Denver is the Capitol of Colorado, The Mile High City.
Growing up as a kid, I remember the Coors beer commercials-Made in the Rocky Mountains. I would see pictures of the beautiful Mountains and say to myself, “One day I am going to visit there!” As an adult, I added it to my U.S Travel Bucket List. My first trip there was so awesome that I went back 2 more times in one year!
When you think of Colorado you instantly think of snow right? Well, at least I do! But that changed once I visited this beautiful State. It is so much more than just snow! The scenery there is very pretty. Trees, Mountains and Rocky Terrain. So many beautiful wonders to see and things to do.
I fell in love with Denver.
I had the opportunity this past year to visit the Denver area two times. I actually loved it so much the first time, that I wanted to go back! I would say that if I was to live anywhere besides the West Coast- Southern California then Colorado would be one of my top choices. Food, Coffee, Beer, Adventure and Culture.
My first trip to Denver was just my husband and and I . We went on a couples trip for my birthday . We enjoyed the Area so much that we planned another trip with the kids. We went back a few months later on a Family trip. Both were great experiences.
Denver is one of the coolest Cities in the U.S. It has a huge outdoor culture, a fanatical sports following, growing beer scene and emerging foodie scene. They are open to alternative lifestyles and of course they are 420 friendly.
FLIGHTS
Being from Southern California, I have a lot of options for airports to fly out of and the flight to Denver is a short one and very affordable at certain times of the year. Frontier airlines runs deals very often and they are priced very reasonable. Make sure to check out my blog post about “cheap ways to get out of town” for money savings tips!
The Old Wild West….
Denver was once the “Wild West” but now it is a super hip and cool City. Very friendly people, lots to do, great food and did I mention BEER? If you love good craft beer and outdoor activities then Denver is the place for you.
Biking, hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, fishing and so much more. It has a downtown full of beautiful buildings and don’t let me forget Red Rocks Amphitheater – A world class outdoor concert venue nestled right against the beautiful rocks. Museums, The State Capital, The U.S Mint, Coors Field and lots of quick day trips nearby to other wonderful attractions such as The Rocky Mountain National Park , Aspen and Boulder.. So many great places to visit.
I will warn you, visiting this beautiful hip, modern and friendly City may convince you to stay.
What is there to do in the City…
Downtown offers a plethora of breweries, eateries, hotels and World class Museums. There are many Farmers Markets and open air markets throughout the City as well. The Mountains offer lots of outdoor activities and there is even spots to check out in the suburbs, lots of parks and community events. Denver has so much to offer!
Here are a few ideas….
- See a concert at Red Rocks
2. Shop in Larimer Square
3. Stroll 16th Street Mall
4. Take a brewery tour
5. Enjoy LoDo-lower Downtown
6. Catch a game at Coors Field
7. Visit Tattored cover book store
8. Take a day trip to other nearby Cities
9. Enjoy a treat at Little Man ice cream
Transportation
The car rental service at the airport is outstanding! They have a new wing that is separate from the actual airport and it is so clean and nice. I had a great rental experience. For ways to save on car rental, check out my blog on “cheap travel tips”.
If you decide to opt out of a car rental there are so many more options. You can take the train from the airport to Union Station, approximately 40 mins and when we visited it was approx. $10.50.
Denver Bcycle offers multiple bike stations throughout the City. For $9- a day you can have unlimited bike rides within the 24 hours
You can pretty much get anywhere by Rail or bus. Public transportation is safe and cheap!
They do have UBER available.
(Please remember to research transportation costs, prices do change.)
Some of the highlights –
The State Capitol Building
You may think that this sounds boring, but I will tell you that it was quite impressive and exciting in a educational way! The building is gorgeous and there is so much history in the building. I felt very special to be in the actual building. It was as if, I was there on business and not a self-guided tour!
It is impressive, defiantly plan to spend a few hours there. There is high security there, so be prepared to be inspected and leave your bags or purse in the car. This is an actual working building, not Museum. https://leg.colorado.gov/visit-learn
Union Station
Super busy, yet so cool to look at, Clean and comfortable. Tastefully refurbished, clean and modern. Huge 65 foot ceilings and enormous arched windows. Comfy couches and little areas tucked away to relax. We had the opportunity to visit at Christmas time and they had a gorgeous, enormous Christmas tree in the center of the Station. There are eateries and stores located in the Station and there is even a Hotel located on the premises. You could spend 30 minutes there or hang out and relax for hours. http://rtd-denver.com/UnionStation.shtml
*This is fully operating Train Station.
The U.S Mint
This was probably the highlight of our family trip. My oldest Son is such an old soul. He loves Bookstores, Museums, Galleries and anything Historical. We surprised him with this trip to visit the U.S Mint. The tour was amazing and very informational. There is a gift shop that has some pretty cool keepsakes, including one of a kind coins.
Please note- They do have a very strict security policy. You cannot take photos of any kind while on the tour. You are not allowed to use your cell phone or any electronical device and your phone MUST be turned off the whole tour. https://www.usmint.gov/about/mint-tours-facilities/denver/visiting-the-denver-mint
FYI- You MUST get tickets in advance, IN-PERSON
Casa Bonita
I am not saying a word about the food. Being from Southern California, our Mexican food is very different from the rest of the States. But I will tell you that this place is a huge tourist destination and it was a MUST on our Denver Bucket list. It was fun, corny and quirky. Lots to see and do in this amusement style eatery. Dinner, fun, a show and free sopapillas!!http://casabonitadenver.com
Red Rocks Amphitheater
High Hopes Son! (future rock star)
Beautiful and breathtaking view! Lots of hiking trails, the Concert area was amazing! I can’t wait to see a show there one day. Lots of activities to do outside, but make sure you go into the visitor center and check out the Music Museum. Take a hike, walk down to the amphitheater, grab a coffee inside at the visitors center and. enjoy the self guided tour. Make sure to check out my blog on ‘Family Fun in Denver”, there is more information on our time there.https://redrocks.co
Pepsi Center
Whenever we are traveling, my Husband loves to check out the arenas and stadiums, We were lucky enough to meet up with some friends and we caught a basketball game while we were in town. Denver Nuggets played that night and it was a great basketball game.
http://pepsi.centerdenver.org/?msclkid=8d0ca6978d301e7e0ee1fb9889fb266c
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
This was an amazing family experience! So much to see and do! The vibe was great there and not only did the kids have a blast but my husband and I really enjoyed our time there. Make note: if you love museums you will want to at least spend 1/2 day here! Hands of activities, interactive events and so much more! There is so much to share about this place that I have a separate article on our adventure there .https://www.dmns.org/
Check out my blog post- “Family Fun in Denver”.https://thesunkissedgypsy.com/family-fun-in-denver/
The best time to visit..
That all depends on you! Obviously if you are visiting the area to ski or snowboard, then the Winter Months. If you love to hike or mountain bike, then the Spring is perfect. Denver is beautiful all year long. You defiantly experience all 4 Seasons in this State.
Make sure to check out my other blog posts on our adventures in Colorado- “Family Fun in Denver” , “Travel Colorado” and “Day trips from Denver”.
All my best XO, Christy
