Weekend Getaway Guide: Denver, Colorado
So this weekend getaway guide is about 8 months overdue :) But hey, at least I’m getting around to it.
While I love Colorado for the mountains, fresh air and amazing skiing, the weekend I spent in Denver had nothing to do with snow or slopes. Instead, we explored this city in the middle of the mountains for everything else it could provide.
Check out my non-skiing, weekend guide to Denver below:
STAY:
The Crawford Hotel is everything you need (and didn’t realize you needed) and more. It’s unique in structure, as it occupies the old railroad terminal station in Denver. The entire Denver Union train station has been converted into numerous restaurants, a bookstore, bar, ice cream parlor, coffee shop, public spaces, and hotel rooms above the main communal area.
Which basically means that when you stay here, there’s no shortage of things to do in your immediate vicinity. If you wanted, you could probably spend an entire day or two just within the confines of this hotel.
Plus, if you take the train in from the Denver airport (easy to do, and your best bet), it’ll bring you right to the doorstep of The Crawford.
Tip: At The Crawford, your stay comes with discounts and freebies at the restaurants and vendors located in the station, per day. That means coffee, a scoop of ice cream, and happy hour could potentially all be $0.00 for you!
EAT:
Denver has some real good eats. Ironically, a lot of the ones I tested out were right within the Denver Union train station and just feet from my hotel room. But that didn’t make them any less delicious.
For brunch, you have to hit up Snooze.
The lines may be long and require a short wait, but it’s worth it. The menu items are ginormous and so, so good. And they’re definitely not skimpy on the mimosas ;)
Another fan favorite to try for breakfast is Jelly Cafe, famous for their donuts, but they also make a mean pancake.
Tip: Jelly is a 1 minute walk from the Molly Brown House, if you’re planning on checking out this historical site!
In Denver Union, Stoic & Genuine is a fantastic dinner option that usually gets very crowded. They serve up east and west coast oysters and other super fresh seafood dishes alongside tasty, creative cocktails.
It’s you’re looking for something a little outside the box, Linger is the jumpoff for “New American” cuisine. It’s not super close to Downtown Denver (like walkable from The Crawford) but it’s rooftop is killer if you go while it’s open. Plus, they’re bao buns are bomb.
PLAY:
Denver is a playground of things to do, and definitely worth checking out before you run up north to the mountains for snow sports. If you spend a night or two in the city as an extension of your ski trip, or you opt to just explore Denver completely on its own, there’s lots of activities and attractions.
Drink:
- Wynkoop Brewing Co. – Colorado’s first brewpub, opt for a beer flight
- Terminal Bar – right inside Union Station, great for happy hour, a night cap, and anything in between
- Cooper Lounge – swanky spot located up above Denver Union with views of the busyness happening below
Culture:
- Museum of Contemporary Art – small but very cool exhibits, and their rooftop space has dope views
- Wander around the RiNo neighborhood (River North Art District) for awesome graffiti and murals
Relax:
- LoDo Massage Studio, home to the “Mile High” massage using cannabis-infused lotion. Don’t worry, you won’t get any of the trippy effects, just a relaxing experience that will definitely work out all your kinks.
- Dispensaries – even if you don’t dabble with Mary Jane, if you come from a state where you can’t legally buy, it’s pretty cool to walk into a shop where everything is fair game
- Boutiques – there’s lots of fashion forward shops around Denver ( try: Goldyn) for clothing and accessories
If you ever find yourself in the Mile High City, don’t let the altitude fool you – there’s plenty to do beyond the mountains.