Discover Aurora: Prairie History, Nature, and Culture

Aurora offers several distinct sides: prairie history comes to life at historic sites, while nature trails, reservoir activities, and cultural attractions offer other perspectives. Golf may also be a consideration when planning your trip.

Prairie History and Historic Sites

The Plains Conservation Center is a 1,182.5-acre nature preserve and educational center. Reconstructions of a pioneer village and a tipi camp illustrate the lives of prairie pioneers and Indigenous communities in the late 19th century. Nature trails complement the historical displays with a connection to the landscape. Here, reconstructed ways of life and the perspective of a nature preserve come together in one place.

DeLaney Farm offers a different historical perspective. It includes the round barn, the Gully House, and farmland associated with the DeLaney family. The family lived there on the prairie before Aurora was founded. While the reconstructions at the Plains Conservation Center illustrate the lives of different communities, DeLaney Farm focuses on one family's story from before the city was founded.

Growing Home has a permanent exhibit dedicated to Aurora's history. It includes the fully restored historic Trolley Trailer No. 610, dating from 1913. This vehicle from that year is one of the subjects through which the area's history can be explored.

Nature Trails and Activities on the Water

The Richard Gary Black Jr. Nature Exploration Area at the Morrison Nature Center is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. Check the current schedule before your visit. You can fish at Aurora Reservoir; swimming is also possible, though seasonal operating conditions may apply. The Aurora Reservoir Trail is 8 miles long. The reservoir thus offers water activities alongside a trail with a clearly stated length.

In addition to the Plains Conservation Center, Quincy Reservoir and Star K Ranch are options for nature trails. Quincy Reservoir has nature trails, and Star K Ranch has nature trails as well as a nature center. Nature trails can therefore be a focus of your trip planning, with the nature center at Star K Ranch as an additional option.

Culture, Art, and Golf

The Aurora Fox Arts Center is a historic landmark and performing arts venue with 245 seats, as well as an adjoining black box theater. The seating capacity and neighboring theater give the cultural venue a clearly defined profile. In Aurora's cultural district, you can also explore the Colfax Canvas Murals on a self-guided audio tour. As the murals program may change, check in advance whether the tour is available.

Stanley Marketplace is a collective of more than 50 locally owned businesses; its lineup may change over time. A group of local businesses is thus another part of what makes Aurora distinctive alongside its historic and cultural sites.

Golf enthusiasts can compare two courses by their classification: Saddle Rock Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course, while Springhill Golf Course is an 18-hole executive course. Both have 18 holes, but they differ in course classification. This is a concrete point of comparison if golf is part of your travel plans.

When looking for a vacation rental in Aurora, the mix of activities you want each day can help guide your decision: historic sites, nature trails, water activities, culture, and golf offer different focuses. Consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip, and use that to decide whether Aurora suits the vacation you have planned.

Discover more destinations: Castlewood, Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Glendale.

For the broader travel overview: Arapahoe.