Welcome to Denver, the Gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Most tourists will arrive at DIA airport and have no idea it is the largest Airport in North America and the 3rd busiest airport in the U.S.A. or 5th busiest in the world! I appreciate the trains that take you between terminals even more now! DIA has been under construction for years and is finally starting to reveal its refresh on the inside. If you are departing from DIA, checkout the airport’s website for the approximate wait times at the three security checkpoints, if you have TSA precheck you will want to visit the north security checkpoint. Checking for the wait times could be the difference between making your flight or not.
Once you get out of the airport, don’t be surprised if you don’t see the mountains right away. The airport is far East of the city. If you get in on a late flight (we’re famous for those late night arrivals here in Denver), consider staying at one of the many airport hotels just off property. Get a good night sleep and start the day off heading into Denver or out to the mountains.
There is one other attraction to see before heading too far west, Rocky Mountain Arsenal. It is a 15,988-acre animal preserve located close to the airport that you can drive through and see some of the animals the west is known for best. Buffalo, mule deer, prairie dogs and a variety of birds can all be viewed from both inside and outside of the car. It is a little taste of the west, before you really get there. This is a go to spot if you are on a long layover in Denver or have kids. The visitor’s center has great gardens, a black-footed ferret habitat and lots to learn at the indoor exhibit.
Downtown
Downtown Denver is divided up between a few main areas, that’s all considered “downtown.” City Park is the most eastern part and where the Denver Zoo and Science Center are located. Another green space, Cheesman Park, has lots of expensive Denver properties located in the heart of the city. Don’t let the beautiful neighborhoods fool you, Denver has some typical big city problems spilling all over the city. Tourists will see our massive homeless population, begging families on the streets and evidence of drug and mental health problems all over the city. Use common sense when traveling in the city and keep your children close in parks too.
Many tourists are coming to Denver to celebrate some of the great sports history that Denver has to offer. McGregor Square, Coors Field, Ball Arena, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and National Ballpark Museum are just some of the attractions to visit during the day, not to mention the games at night or on the weekends. Colorado is also known for their hiking, biking, fishing and numerous winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and even ice fishing.
Typically, “downtown” are the areas from the Civic center and Civic Park to the I25 highway. Confluence Park runs a trolley service in the warm months between the original REI store (that can’t be more Coloradian) to the Broncos Stadium. This trolley runs by the aquarium, children’s museum and Elitches Gardens (theme & waterpark). If you are in town traveling with children, I highly recommend the Denver CityPASS® tickets. The pass has 3-5 museum options for a significant discount, but you only have 7 days to complete all your museum entrances. The Denver City Pass includes:
· Denver Downtown Aquarium
· Denver Museum of Nature & Science
· Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
· Denver Botanic Gardens
· Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
· Denver Art Museum
· History Colorado Center
Union Station is often referred to as the living room of Denver and is a great place to get a quick bite to eat or a 5-star gourmet meal. My favorite daytime spot, Snooze an A.M. Eatery, has become a Denver hot spot and they have popped up all over the Metro area. The benedicts are fantastic, if you can’t decide, do a half and half and try two of your favorites. The interior of the train station is a throwback to when train travel was all the rage and put Denver on the map. The 16th St Mall is a mile long pedestrian shopping street in downtown that is bookend between Union Station and Larimer Square. The streets are lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. There is a bus that runs the length of the shopping area that is fully accessible, but it is also an easy walk. Larimer Square has more expensive steakhouses and fine dining restaurants, all located under a light up canopy. Unfortunately, this 16th St. Mall area has just started a long construction process which adds to the noise and congestion.
The arts district and convention center are all located south of 16th St. Mall and have numerous parking garages that are a bit claustrophobic and only accept debit and credit cards (so leave your cash at home). LoDo is the part of town considered Lower Downtown, but just a street (and an ice skating rink) from 16th St. Mall. Some good choices for less expensive meals like stacks subs or popular brunch spots like Syrup pancake house.
RINO is the nickname for River North Arts District where art galleries and the culinary arts are both found in abundance. Many RINO cuisines are described as New American, including Nocturne (voted Denver’s Most Romantic restaurants) and Jazz Club. There are many Japanese options including Uchi, Temaki Den and Osaka Ramen, all authentic cuisine which is hard for a seafood menu in the mountains. The best rooftop restaurant is Los Chingones and offers Mexican fare or consider Il Posto Italian mainstay that is always popular on the food tours. My personal favorite spot in RINO is called Barcelona and it offers traditional tapas and incredible meat & cheese boards to compliment a pitcher of sangria.
The Rocky Mountains and skiing are not the only activities that bring travelers to Colorado. The cannabis culture and even cannabis tourism is a big draw, especially in Denver. There are almost 450 dispensaries and 250 grow facilities in just the city of Denver, so you will smell it traveling in the city, driving on the highways and walking around the tourist attractions. There are many cannabis tours to choose from, educational & luxury tours to a “cannabis friendly” haunted tour of the city. However, even though you see both medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries on every corner, Denver is missing the social aspect of smoking that attracts people to Amsterdam or Barcelona. Tetra Private Lounge & Garden and Jad’s Mile High Smoke are both social clubs where weed can be enjoyed openly. These spots are just starting to pop up, even though Colorado was the first State to legalize recreational marijuana. If weed is not legal in your state and you are interested in anything from edibles to flower, go to a dispensary and ask all the questions you want, the “bud-tenders” are friendly and knowledgeable. Our favorites have been Silver Stem, Mile High or Trees dispensaries.
South of Downtown
Washington Park, known as Wash Park by locals, is a large city park great for meet ups and workouts located a bit south of the city. Wash park is close to the shopping and dining districts of Cherry Creek and Glendale. There is easy parking in the southern part of the park, near Grasmere Lake, with easy access to the playground if that’s your goal. There are two large playground areas, one with a wooden castle, so be sure to visit both for optimum fun. There are also picnic tables throughout the park, many close to the playground and others in more private locations. There are charcoal grills located near the playgrounds too, which are often wafting smells of BBQ in the summer months. On the northwest side of the park, close to Smith Lake, there is the Big Garden area with many benches to relax along a walk away from all the hustle and bustle of the main park.
Any type of sport or workout you can think of is available at Washington Park. In addition to the Washington Park Recreation Center being located inside the northern part of the park there are tons of outdoor activities too. The park is known for its running track that has three lanes of traffic from the slowest walkers to fastest cyclists and auto traffic. Tennis courts, boathouse, basketball courts, soccer and multisport fields and even lawn bowling are all available at Washington Park. Dogs get into the athletic action, going on walks and runs with owners or playing with other dogs in the fenced in dog park. Be warned, especially with kids, that there are only porta potties at the park. Most parks in Denver have elected to close their restrooms and bring in portables to combat the drug problems.
Glendale and Cherry Creek neighborhoods are known for their shopping and eating areas. The brunch scene is epic with one of the Sam’s #3 diners and the local favorite Syrup. Cherry Creek is also known for its art galleries and hosts the Cherry Creek Arts Festival each year. The Cherry Creek Shopping Center boasts having over 300 stores and 50 Spa/Salons to choose from for a day of relaxation. Since Colorado’s #1 export is beef, there is no shortage of steakhouses in Denver. Be sure to try some of the local Steakhouses like Buckhorn Exchange “Denver’s original steakhouse” or Shanahan’s “sports bar” feeling Steakhouse named for the Denver Broncos famous coach. Keeping with the football theme, try Elway’s Steakhouse named for the former Denver Broncos quarterback. Steakhouses are a dime a dozen here in Colorado, but Elway’s has a special touch that your typical chain steakhouse misses.
Cherry Creek Reservoir is a 134,470 acres state park that brags about their camping or day visits. In the summer there is a beachy area for swimming, that you will share with geese, and may even have to defend your kids from on occasion. Fishing, paddle boats, motorized and sailboats are all at the marina. Bikers, birders and cross-country skiers all flock to the closest nature location in downtown Denver.
The Myers’ family has really enjoyed our past 5 years living in Denver and exploring Colorado and the West. This week’s blog is the first in a series of Denver and the Metro Area. Next week, learn more about the Denver CityPASS® and all the great Denver museums and attractions you gain access to with the pass. The following weeks will share the secrets of the suburbs and itineraries to get you into the mountains and foothills. I won’t be happy until you are booking a flight out to experience our beautiful state.
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