After four days traveling in and around Denver, we’re still on cloud nine, and it wasn’t just the altitude that keeps the excitement going! While we got lucky with the weather, we also happened upon some great hot spots, activities, must-see’s, and must-do’s. Here are my Top 10 Rebeccammendations for a long weekend in Denver (and beyond):
- Platt Park/Cherry Creek/Pearl Street – Our first stop from the airport was brunch in Platt Park on Pearl Street. Cute shops, cafes, and eateries line the row. We dined at Bird, which was a cozy spot with no more than 20 tables surrounded by exposed brick. This tomato, poblano, and pesto crepe was a unique, healthy start to the day with local flavor flare. In the distance, Nashville’s hot fried chicken is pictured (he said it was amazing and worth the splurge!). We then took a walk and ended up at Stella’s Gourmet Coffee and Such, where they were breaking in their brand new espresso machine, and waves of homemade chai spice aromas welcomed us through their doors. We sat outside sipping our coffee and tea, overlooking the street across from Izakaya Den, a frequently mentioned hip sushi destination that’s on our list for the next trip.
2. Avanti Food and Beverage collective and The Source (Denver) – We’re big fans of these new food and beverage collection concepts popping up in hip cities. The deal is – several food vendors post up in a shared space so a group can pick their personal favorites, then reunite and enjoy their favorite flavors with open seating. No reservations, no having to eat your friend’s favorite cuisine if it’s not yours, and no make-ahead plans needed. We decided to stop by Avanti Food and Beverage in HiLo, or The Highlands neighborhood, about an hour before and had no trouble finding a spot at the frequently turned over bar for a drink, then split up to buy our own meals, and reunited at another table to eat together. We even ran into some friends from Austin! It must be the place to be.
3. Williams and Graham (Denver) – Our resourceful hotel, Magnolia Hotel Denver, has a shuttle service for guests within a 2 mile radius. This came in handy for us several times, as most of our evening plans were within reach. One of our shuttle drivers mentioned this speakeasy when dropping us off at Avanti. Luckily, we were there on a week night as there’s a definite wait on weekends. We signed into the library-looking room lined with books about cocktail mixology and entered the surprising bookcase-turned-door in about 10 minutes. Behind the door was a small bar with dim lighting, and a waitress who already knew our name (from the host when we checked in), who seated us at the bar. The friendly bartenders introduced themselves – all three of them – and we instantly knew we’d feel right at home for a couple hours. The personalized cocktail recommendations and ability to watch as they were hand-shaken and stirred was just the intimate post-dinner nightcap. Tip: Call ahead to get a wait time before heading over.
4. Chautauqua Park (Boulder) – About a 30-40 minute drive from Denver, we arrived in Boulder and took a turn to Chautauqua Park. We stopped by the Ranger Cottage, where the ranger assessed our shoes, asked us about how we were adjusting to the altitude, how long we wanted to hike for, and our hiking experience. Based on this info, he recommended a route and provided notes on the trail map. He was spot on with his recommendation! We hiked for about 2 hours through the mountains, be careful not to slip on melting snow along the rocks. The sunny blue skies and views of the city below were amazing and this was a great place to disconnect with our daily worries, and reconnect with nature and each other. Check out my adventurous hubby scaling the mountain.
5. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre – While I had only known Red Rocks to be one of the most popular concert venues in the US, I recently learned that you can hike the park too! Concert season hasn’t begun yet (we were there in early March), but the amphitheatre was filled with people just taking a look at the amazing venue enclosed by red rocks, exercising up and down the stairs, and hiking on the trail nearby. The terrain was really amazing!
Below, you’ll see part of the Trading Post Trail, which took about an hour – mostly a level loop – to complete.
6. Union Station – Cooper LoungeMy trips to Denver are never complete without at least one stop (in this case, two) to Union Station. It’s an actual train station, but quite possibly the hippest you’ll ever come by. It’s full of modern design, natural light, shops, restaurants, and bars galore. You could go here every day for a week and try something different. Our first stop over the weekend was to for a pre-dinner cocktail with our cousins. It overlooks the station and drinks are served on stainless steel platters just to classy it up.
And I can’t get enough of this flower stand – Bloom! If only he could bring flowers home with us on the plane…
The terminal lobby is more than just a waiting area for those welcoming train passengers. It’s a great place for a casual meeting, or a work day outside the office for a change of fantastic scenery.
7. Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs) – While a quick weekend might not allow for an hour and a half drive to Colorado Springs from Denver, we were afforded the opportunity with an extra long weekend. Garden of the Gods, a registered national landmark, was definitely worth the trip – gorgeous red rock formations, several trails, and awesome photo opps!
8. Breweries – Colorado is teeming with breweries, which came in handy for post-hike refreshment. Fate Brewing Company was the perfect post-hike lunch after Chautauqua in Boulder. These dressed up sweet potatoes with balsamic vinegar (thank you for the recipe idea!), were out of this world. Yes, I just called sweet potatoes “out of this world”.
The menu was full of healthy and hearty options!
We also stopped at Trinity Brewing and Evoke Fermentations after our hike at Garden of the Gods. It was a Quirky spot in a strip mall on the outskirts of the park, conveniently located for hungry hikers.
9. Magnolia Hotel – One of the key pieces of our amazing trip was our stay at Magnolia Hotel Denver. We loved the hip style, milk and cookies served nightly, and the shuttle service within 2 miles, allowing us to get around town easily to discover many of the spots on this list! The staff was so helpful and genuinely wanted us to have a fantastic trip and be taken care of. The central location helped us navigate to our excursions in and outside the city and it was a no-frills kind of hotel, down-to-earth, moderately sized, and friendly. It’s also very close to the RTD Light Rail, which helps you get around downtown and even to Union Station. We highly recommend this as your home base for Denver travels.
10. Watch the Sunrise/Sunset – While I don’t have a picture of the beautiful desert sunsets from this trip, the colors along the mountainous horizon as the sun rises and sets in the desert make up one of my favorite views, and one that’s hard to come by Chicago. When you’re among the mountains, take a minute to take several breaths of fresh air, look around at the vast and elevated terrain, and connect with nature.
What are your favorite Denver hot spots? Share in the comments so we can check them out on the next trip!
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Featuring Rebecca Leder: Chicago Strategist & Influencer | Lipstick & Ink April 15, 2018 at 9:44 pm
[…] and carve my own path and build ideas into realities. They also introduced my sisters and I to travel early on and as a result, I’ve had the curiosity and courage to visit many amazing countries […]