Denver is one of those great cities that has something for everyone. This is why it rose to the top of the list of destinations for our 2019 girls trip. It was a short flight away, which allowed us to make the most of our limited time in Denver.
Friday: Exploring Mile High City
We made the most of our first day in Denver by catching an early flight. Coming from Central Time meant we only lost an hour en-route to Denver. We loaded up the rental car, plugged in the "Rock n' Roll Rockies Road Trip" playlist, and made our way into the city.
First stop, coffee. Snooze, a popular breakfast restaurant started in Colorado before eventually expanding to TX, has a few locations throughout town. We stopped at the original location, near Coors Field, which had ample paid parking and was near lots of walkable destinations. After a few cups of coffee and a giant helping of breakfast, we were ready to take to the streets of downtown Denver.
We walked past Coors Field on our way to Union Station in the LoDo District. Union Station, a 100+ year-old railway station, is effortlessly cool. The building includes a hotel, Transit Bar, and a few shops and restaurants. It's a common use space for travelers and locals alike. Architectural nuts like me will appreciate how well they've upheld the historical authenticity of this beautiful building, while modernizing it for this century.
Not far from Union Station is the Dairy Block. Tucked away between 18th and Wazee St., we discovered Denver's hidden gem purely by accident. "This historic block located in Denver’s LoDo neighborhood was once home to Windsor Dairy, and is now a vibrant micro-district that boasts 15 shops, 18 restaurants, seven bars, a luxury coworking space, and a 172-room boutique hotel" (Dairy Block). We enjoyed some ice cream and the art installations before perusing the intimate, curated (a.k.a. out of my price range) shops. There I spoke with a shop keeper that recommended we come back to check out the speakeasy in the basement (more on that below).
A trip to Denver would not be complete without visiting a brewery. We opted for Blue Moon Brewery in the RiNo district. Beer flights were ordered and bibbed as we relaxed and enjoyed each others company. We concluded our visit with a free, self-guided tour of the brewery.
Next we checked-in to our Airbnb, which lived up to its name - "Modern Luxury in Converted Church." This cavernous space was perfect for our party of 10, with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, a giant kitchen and living space. These accommodations were comfortable and far from the normal hotel experience. I certainly recommend if you're traveling to Denver with a large group!
We freshened up before heading out to dinner at Mercantile Dining & Provisions (located within Union Station). The restaurant's farm-to-table dinner menu was a bit pricey and limited.
Somehow we found ourselves back at the Dairy Block afterwards for more ice cream, before checking out the aforementioned speakeasy, Run For the Roses. We walked up some stairs from the Dairy Alley, took the unmarked elevator down a few floors, and walked down a dark hallway to the bar's entrance. Here we found ourselves transported back in-time to an underground gambling den with a seersucker suit and tommy gun vibe. We were seated in the Garland Room, decorated with shelves full of musty, leather-bound books and crystal dart barware. The back wall was made up of safety deposit boxes owned by the bar's regulars. The waiter handed us a few decks of cards, which we were surprised to discover was the drink menu. Each card represented a different drink, and each suit represented a different alcohol (gin, vodka, whiskey, rum). We made our orders before using the menu for a few rounds of BS.
Saturday: The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go
We woke up early on Saturday to make the most of the day. After an on-the-go breakfast, we loaded ourselves into two cars and headed West. Our first stop was to a local grocery store where we stocked up on water (lots and lots of water) and snacks. Then we set our sights on Red Rocks.
Less than 30 minutes outside of Denver the terrain completely changes. The winding roads up to Red Rocks park were surrounded by giant red rocks (I get it!) jutting from the ground. It reminded me of Mars or Walt Disney World's Frontier Land. Visitors are welcome to hike/bike in the area, or work out in the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Next we drove further West via I-70 into the Rockies (beautiful), through the Eisenhower Tunnel (a marvel), towards Vail. We drove alongside rivers, snowcapped mountains (despite it being early June), and little gold-mining towns. The drive alone incited such awe, especially for those of us from the plains states.
Vail is about 2 hours away from Denver and makes for a great day-trip. Don't let Vail's skiing resume deter you from going in the summer. Vail Village has lots of shopping, dining and exploring options during the summer months. We spent about 2 hours strolling the streets, popping into shops and art galleries. Note that Vail's popularity comes with a price-tag. Parking and dining were quite pricey.
By mid-afternoon we were in Breckenridge, less an hours drive East of Vail, where we stopped for a late lunch. Breckenridge, also a ski town, is Vail's less pretentious sister city. Small shops and cafes line the main street, which runs parallel to a picturesque stream at the base of Copper Mountain. After a day on the road, this made for a nice place to rest and stretch our legs.
We were back in Denver by nightfall, and grateful for the oxygen boost (albeit still less oxygen than normal). We ordered a giant pizza from Cosmo's Pizza and settled in for the night.
Sunday: Before You Go...
My flight was in the early afternoon, which didn't allow much time in Denver on Sunday. However, depending on your travel plans, you may have time to make a stop at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Little Man Ice Cream, or the Coors Brewery in Golden.
Visiting Colorado? Check out my Colorado Been Places page for some trip inspiration. And don't forget to stay hydrated to avoid altitude sickness!
Happy trails,
AB
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