8 Unique Things To Do in Pueblo, Colorado
Sometimes local flavor can be found on your plate, sometimes it can be found in your surroundings — and in Pueblo, it’s both. From one-of-a-kind restaurants to the Arkansas River carving a path through the heart of the city, Pueblo, Colorado, is chock-full of unique bites, neighborhoods and outdoor experiences that make the city unlike anywhere else. Keep reading for eight unique things to do in Pueblo, CO.
In This Article
1. Take the Pueblo Slopper Tour
If there’s any food that defines Pueblo, it’s the Slopper: an open-faced burger blanketed in green chile and topped with a wide range of fixings from the utilitarian (onion, cheese) to the luxe (an entire chile relleno or a fried pork belly). The dish is so tied to the city, there’s even a Pueblo Slopper Tour, comprising locals’ votes for their 10 favorite Slopper spots. You won’t win a prize if you hit them all, but you will have a full heart and belly. You’ll want to sprinkle a stop on the Slopper Tour into your daily itinerary of things to do in Pueblo.
2. Enjoy the Pueblo Riverwalk
Pueblo’s Riverwalk, a dog-friendly, 32-acre waterfront park that hugs the banks of the Arkansas River, winds through the city center. Reserve a spot on a 25-minute history cruise or rent a pedal boat on Lake Elizabeth. The trail also provides easy access to bars and restaurants, shopping and lodging. Don’t overlook the 60 pieces of public art sprinkled across the park, its playgrounds and its fountains.
3. Row, paddle or float the Arkansas River
Driving, biking and walking aren’t the only ways to get from the west side of the city to the east. Thanks to the river, kayakers, rafters and tubers can put in at Pillars Park, then traverse eight drops in the half-mile long Whitewater Park. On the north bank, they’ll see the Levee Mural (right) overlooking the water. West of Whitewater Park, the quarter-mile-long Waterworks Park allows visitors to enjoy unimpeded river access from Pueblo Dam to downtown’s Lake Runyon.
4. Tour the Rosemount Museum
Construction of the sprawling Rosemount Museum was completed in 1893, when a wealthy Pueblo merchant moved his family into the Gilded Age mansion. The 37-room abode remained a family home until the late 1960s, when it became a home museum. Astonishingly, almost all the furniture, decor, woodwork and art remaining in the 131-year-old building are original, making it a fascinating time capsule of the late 19th century with guided tours led by knowledgeable docents.
5. Sleep at a unique hotel
Book one of the seven suites at the Abriendo Inn, a boutique hotel in a century-old home that’s walking distance from the Riverwalk and historic Union Avenue shopping district. The interior has been immaculately restored with pristine woodwork, a sweeping grand staircase and charming historic rooms, while the grounds include a 12-person hot tub, fountain and fire pit. The Abriendo is an ideal home base for exploring all the fun things to do in Pueblo, CO.
6. Watch the skating of the Bulls
Cheer on the Pueblo Bulls at downtown’s Ice Arena. The collegiate development hockey team season runs from September through March, and with single-game tickets ringing in at just $15, it’s an affordable night out for the whole family. Fans who miss a game can still snag team apparel, hockey gear and other merch at the club store on Fourth Street. And newly formed minor league football team Pueblo SteelHawks will start their first season in 2025.
7. Explore the Creative Corridor
The city’s Creative Corridor is much more than just a single street lined with art galleries. It comprises three distinct and unique central Pueblo neighborhoods, each packed with galleries and public art, music venues and museums, and cafes and coffee houses. First Friday Art Walks and street performers are regular occurrences, and the district includes Solar Roast (the world’s only commercial solar-powered coffee roaster); the 3-mile-long Pueblo Levee Mural Project (the world’s longest painting); and the Steel City Theatre Company, among many others.
8. See the ‘Home of Heroes’
In the early 1990s, Pueblo was the only city to have four living recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest governmental award for U.S. military service. As a result, Pueblo’s City Council adopted the moniker “Home of Heroes,” and in 2000 unveiled statues of the four honorees at Heroes Plaza outside the city’s convention center, along with a memorial to all 3,500 recipients since the medal’s inception.
Get to Know Pueblo, CO
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