and features over 80 historic red-brick buildings, including Union Depot, restaurants, shops, apartments, and art galleries. Take a walk through the district to admire its historical legacy, do some shopping, taste Creole cuisine, or check out local art.
Union Avenue Historic District
Address: 82 E D St, Pueblo, CO 81003
5. Enjoy a picnic at Pueblo's City Park
Spreading on 157 acres (64 hectares) of land in Pueblo, Colorado, City Park features lots of amenities, including a dog-friendly park where you can bring your fur baby to play, a plethora of biking and walking trails, and various pavilions. The park hosts all kinds of events throughout the year and has plenty of space for visitors to enjoy a nice, relaxing picnic on its grounds. For those looking to stay active and play sports, the park features a tennis clubhouse, baseball courses, and a disc golf course. Children can have fun on the playground or visit the on-site Pueblo Zoo.
City Park
Address: 600-2458 Carlile Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
6. Explore kayaking at Whitewater Park
Situated in downtown Pueblo, Whitewater Park is steps from the town’s shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Start the day with some adrenaline-packed sports like river surfing or kayaking, then head to downtown Pueblo to shop for souvenirs and enjoy a nice meal in town. However, make sure you bring proper gear along.
Whitewater Park
Address: Chappa Place and Pearl Street, Pueblo, CO 81004
7. Go camping at Lake Pueblo State Park
Another excellent way to fully enjoy Colorado’s great outdoors is by going camping. For that, Lake Pueblo State Park is your best choice. The state park spreads on 10000 acres (4046 hectares) of land, boasting a beautiful shoreline, a camping site, and various watersports options. Here, you can perfect your try your hand at fishing, go swimming, or sunbathing on the golden-sand beach.
Lake Pueblo State Park
Address: 640 Pueblo Reservoir Rd, Pueblo, CO 81005
Website: Lake Pueblo State Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
8. Explore WWII history at Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
Bring the whole family for a history lesson at Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum (PWAM). Situated at Pueblo Memorial Airport, the museum spreads in two hangars. It boasts an impressive collection of planes that tell Colorado’s and the United States’ military and aviation history. Besides planes, you will also discover a plethora of displays that feature weapons, military uniforms, and various artifacts. Make sure you visit the museum when you’re not in a hurry since there’s so much to see inside and outside the two hangars. Look for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress in Hangar One, explore the jets and helicopters in Hangar Two, and check out the larger aircraft outside.
Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
Address: 31001 Magnuson Ave, Pueblo, CO 81001
Website: Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 4pm; Sun: 1pm - 4pm
Price: 10 USD
9. Enjoy local dance performances at Grupo Folklórico
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Grupo Folklórico del Pueblo (The People’s Folk Group) is not your usual travel experience, but definitely something to try when in Pueblo, Colorado. The dance school offers different classes for children older than three years of age and adults, Mariachi classes for beginner and intermediate levels, and dance workshops. You will also find costumes for rent, and you can attend different performances to catch professional dancers to perform local dances.
Grupo Folklórico
Address: 120 Lake Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004
Website: Grupo Folklórico
Opening hours: Mon: 5pm - 7pm; Tue: 5pm - 8pm; Wed: 5pm - 7pm; Thu: 5pm - 8pm; Sun: 12pm - 2pm (closed on Fri & Sat)
10. Discover the state's history of the coal and steel industry at Steelworks Museum
Steelworks Museum is one of Pueblo’s landmarks and historical staples. It is housed in a former CF&I medical dispensary dating back to the early 1900s. The museum is home to various exhibits related to the fuel and iron industry, including one that showcases the story of steel in the Southwest, the evolution of the CF&I industry, and one that presents the 62 mines and quarry sites that were the sources of steel.
Steelworks Museum
Address: 215 Canal St, Pueblo, CO 81004
Website: Steelworks Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 6 USD
11. Discover over 420 animals at Pueblo Zoo
Take the kids on a fun day to visit Pueblo Zoo and get to know over 420 animals of 140 species living on this 25-acre (10-hectare) property. The zoo also has multiple educational programs and camps. Their main focus is to educate people about animals and engage them in conserving the animals’ natural habitat. The zoo is divided into several areas, depending on the animals’ origin, so you can check out Australian, South American, Asian, and African animals. There’s also a river where otters swim and World of Color, where you can see reptiles.
Pueblo Zoo
Address: 3455 Nuckolls Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005
Website: Pueblo Zoo
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 9am - 4pm; Wed: 12pm - 4pm; Thu - Sun: 9am - 4pm
Price: 12 USD
12. Soak in the culture at Steel City Theatre
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Enjoy an evening at Steel City Theatre, a staple on Pueblo’s social scene. Whether you’re into plays and musicals or would love to unwind and share a good laugh, there’s likely something going on at Steel City Theatre. They have their own productions but also play classics, such as Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights’ Dream and seasonal shows.
Steel City Theatre
Address: 241 S Santa Fe Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: Steel City Theatre
13. Pamper your tastebuds at D.C.'s On B Street
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
With great sadness, Monday we are going back to being “dc’s on the curb”. Make your dinner reservation for tonight or tomorrow night to enjoy our beautiful dining room. 584-3410 or 242-1618
Posted by Dc's On B Street on Friday, November 20, 2020
Dine in style at Pueblo’s D.C.’s On B Street, a fine-dining restaurant serving American cuisine. For lunch, they serve classics such as crab cakes, fries, onion rings, grilled salmon and avocado, pecan-crusted grilled chicken breast, and their staple B Street Bleu. Come dinner time, check them out for specialties such as gambas al ajillo, salmon and capers, or piccata. To complete the dining experience, pair your dish of choice with one of their wines.
D.C.'s On B Street
Address: 115 W B St, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: D.C.’s On B Street
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 11am - 2pm; Wed - Fri: 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 8pm; Sat: 5pm - 8pm (closed on Sun)
14. Browse through the amazing art collection at Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center
Art connoisseur or not, a visit to Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center is definitely a treat to your eyes and mind. Regional Contemporary Collection, Francis King Collection of Western Art, and Gene Kloss Print Collection are permanent collections. Still, the arts center features various temporary collections, so visitors can expect something new and exciting to see.
Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center
Address: 210 N Santa Fe Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 3pm (closed from Sun - Tue)
Price: 10 USD
15. Make the most of the night at The Downtown Bar
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Come out to the Downtown Bar today and come for our special pint glass of ZOMBIE PUNCH FOR $3 all day and night long,...
Posted by The Downtown Bar on Saturday, October 31, 2020
Come evening, join Pueblo’s social scene and head over to Downtown Bar for drinks and a show. Between 5 pm and 7 pm, they have Happy Hour and serve two drinks for the price of one, free pretzels and animal crackers. The bartenders are always changing the menu as they come up with unique and delicious drinks. Depending on the night, you might catch Monday’s Ladies Night to dance and celebrate with the girls or team up with your friends for live trivia on Thursdays.
The Downtown Bar
Address: 103 Central Plaza, Pueblo, CO 81004
Website: The Downtown Bar
Opening hours: 5pm - 2am (daily)
16. Tour the iconic Rosemount Museum
Nestled in a historic house that was built in 1893, Rosemount Museum tells a few history pages of Pueblo, Colorado. The 37-room mansion was home to Margaret Thatcher’s family and named after her favorite flower. After being a family residence for 75 years, it became a museum. It still features most of the original furnishings, paintings, and custom woodwork.
Rosemount Museum
Address: 419 W 14th St, Pueblo, CO 81003
Website: Rosemount Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 3pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
Price: 8 USD
17. Go wildlife spotting at Pike National Forest
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Home to some of Colorado’s most spectacular landscapes and diverse wildlife, Pike National Forest is undoubtedly worth exploring in depth. With tall woodland, steep peaks, and meandering creeks and rivers that create the perfect backdrop for hiking and camping, the region is an outdoor sports enthusiasts’ paradise. With wildlife galore, keep your ears peeled for the musical sounds of wrens, woodpeckers, and sparrows, and your eyes wide open for bighorn sheep, bears, elks, and mule deer.
Your next Colorado adventure
With so many things to see and do, Pueblo is not your usual city. Home to family-friendly attractions, including Pueblo Zoo and Buell Children’s Museum, historic downtown with a lively social scene, and scenic parks, Pueblo is a great destination for all ages. Some visit it for adventure, others for the laid-back atmosphere and historical importance.
To complete your trip, choose among these cozy cabins near Pueblo, Colorado for a comfortable stay.
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