With many of the region’s performing arts groups taking time off, the beginning of the year offers a swell opportunity to catch up with Denver’s biggest cultural attractions.

Here’s a rundown of places that won’t let you down and a reminder of their free offerings throughout the year.

COLORADO HISTORY MUSEUM

The Colorado History Museum will soon be called the History Colorado Center when it moves to its new location at 12th and Broadway later this year. In the meantime, you can visit its current location until March 28, when the building closes to the public to move the collections. Don’t miss “Imagine a Great City: Denver at 150″ on display through Sunday or “Allen True’s West” through March 28. (Correlating exhibits about Allen True are also on display at the Denver Art Museum and Denver Public Library.)

The Colorado History Museum also features a variety of dioramas, artifacts, photographs and more. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum will be closed Jan. 15 because of a mandatory state furlough day.

Info: 1300 Broadway, 303- 866-3682, coloradohistory.org

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

The first planting at the York Street site was in 1959 and included annuals, roses, irises, daylilies, peonies, tulips, crocuses and narcissuses. Now you’ll find those and more with the plants, displays, learning opportunities and research to help preserve Colorado’s natural resources. Info:Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8- $11.50, free for ages 3 and under. Group rates and garden membership available. Admission and hours will increase in May. 1005 York St., 720-865- 3500, botanicgardens.org

Free:Free days are Jan. 18, Feb. 15, April 22, July 22, Aug. 25, Sept. 26 and Oct. 28. Be sure to visit Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield in Littleton and Mount Goliath inside Arapaho National Forest.

DENVER ART MUSEUM

Seventeen artists were given free rein to create whatever art they wanted using whatever materials they wanted. You can view the results in the “Embrace!” exhibit on display through April 4 in the Frederic C. Hamilton Building (imagine a bungee-cord sculpture).

Works by Charles M. Russell, Allen True and Fritz Scholder also line the walls along with the museum’s extensive exhibits of African, Native American, European and American modern and contemporary art.

Info:Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (the Hamilton Building is open until 10 p.m. Fridays), noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Mondays. Admission is $5-$13, $3-$10 for Colorado residents, free for ages 5 and under. Group rates and membership available. 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway, 720-865- 5000, denverartmuseum.org

Free:General admission is free the first Saturday of every month.

DENVER ZOO

As the website points out, the Denver zoo has more than 3,800 mouths and beaks to feed. That includes 3,500 animals representing more than 650 species. The zoo also offers educational and conservation programs and exhibits and can even host a birthday party or other special celebration.

Info: Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (admission is $5-$9) through Feb. 28 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning March 1 (admission is $7-$12). Ages two and under are always free. 2300 Steele St. in Denver’s City Park, the main entrance is on East 23rd Avenue between Colorado Boulevard and York Street, 303-376-4800, denver zoo.org

Free:The eight free days this year are Jan. 9, Jan. 18, Feb. 7, Feb. 16, Oct. 13, Oct. 21, Nov. 7 and Nov. 13. Group discounts and various levels of Zoo memberships available. Check the website for feedings and showtimes.

DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE

Travel back in time to 13th- century Mongolia as part of the “Genghis Kahn” exhibit on display through Feb. 7. Or check out the current IMAX films “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure” or “Wild Ocean.” And don’t miss a trip to Gates Planetarium, hosting “The Little Star That Could” and “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity.” These are just a couple of options for museumgoers to learn about the natural wonders of Colorado and the world.

Info: Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission varies, combo tickets and museum memberships available. 2001 Colorado Blvd., 303-322-7009, dmns.org

Free: Free days (museum only) this year include Jan. 11, Feb. 21, March 1, April 18, Aug. 8, Aug. 30, Sept. 13, Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 18, Nov. 14 and Dec. 6. DMNS also offers a variety of educational programs and museum sleeopvers. Upcoming exhibit to watch for: “Body Worlds & The Story of the Heart.”

–Vickie Heath

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