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Denver's top 10 tourist attractions in 2015, according to VisitDenver

Denver's top 10 tourist attractions
Posted at 7:32 AM, Jun 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-16 10:23:54-04

Denver set a new record for visitors in 2015. More than 16 million people visited the city for at least one night in 2015.

So what are the top tourist attractions for out-of-state visitors? It turns out, shopping and entertainment were among the most popular choices.

No. 1: 16th Street Mall

The mile-long, pedestrian mall is packed with shopping, restaurants and attractions, according to Denver.org.

The website adds, "Designed by famed architect I.M. Pei, the pedestrian promenade is made of red, white and gray granite in a repeating pattern that, seen from above, resembles the skin of a Diamondback rattlesnake. Free electric shuttle buses travel up and down the Mall, stopping on every corner. Hop on and hop off, the free shuttles come every few minutes and make everything downtown easy to reach."

No. 2: "LoDo"

The Lower Downtown District, known as "Lo Do," features several blocks of restaurants, art galleries, shops and Coors Field, where the Major League Baseball team, The Rockies, play.

No. 3: Cherry Creek Shopping Center and neighborhood shops, etc.

The Cherry Creek Shopping Center offers over 160 retailers selling fashion, technology, accessories, home furnishings and more.  There's also restaurants and a movie theater.

The shopping center boasts that 40 of its stores are exclusive to the area, including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Neiman Marcus, Tory Burch, and David Yurman.

No. 4: Denver Zoo

The Denver Zoo at City Park is home to more than 3,500 animals representing 650 species.

No. 5: Denver Art Museum

The DAM features world-class art in one of Denver's must-see landmarks.

The museums' website says it features, "a collection of more than 70,000 works of art divided between 10 permanent collections including African, American Indian, Asian, European and American, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, photography, Spanish Colonial, textile, and western American art."

No. 6: Coors Brewery

Since 1873, the Coors brewery has been brewing beer in Golden and Coors says it's "the world’s largest single-site brewery."

Free tours highlight the malting, brewing and packaging processes. Visitors can sample the brews and buy Coors-branded products.

No. 7: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater

Red Rocks is a geologically formed, open-air Amphitheatre that consists of two, 300-foot monoliths (Ship Rock and Creation Rock) that provide acoustic perfection for any performance, its website says.

Opened as a music venue in 1941, Red Rocks Amphitheater has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry.

No. 8: Park Meadows Retail Resort

The popular Park Meadows Retail Resort (don't call it a mall) is turning 20 years old this year.

Its website says, "Park Meadows is a shopping and dining destination in an area that offers a vibrant mix of cultural and entertainment attractions. Make the most of your visit and explore a variety of nearby activities and entertainment."

No. 9: Denver Pavilions

Denver Pavilions is the 4th mall to make this list. It's helped by its location on the 16th Street Mall, the No. 1 tourist attraction.

The Pavilions has over 40 restaurants, shops, & entertainment venues, plus indoor parking.

No. 10: Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation, officials said.

"The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class education and plant conservation research programs," the Gardens' website said.

Find more things to do, places to stay, restaurants and more on the VisitDenver website.

Find hikes and cool things to do in Colorado in our Discover Colorado section.