Ready for a Rocky Mountain Adventure? For many years, Denver has been a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts—and rest assured, you’ll never be bored there if you enjoy being outside and being active. But the truth is, the Denver area has something for everyone, and it’s an amazing place to visit.
No matter what part of the Denver area you intend to explore, flying into Denver International Airport will be your best bet. It’s a large hub with plenty of incoming and outgoing flights. You can also arrange a Denver car rental company pick up at the airport through Car Rental Express. Through independent car rental companies, you can usually find a great Denber car rental discount. Once your flights have been booked and your car has been reserved, you can focus on the fun.
Hotels
Denver is a huge city. Where you stay may depend on which parts of town you think you’ll be in most. That being said, there are certainly no shortage of wonderful places to stay in the Mile High City. Here are a few that we’d recommend:
● The Crawford Hotel at 1701 Wynkoop Street, for a centrally located gem - you’ll find it at Union Station.
● The ART, a Hotel, at 1201 North Broadway, for a modern experience you can share with a group of friends or your other half.
● Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver, at 1717 Champa Street, for a convenient downtown location and a fun boutique hotel experience. This place is also great for families.
● Hyatt Place Denver/Downtown at 440 14th Street if you’re on a bit of a budget but still want a great hotel experience at a convenient location.
● The Oxford Hotel at 1600 1th Street, for a charming romantic getaway.
● Magnolia Hotel Denver at 818 17th Street, if you’re traveling as a family.
Restaurants To Try
Unlike some other major cities, Denver isn’t known as a mecca for foodies (or food snobs, as some like to call them). But there are all kind of amazing options, from classic Southwest Tex Mex to fine dining to all-American steak and potato meals. Here are a few suggestions:
- Mercantile Dining & Provision at 1701 Wynkoop Street (Union Station), for delicious seasonal farm-to-table cuisine.
- Uncle at 2215 West 32nd Avenue, which is known for having excellent ramen.
- El Taco De Mexico at 714 Santa Fe Drive, for incredible authentic Mexican food. This taqueria doesn’t look like much, but it has the best green chili in town.
- Guard and Grace at 1801 California Street, for a new generation style steakhouse that has a top notch raw bar.
- Sushi Den at 1487 Pearl Street, for those nights when nothing but sushi will do.
- Mizuna at 225 East 7th Avenue for a romantic date night spot.
- Table 6 at 609 Corona Street, for an amazing upscale Sunday brunch.
- Snooze An AM Eatery at 2262 Larimer Street for a more classic breakfast and brunch experience.
- Cherry Cricket at 2641 2nd Ave. for a family-friendly experience.
- Casa Bonita at 6715 Colfax Avenue in Lakewood is worth mentioning here if you’re bringing young children… the cliff divers, Wild West gunfights and gorilla sightings make it an experience they’ll never forget. But the restaurant itself is known for its notoriously terrible food, so be prepared, because ordering food is mandatory. Perhaps the grown ups can eat before and feign their way through some enchiladas.
Top Things To Do
Denver is incredible. There’s truly something for everyone. Here are just a few of the many, many suggested excursions:
- Stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens and relax while enjoying the sights and scents.
- If you’re traveling with children, the Downtown Aquarium has wonderful underwater exhibits and an onsite restaurant.
- Children of all ages will love the animals at the Denver Zoo.
- If you happen to go during baseball season, the Colorado Rockies play at the beautiful Coors Field.
- You can visit the house of famed philanthropist and Titanic survivor the Unsinkable Molly Brown at 1340 Pennsylvania Street.
- One of the best day hikes in the Denver area is the Treasure Falls trail, near Pagosa Springs, which is one mile round trip and takes you past a relaxing waterfall you can view from two observation decks. Legend has it that back in the 1700s, French trappers buried gold in this area.
- Take a short trip to the nearby city of Boulder, which is a beautiful place to spend a day.
- The Denver Art Museum is one of the largest museums between the West Coast and Chicago.
- If you’re in town with your special someone, spend an evening at the classic country bar, the Grizzly Rose, where you can two-step to live music.
- Another great date night option is the Historians Ale House, a tavern that captures the rustic, laid back elegance of Colorado.
- Another popular day hike in the Denver area is the Bear Lake Hike at Rocky Mountain National Park, which is only a 0.6 mile loop. The park is a two hour drive from Denver and makes for a beautiful day-long escape from the city.
Enjoy your trip to the Rockies!