Weekend Getaway: Diving into Denver

Denver, Colorado: a town that fully embraces each season while boasting gorgeous backdrops year-round. Some refer to the capital as the Mile High City due to the high elevation (one mile above sea level to be exact) but this rocky mountain stretch is known for the snow, museums, trendy neighborhoods, and the ever erupting food & music scene.

When landing in the Denver Airport, follow the signs for the train. For $10 you get a ticket for the A-Line which takes you straight into Union Station. This 100-year-old landmark is in the heart of the city. It’s known for its wide variety of food vendors and shops to entertain each guest or locals passing through. Grab brunch at the infamous Snooze, a welcome drink at the Terminal Bar, or happy hour at Next door when you arrive to start your weekend adventure off right.

Where to stay: Located just northwest of Downtown Denver is my favorite neighborhood, Highlands (a.k.a Lohi). One of the more popular areas to stay, these streets are filled with trendy cafes, rooftops, bars, and eateries.

Rooftops
No better way to watch a sunset than overlooking that gorgeous Denver skyline.

Linger – sister restaurant to Root Down, this lively restaurant comes equipped with a popular rooftop lounge & global small plates.
Avanti – a collective eatery. Hang in the lounge downstairs or head up top for the best views of the city.
Elevated – on the boujee side of things, this rooftop getaway for sake, cocktails & other bar drinks plus dim sum–style small plates.
The Woods – cocktails and beer garden featuring their house-brewed beer
View House – super fun bar with games like corn hole and volleyball.
54Thirty – Denver’s highest open-air rooftop. This is seasonal so make sure it is open before going.

Bars
While any of the above rooftops dub as a great spot for drinks, it’s nice to enjoy good company at many of the local bars.

TapFourteen – boasting Colorado pride, they have 70 Local Beers, 50 Local Whiskies and a locally sourced menu.
Williams & Graham – speakeasy within a corner store bookshop.
The Cruise Room – martini bar speakeasy in the Oxford Hotel modeled after a lounge on the Queen Mary.
Finns Manor – delicious sips paired with a wide array of food trucks.
The Family Jones – trendy cocktails made with on-site distilled spirits.

Eateries
Denver is quickly becoming one of the best foodie cities in the nation. As of December 2018, it was ranked fourth-most exciting food city. While it’s difficult to go wrong, here are some of our favorites

Huckleberry – best coffee. We walked through the neighborhood of LoHi to get here admiring every newly modernized house along the way.
Sartos – northern Italian eatery complete with a wood-stone oven.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub Grill – gourmet comfort food and a great patio next to Union Station.
Vital Root – healthy, farm to table eats. All-day counter spot with 2 patios.
Snooze – best location is in Union station. A famous spot for brunch and large potions.
Tupelo Honey – $17 bottomless mimosas.
Syrup Downtown – providing a sizable menu of hearty breakfast favorites, sandwiches & salads.
Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox – multilevel “gastro-brothel” with live music & a restaurant offering eclectic American food including a great brunch.

Things to do
The best advice I can give is to go to Red Rocks. This magical concert venue is like no other in the entire world. I have also listed fun day trips or “must-sees” as options too.

Red Rocks Amphitheater – check out the show list here. Red rocks is located about 30 minutes outside Denver. I would recommend booking a shuttle as uber/lyft can be pricey. These shuttles also let you drink onboard and are round trip tickets
Bus to Show fun, old school buses that offer round trip tickets. Half of the fun is meeting people on the shuttle. Book in advance as these do sell out.
CID Colorado while a bit pricer then Bus to Show, these are comfy tour buses that also provide round-trip transportation.
Coors Brewery Tour – make sure to get in line before 4pm, located in golden (about 25 minutes from Highland). Buy a ticket when you get there and learn about the brewing process and history of Coors. Tastings are at the end (my favorite was Blue Moon). Please note, no bags are allowed in, even small purses. There are local gas stations that have lockers for you to reserve.
Larimer Square – Thee city’s first designated local historic district.
Museums and Zoos – you can see all the interesting displays at various Denver museums and attractions without ever pulling out your wallet on certain days of the week or year.

Denver has so much to offer every kind of visitor. I continue to be reluctant to leave for good reason. The people, culture, and quality of life are abundantly clear with every resident you meet.

Thank you, Denver for another amazing weekend. We’ll be back soon!