Whether you’re celebrating Christmas in Denver, New Years, or winter holidays, there’s no shortage of activities and events to stay entertained, in a festive mood, and active! Since this is our first holiday season in Denver, we’ve been having so much fun exploring Denver, Boulder, and the mountains and if holiday lights at the Botanic Gardens, afternoon tea, or panoramic views of snowcaps on the mountains don’t give you the holiday feels, I don’t know what will! Here are our recent Top 5 Denver (and Boulder) holiday things to do.
1. Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens
At only $16/adult, the holiday lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens provide a leisurely and festive walk through the grounds, with fun light displays to guide your path. We couldn’t help but wonder how many hours or days it took to decorate the trees and even water with coordinated light displays that are truly a work of art. After a hearty holiday meal, this was a great activity to keep the family moving and get in some exercise in a most magical setting. It took about 30 mins to walk through the full gardens.
Here we are with my mother in law, Sue, who celebrated Thanksgiving with us.
This reminds me of Disneyland!
2. Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory Tour
A short drive to Boulder can be “fruitful” and maybe even your “cup of tea”. As three avid tea drinkers, we had a fun stop at the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory for a free tour and abundant samples! Notice us posing like the characters in the Sleepytime Tea box image. And, no, the cat wasn’t real. The free tour runs at the top of every hour (sometimes more during the holidays) and you may even get to see the factory production in progress. You will see the equipment, where tea leaves and bags are stored, and clear your sinuses in the oh-so-sensory Peppermint Room. A tea-riffic idea for guests in town or just a cozy and fun activity. Their gift shop is pretty awesome too for picking up last minute drinkable and kitchen-y holiday gifts.
Since we hadn’t had enough tea yet at the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory, we made a stop right after for our afternoon tea reservation at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. As soon as we discovered this cozy, artsy, tasty destination in Boulder, I immediately Googled “Dushanbe” and discovered that the Boulder Teahouse was a gift from its sister city, the capital of Tajikistan. Afternoon Tea reservations can be made at least 24 hours in advance, and it is served between 3-5pm. Dinner reservations are accepted. Breakfast and lunch is first-come, first-served and they have a full menu you can order from outside of the Afternoon Tea package.
The ornate ceiling with light peeking through was eye-catching, and the tiered finger foods were just as beautiful and delicious!
They make a mean carrot cake!
Who doensn’t love tiered snacks? And don’t the tiers immediately make them more beautiful, am I right?
Afternoon tea is an instant mood booster. Or, maybe it was the sugar rush. I love this photo of my happy Mother-in-Law, Sue!
Look how cozy this space? Yes, please! It’s so fun to feel transported to a faraway land with the exotic trees, lights, wooden stilts leading up to the ornate ceiling, and open space.
You say the word Uchi, I’m there. I’d like to think it was both coincidental and lucky that Uchi Denver opened just after we moved to Denver, since Chef Tyson Cole’s masterpiece of a Japanese restaurant hails from Austin, my former home and college town. Its menu is adventurous, every dish carefully strategized and executed, and it’s just a treat! Speaking of treats, dinner at Uchi can be spendy (although worth it and our visit was for a special occasion), but a great way to taste the menu in a more approachable way is to hit up Happy Hour between 5-6:30pm daily.
This bite was topped with pickled mushrooms – very intriguing and unique!
This crispy toasty rice in a hot clay pot was just a bowl of cozy goodness.
Even the art sets a bold tone (and a nice photo background).
Check out the greenhouse protecting the restaurant up above. 50% of the menu is sourced from the greenhouse and the rest supports neighborhood restaurants and schools. Sustainability for the win!
5. Hike & Explore the Small Mountain Towns like Estes Park, Colorado
Nothing says free fun like an outdoor hike in a beautiful spot and Denver, and the surrounding areas, has no shortage! Apparently Estes Park, the Eastern basecamp of Rocky Mountain National Park, is the most visited mountain village in Colorado, and Rocky Mountain National Park is the fourth most visited National Park.
On the way to Estes Park, we drove through the quaint town of Lyons, Colorado. We stopped for the restroom near Main street and came across an adorable fruit, snack, farm stand. Look how quirky it is! Inside, the small shack was teeming with dry goods, fresh produce, local honey, spices, and even green chiles roasting on a tiny toaster-like roaster.
We picked up a few snacks and some amazing salsa for our adventure – as much as the cash we brought with us could purchase. Can’t wait to go back! Don’t forget to stop in the little mountain towns for fun discoveries as you explore the Colorado terrain over the holidays. You may even pick up your latest holiday spice or some last minute gifts!
Wishing you and yours a fun, festive, and bright holiday season in Denver, Colorado (and beyond)!
