Take me back!!! This trip was everything I expected and more from Colorado. It was my first time visiting and it was amazing. This is how I did Colorado with 4 full days. Using Denver as a hub for the trip was ideal. There are so many beautiful cities outside of Denver, and the expressway is minutes from downtown, so no excuse not to explore the outskirts.
I did research and asked some friends who had been to Colorado before and here’s a list of some of the things I did and recommend.
Denver
54 Thirty Rooftop: Located at the AC Hotel/Le Meridien Hotel on the 20th floor. You HAVE to catch the Sunset here while in Denver. The rooftop not only has beautiful ascetics, but the view of the Mountains and city is beyond. And the sun shines perfectly on the rooftop giving you a first row experience.
South Broadway Street: This was a hidden gem for me on the trip. We went looking for Denver Biscuit to grab a coffee and a bite, and saw the whole street had stores, restaurants, and bars.
Dairy Block: This was a pretty cool part of town that I didn’t really see on any Denver blogs as I was doing my research for the trip. Dairy Block is a strip of restaurants and stores, while also hosting the Denver Milk Market which is the main attraction. The Milk Market is a food hall that serves up a variety of grub and a bar for drinks. My favorite spots were pizza spots ( I inhaled a lot of pizza while on this trip, NO RAGRATS).
Pizza by the Slice; Engine Room & Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria.
16th Street Mall: You can’t miss it! This is the main street with a lot of chain and non-chain restaurants and stores. They offer a free trolley that runs up and down the street to help get you around.
Red Rocks: No brainer! Just 20 minutes outside of Denver in the city of Morrison where you can take in the city views. I suggest going in the morning and getting a workout in (you will be out of breath due to the altitude change, so don’t plan on going that hard), or if you can catch the sunset golden hour. I’d love to grab a concert next time I go!
Union Station: Grab a bite to eat, drink at the bar, stay the night, or catch your train ride out. There is so much to explore at Union Station. They’ve been up and running since 1881, so it’s a big piece of Denver’s history.
Boulder
Pearl Street Mall: This outdoor mall has everything you can think of. You’ll find Colorado local unique shops you can explore and local bites to eat. The walk-able strip also includes your chain favorites like Patagonia, Lululemon, and more!
Eureka!: This burger place is delicious, lots of different apps and flavors to choose from.
Hikes: I didn’t get to explore any of these in Boulder besides a lot of ‘Urban Hiking’ but here is a list of some.
Vail
Scenic View Drive: Every corner turn you take is a new view of beauty, snap your pics but take it all in. If you go during snow months, try to spot animal prints in the snow!
Mulled Wine at Garfinkels: Here you can sit outside on their deck and watch the snow activities take place, all while enjoying Mulled Wine or a Beer. If you’re up for it you can also take a lift for the day and get the top of the Mountain views without having to face-plant in the snow ski down.
Things to do: In Vail you will get that ski lodge feel from the moment you arrive. Lionshead is where I went to hang out for the day, (they have three lodges to choose from.) There are plenty of outdoor shops and places to eat, and you can even do some hiking alongside their main running river.
TIP: Parking is expensive and packed, so be mentally prepared.
Here’s a list of other places to check out in Denver
Places to Grab a Bite:
Urban Farmer
Jax Fish House
Wynkoop Brewery
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
Snooze A.M.: They have two Denver locations, make reservations if you can.
Linger
Cheba Hut: Sandwich place, their TOASTED PB&J … finger licking good.
Ocean Prime
Denver Biscuit
View House
Stout Street Social
Places to Check Out:
Larimer Square
LoDo District
RiNo District
Blake Street
Denver’s Big Blue Bear
I hope this list is beneficial to you, I’d be happy to answer any questions you have may have on my experience or further recommendations 🙂 Also share with me if you have a favorite Colorado place and it’s not on the list, thank you!
XOXO Your Wandering Flamingo
2 Comments
Chris Englert
January 20, 2020 at 3:28 pmThanks for referencing my Urban Hiking blog. I hope next time you’re in Denver you’ll look me up. I’ll take you to some of my favorite places in Denver that let you escape urbanism but are right next door! Hugs to you.
Tatiana
January 22, 2020 at 12:50 pmYes of course I’m happy to have come across your page, I’ll definitely be traveling back to Denver so I will keep your information handy! Best Wishes!