Denver has some amazing ways to experience the natural world from exotic wildlife to unusual plants from around the world, in addition to native Colorado species. Two of the attractions are next door to each other and the third is not far away, serving as its own oasis. Here are some suggestions for a fabulous one-day itinerary in Denver!

As a person with a spinal cord injury, paralyzed from the waist down, I travel with my folding scooter and manual wheelchair. My husband, Mark Leder, and I like to pack in as much as possible into our vacation days. We enjoy museums, zoos and botanical gardens. Here are my observations along with links to each institution's accessibility resources.

For more information on other attractions and must-sees, check out our Accessible Travel Guide, which covers everything from transportation options to outdoor activities.

 

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

 

The zoo is an 80-acre campus with more than 3,000 animals from all around the world. It is a Certified Autism Center with at least 80% of its staff highly trained, fully equipped and certified in autism. 

My husband and I were dropped off by a ridesharing service at the entrance of the zoo. I was on my scooter and entered the front entrance.

For more information on other attractions and must-sees, check out our Accessible Travel Guide, which covers everything from transportation options to outdoor activities.

 

Accessible Features and Services at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Parking & Access

  • Accessible parking is in the parking garage and at nearby surface lots.
  • Electric scooters and manual wheelchairs are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Conservation Carousel, 4-D Experience, and Denver Zoo Railroad have spaces for mobility equipment.
  • Stingray Cove and Lorikeet Adventure are wheelchair accessible.
  • Pushbutton automatic doors are available in most buildings. Many of the buildings have doors that slide open automatically.
  • Pathway lighting and higher general illumination lighting is provided at night.
  • For guests who are blind, low-vision, deaf or hard of hearing, the 4-D Experience is equipped with accessibility devices.
  • Service animals are permitted in selected areas of the zoo. They are not allowed in areas where other animals present a danger of undue stress and/or injury. There are many animal relief areas in the zoo.
  • The travel paths are easy to roll on and composed of asphalt and concrete.
  • The safety barriers for viewing the animals outdoors are easy to see through from a wheelchair.
  • Ramps are accessible at some of the building entrances.
  • Accessible seating areas are designated at individual attractions.
  • There are places to sit to rest throughout the zoo.

Restrooms & Nursing

  • Accessible restrooms and family restrooms are located throughout the zoo.
  • There is a wellness room with a universal adult changing table, a bubble wall and a chair for nursing mothers.

Sensory-Friendly

  • Sensory kits are available for checkout at the concierge booth. Each kit includes noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses and fidget tools. Weighted lap blankets, coloring pages and crayons are also available for checkout. 
  • There are several quiet places throughout the zoo.
  • Special nights are reserved for guests who need special accommodations at selected attractions.
  • Low-sensory designated hours are scheduled each year during the day and evening hours. During these times, crowds are reduced, music volume is lowered and any strobing effects are disabled. Sensory kits and quiet rooms are available.
  • A sensory guide with noise levels, visual stimulation and tactile components is available.

Dining

  • Restaurants have various food choices to accommodate people with allergies and restrictions, including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Staff provide assistance in selecting the proper food choices.
  • Shade is provided in many of the dining areas.
  • A wheelchair-accessible picnic table is available.
  • Snacks in the restaurant are displayed on shelves that are reachable from a wheelchair.
  • There are many 30-inch-high dining tables, which makes it convenient for people using wheelchairs.

 

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

 

It's a short walk from the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Visitors can explore fossils and dinosaurs, ponder the mysteries of space at Gates Planetarium, discover Egyptian mummies and watch larger-than-life films at the Phipps IMAX 3D Theater. 

 

Accessible Features and Services at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Parking & Access

  • Accessible parking is in the parking garage and at the adjacent surface lot.
  • Push button power-assist doors are at the entrance.
  • There is a lower-height section of the ticket counter.
  • Complimentary manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The museum has easy-to-roll on flooring.
  • Accessible seating is identified in the dining area.
  • There are accessible seating areas in the back of the Infinity Theatre and Gates Planetarium for mobility devices to park.
  • Ramps are present to access some of the exhibits.
  • There are benches throughout the museum.
  • Service animals are allowed throughout the museum. There are many dog relief areas outside the museum.

Restrooms & Nursing

  • Accessible restrooms with push-button doors or door stops are located throughout the museum.
  • Family restrooms are in the museum.

Blind & Low Vision

  • Complimentary EnChroma Color Blind Glasses are available on loan at the Information Desk. They can improve color vision for those with red-green color blindness and expand the range of visible colors.
  • Museum maps are available in Braille.
  • Some exhibits have a small box (cane box) built on the floor as a signal to people who are blind and use a cane so they don't run into the exhibit.
  • There are multiple elevators in the museum with controls labeled in Braille.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing 

  • IMAX movie captions can be viewed on individual devices that fit in the seat cupholder. IMAX movie captions can be viewed on individual devices that fit in the seat cupholder.
  • American Sign Language Interpreters are complimentary but must be requested at least one week in advance.
  • Assisted listening devices connected to a hearing loop are available in the theatre and planetarium.

Sensory-Friendly

  • To assist guests with neurodiversity, a Sensory Processing and Autism Resource Kits backpack with a noise-reducing headphone, sunglasses, a fidget toy, and a wobble cushion are loaned free of charge.
  • Low-sensory designated early hours are designated for sensory-friendly programming.

Emergencies

  • A safe space is identified for people using mobility devices to evacuate the museum's three levels in an emergency.

 

Denver Botanic Gardens

 

It is a short drive from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to the Denver Botanic Gardens. The gardens are on 24 acres, featuring a variety of gardens and collections that showcase plants from around the world. We also saw many art sculptures on display.

Lori Rowe, Associate Director of Facilities, greeted us at the main entrance and the gift shop. She led us on a tour of the gardens. Due to construction, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory was closed.

In my scooter, it was easy to roll throughout the botanical garden on the many wide, hard surface pathways. Almost all areas are accessible by wheelchair. There are gentle ramps when the grade changes to allow people with mobility devices to get to various parts of the garden.

As a horticulturist, I appreciated the plant collection's diversity and the educational components. Many plants were identified by name with labels that could be viewed easily.

The Denver Botanic Garden offers visitors a serene environment, educational programming, and special exhibits throughout the year. People who use mobility devices can rest assured that they will have access to enjoy this horticultural paradise. Visitors will enjoy the beautiful vistas and the fragrances of the flowers in bloom. Have your cameras ready to zoom in closely at some very unusual plant specimens.

 

 Accessible Features and Services at Denver Botanic Gardens

Parking & Access

  • Accessible parking is near the entrance in the garage and on the streets.
  • Complimentary manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The gift shop can be navigated easily in a wheelchair.
  • There are accessible wide, hard-surface paths of travel throughout most of the garden that are easy to roll on; however, some areas are not wheelchair-accessible without assistance. There is a map showing accessible paths.
  • Service animals must be kept on a leash. There are many dog relief areas.
  • Benches are located throughout the garden so that people can rest and enjoy the views.
  • Tables and chairs are accessible in the dining area on the patio.
  • Accessible seating is designated in the outdoor tent when concerts are held.
  • Accessible seats and places to park mobility equipment are marked in the theatre.

Restrooms & Nursing

  • There are several accessible restrooms inside the buildings, including the gift shop.
  • There is a room for nursing mothers.

Sensory-Friendly

  • To assist guests with neurodiversity, a Sensory Processing and Autism Resource Kits backpack with a noise-reducing headphone, visor, weighted lap pad, wiggle seat cushion, sunglasses, calming strategy card, hand-operated fan, blanket, and a fidget keychain are loaned free of charge.

 

For more information on other attractions and must-sees, check out our Accessible Travel Guide, which covers everything from transportation options to outdoor activities.