Heading to Denver very early Sunday morning for a 3 day conference. Won’t have tons of free time and no car to use, but will have a few hours Sunday to explore if there is anything to see/enjoy nearby.
Will be staying at the Ritz Carlton (I know!) - many of my meals are provided but I would be open to a place in the morning to get coffee/light breakfast, Sunday brunch or lunch or a place to pick up a baked good to enjoy in the hotel room. Any pretty sites, buildings, hotel lobbies I should see? I don’t mind walking - as long as it’s safe and light. I’m a fan of local shops/eateries as opposed to chains .
I suspect besides Sunday morning to mid afternoon I’ll not have much more than 30 minutes here or a hour there to explore. Unless there is something “must see” at the Denver airport where I’ll be for a few hours before departing!
I interned in Denver this summer and had to go Downtown at least five days a week. The great thing about Downtown is that it’s very accessible by walking, Denver B-Cycle (bike share), and the light rail system which is quite easy to navigate if you have Google Maps. Even at night, Denver is very safe, particularly if you confine yourself to the more crowded areas.
I love the [Voodoo Comedy Playhouse](http://voodoocomedy.com/). Great, cheap improv theater and it’s right next to a bar if you want to get a drink or two.
Colorado is a beer state, and people are passionate about their beer. Get a drink from the Great Divide Brewing Co and maybe walk over to Biker Jim’s if you’re up to try rather unusual meat.
The Ritz is at 19th and Curtis. The mall, with a shuttle bus up and down, is 16th street, so just walk up 3 blocks and you can get anywhere. Stay on the Mall when walking at night. The 3 blocks on Curtis you will be fine but don’t walk up and down 19th alone.
Union station in lower downtown has restaurants and shops. That entire area is full of non chain places. The mall bus will take you right there. There will be plenty of street performers and other things. I’m not sure if there will be October fest booths in either skyline park or the pavillions, bothers along the mall. Broncos play Sunday night, but downtown will be bustling all day in anticipation.
The State capitol is a fun tour too,and if you climb up the dome you can see quite a few of the mountain peaks.
Best breakfast? Sam’s No.3 at 15th and Curtis, right by the theater district. Get the Greek burrito. Or if you feel wealthy and decadent, the Brown Palace just to say you ate at the BROWN .
If you want to see a little of the city, take the light rail from union station or stout street/16th Street mall. You can see the colleges at Metro state and DU from the train.
If you like bookstores, The Tattered Cover is a good independent bookstore, and it is very close to Union Station. The Denver Art Museum is well worth a visit, although they are between “major” exhibits–Bloom just closed, and Wyeth opens Nov. 8. My favorite restaurant in the area is Lime Pavilions, a Mexican restaurant on the 16th St. Mall in the Pavilions shopping area. The vegetarian tamales are outstanding.
My S just told me that the Broncos play the Packers Sunday night in Denver. Guess who is a major Packers fan?!! ME!!! Maybe (or maybe not) I’ll have to sit in the hotel bar and see if I can find any cheeseheads.
Knowing myself, I won’t venture out at night on my own. But will be glancing back at this thread for the ideas for daylight hours! Greek burrito - yum!!!
I will add a few other places for you to check out – all are easily accessible by foot: Denver’s downtown is surprisingly small.
Larimer Square – really not a square, rather a lovely – and lively! – restored historic block now filled with restaurants and boutiques. To reach it, just take the free 16th street bus shuttle west to Larimer and walk 1 block to the left. http://www.larimersquare.com/
Definitely visit the Tattered Cover: besides being a Denver institution, it’s one of the nation’s best indy bookstores; owner Joyce Knauer’s refusal to turn over to police a customer’s buying history led to a first amendment case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. (She won.) http://www.tatteredcover.com/locations-hours
While you’re there, check out the Union Station practically across the street. It’s a working train station that also houses restaurants, cafes, a hotel and boutiques. The “hip” places to eat there are the Mercantile and The Kitchen Next Door. http://unionstationindenver.com/
From the Tattered Cover and Union Station, walk to Wynkoop Brewery, – also bar and restaurant – another Denver icon (one of the city’s first microbreweries) started and for years run by the current governor, John Hickenlooper, affectionally called Hick. If you find a seat, this may be a great place to watch the Bronco game. http://www.wynkoop.com/
If the weather is nice, consider a walk through Commons Park (by the river) usually packed with millennials who call downtown home and who use the park to do stuff that all outdoors-obsessed Denverites do: running, bike riding, playing soccer/frisbee. You could take the 15th street pedestrian bridge over the train tracks to check out newly sprung residential areas that house said millennials and older hipsters undaunted by the jawdropping rents. Lots of eateries there, along with boutiques and of course the ubiquitous microbreweries.
Yes, the library has a gorgeous table, with permanent plaques where various world leaders sat in an economic summit. Eating at Brown Palace was how we celebrated our 25th anniversary-- very nice.
I love these suggestions! I’ll be pulling up this thread as soon as I check in and am ready to step foot outside!
Weird question - someone was telling me about the change in altitude (for this Ohioan) - and they recommended drinking oxygenized water - is that a thing??? I am a runner but honestly if I run outside it will only be for short distances since it’s city, with breaks (to cross the street and stuff!!!) - I do have this crazy thing going where I’m trying to run at least a mile in as many states as I can - and, this will be my first opportunity for a mile in Colorado (besides a quick running jog through the airport a couple of years ago to catch a connecting flight!!!)
Drinking any particular type of water is only good for the pocketbook of the maker of the water. IF you stay well hydrated with plain water, you should be fine. Folks with lung disease (emphysema, chronic bronchitis) may need supplemental O2 at higher elevations, including Denver at 5200 feet.
Oxygenated water is bull, but altitude does cause dehydration. So drink regular water! You will be fine. I was worried that I would not be able to run in Denver, but both times managed just fine with proper hydration. There is a wonderful path in the Cherry Creek area that I believe goes all the way downtown. Loved running on it! You might need to slow down a bit off your usual pace. Have a fun visit!
I just checked - all the restaurants where we ate were not downtown, but they were wonderful. Loved the breakfast at The Old Major. I believe the owner also has a restaurant downtown, but is a very popular place and gets packed quickly.
The Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art is one of my favorite museums of all time. It is very quirky and eclectic and is a nice size- you can make a quick pass in about an hour but could easily spend much more time. It is up near the Capital Building.
The Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel on 17th was refurbished in 2014 and hosts a 16 panel mural of the original art that was placed there in 1925 when it was a bank. It also has many of the original design drawings up on the lobby walls. The current renovation incorporates some of the original bank vault doors as walls in conference rooms- cool if you are a history buff.
I’m a fan of local shops/eateries as opposed to chains .