InfoGuide: Denver, Colorado

10 min read2 days ago

If we didn’t live in the San Francisco Bay Area, we could live in Denver, and not just because our son Adam currently lives there. Denver is a fantastic city with a plethora of things to do and see, fantastics places to eat and drink, and amazing culture to soak in, not to mention the gorgeous scenery of the neighboring mountains.

When To Go:

Denver is a great place to visit year-round despite the local joke that there are two seasons in Denver: winter and construction/roadwork.

In the summer, it can get hot, but the heat comes in waves and if you are prepared for it, stay hydrated, and plan your days, it can be a lot of fun.

During the winter, while it does it get cold, most things are still open and can be enjoyed if you are bundled up. The snow doesn’t tend to stick around for very long and it is beautiful when it is there, making for some great photo opportunities.

In the fall, the leaves are changing, and the weather tends to be more temperate. It’s a great time for outdoor activities, including baseball games at Coor’s Field.

About Denver

The Denver Metropolitan Area, often referred to as the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes ten counties and a number of cities including Denver, Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, and even extends into Golden and Boulder.

Denver itself is broken up into neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm. We’ve broken down the activities in this InfoGuide by neighborhood to better plan your daily outings, or your multi-day stay.

General Info

This is a city / area that can be visited over and over without it getting old and boring. We have so much more exploring to do, and Terri already has a list of museums for us to visit, despite Zeke’s not-so-subtle grumbling. This doesn’t even take into account exploring beyond Denver into Boulder (check out our YouTube video on Boulder and Estes Park) or south which we quickly enjoyed when moving Adam to Denver in July 2023.

We will update this as we have new info so be sure to check back as you plan your next trip to Denver.

We put together a blog post on our website with 10 Things to Do in Denver (which we still stand by), and we also covered some of these places in our YouTube video 8 Things to Do in Denver. Look for more videos and Shorts on our adventures.

What To Do

LoDo (lower downtown): this is the oldest neighborhood in Denver, rich in history dating back to the city’s founding in the mid-19th century. Many of the buildings in LoDo are preserved historic structures, contributing to its unique charm and character. There are plenty of restaurants, shopping, bars, museums, and sporting events making a great place to use as your home base while in Denver. We like to stay at the Limelight Hotel with its close proximity to everything, including the light rail and the A line to the airport. It’s an extremely walkable area and we always felt safe.

— Union Station: this fully renovated transportation hub is more than a place to catch a train. There are shops, restaurants, bars, and even a hotel within the Union Station itself.

— Dairy Block: the Dairy Block occupies the site of the historic Windsor Dairy, which was established in the early 20th century. The area has been revitalized to blend its historic roots with modern amenities with restaurants, shops, and some great sports of Instagrammable photos.

— Larimer Square: Denver’s oldest and most historic block with shops and restaurants and charming Victorian buildings.

— Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver): contemporary art museum with a rotating selection of exhibits and rooftop cafe. We plan to visit when we are next in Denver as it was closed for renovations each time we visited Denver in 2023. Advanced ticket purchase is not required. Parking (for a fee) at the garage at 1900 16th St.

— Coors Field: home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team Sit in a seat at the mile high marker on the first base side for a good view of the Rocky Mountains or lower down to actually see the baseball.

Civic Center Neighborhood: considered the heart of the city, this area serves as the hub for government, arts and culture, with numerous landmarks and institutions. It’s easily accessible via light rail or the 16th Street Mall bus from Union Station. This area is south of LoDo and not a bad walk from Union Station.

— Civic Center Park: this is a pretty park with formal gardens, various monuments, and often hosts events, like a Christmas market in December and food trucks and summer get-togethers during the summer.

— Colorado State Capitol: this is a beautiful building based on what we’ve seen from the outside from Civic Center Park. Next time we may have to take one of their free guided tours and get a tour of the gold dome which sits at 5280 feet.

Golden Triangle Neighborhood: just south of the Civic Center neighborhood sits the Golden Triangle neighborhood, home to historic landmarks and cultural institutions like the Denver Art Museum.

— Denver Art Museum: this is one of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast and is incredible. We were surprised by the extensive collections in the two buildings, and relevant temporary exhibits located on the first floor. We highly recommend visiting while in Denver. There are at least two dining options, including a finer dining option with cocktails and wine. Advanced ticket purchase is not required. Open daily from 10–5 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).

Clyfford Still Museum: this museum is dedicated to the work of abstract expressionist painter Clyfford Still. Advanced ticket purchase is required. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM — 5 PM. This is on our list of places to visit next time we are in Denver.

— Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Arts: home to decorative art and works by Colorado artists with rotating exhibitions. Advanced ticket purchases are not available; purchase tickets on site. Open Wednesday-Sunday. Parking available in a museum specific lot behind the museum for a fee. This is on our list of places to visit the next time we are in Denver.

— Denver Performing Arts Complex: home to multiple performing arts venues including Boettcher Concert Hall, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre, Garner Galleria Theatre, Dazzle, and Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Check the website for the latest events.

— Museo de las Americas: Located in the historic Santa Fe Arts District, this 30-year-old museum celebrates Latin American art and heritage, and features rotating exhibitions from ancient to contemporary art. Open Tuesday-Sunday, advanced ticket purchase is not required. Accessible by bus routes 1 and 9, there is also free (2 hour) street parking near this bright, pink building. This is on our list of places to visit the next time we are in Denver.

City Park Neighborhood: this picturesque neighborhood is comprised of historic homes and tree-lined streets and is east of LoDo.

— Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: this 80-acre property (one of the largest in the US) is well maintained with a wide variety of animals. We can see why it’s one of the most popular zoos in the US. Advanced tickets/reservations required for timed entry. Free parking available onsite. Food and beverages (including beer) are available throughout the zoo.

—Denver Museum of Nature and Science: while we have not been, we plan to go the next time we are in Denver. It’s open 7 days a week, year round with the exception of Christmas day. Advanced ticket purchase is not required. Free parking on site. Near several RTD stops.

Cheeseman Park Neighborhood: this is a nice, residential area with beautiful homes, some would call mansions, surrounding the park along with some major high rises with condos and apartments. We stayed here in November 2023 as part of a home exchange and loved how central it was to everywhere we wanted to go and be. It’s southeast of LoDo.

— Denver Botanic Gardens: 24-acre botanic gardens that is both intimate and extensive. With the diverse range of plant species, ecosystems and horticultural themes, it’s wonderful both in the sun and the snow. Escape into the indoor tropical conservatory or enjoy a beverage or snack in the main cafe. It has a great gift shop. If you are there in the winter, don’t miss the Blossoming Lights show at night. Open daily, no advanced ticket purchase required. Limited free parking available in the garden lot.

— Cheesman Park: this sprawling 24-acre park was once a cemetery (Mount Prospect Cemetery) but was repurposed into parkland in 1890. It’s great for picnics, walks, runs, and to spend time with your dog. There’s a secret entrance for Botanic Garden members from the park.

Other Attractions

— Meow Wolf: ok, so this was a little weird but also fun. This immersive art experience is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood, southwest of LoDo. Advanced ticket purchase isn’t required but is recommended. Plan on staying a few hours to meander through and we do not recommend taking any mind altering substances before you travel through the four alien worlds in art. Open daily. Check the website for hours.

Getting Around

Airport: the main airport is DIA, or Denver International Airport, and is located outside of the Denver city limits, 25 miles northeast of downtown Denver. When people say it’s way the hell out there, they aren’t kidding.

Airport (public) transportation: The RTD A line (Airport Line) provides train service from Union Station to the Denver airport (with 8 stops along the way) for $10 each way. It’s very easy and convenient assuming you are going to/from Union Station. If you need to connect to one of the light rail lines to get to where you are going, it’s not very efficient to take the A line. Use the RTD app to purchase tickets.

Public transportation: RTD (Regional Transportation District) light and commuter rail service over 50 stations in the metro area and we found it easy to use and mostly reliable. Use the RTD app to purchase tickets.

There’s a free 16th Street Mall bus that goes between Union Station and Civic Center Station with multiple stops along the way making it a great resource if you are staying down by Union Station but want to visit the Denver Art Museum.

By car: Denver is a sprawling area and the easiest way to get around, in most cases, is by car.

Bicycles: there are lots of bike paths and trails making it a great place to cycle, weather permitting, but be cautious with motorists who do not necessarily give way to cyclists or pedestrians.

Bikes and scooter rentals: Denver has an agreement with Lyft and Lime for ebike and escooters rentals. Use the app as you would in any other city.

Rideshare: Uber and Lyft are available in Denver. Use the apps as you would anyhwhere else.

EV charging: throughout Denver, there are Blink, Chargepoint, EVgo, evGateway, and Semaconnect charging stations with a handful of Tesla superchargers. Locate one through one of the apps or by using Chargefinder.

Shopping

Check out Cherry Creek Shopping Center for higher end shops and some of your traditional mall spots. Just across the street from the mall in the tree-lined streets are more shops and restaurants like Crate and Barrel and West Elm.

There are other typical shopping options like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, etc. throughout the greater Denver area. Use your favorite map app to find what you are looking for.

Where to Eat

We can’t even begin to make recommendations here quite yet. We’ve been to quite a few places. Follow Terri on Google Maps as she regularly posts her reviews.

Giving Back

Our core values include protecting and preserving our planet for future generations, creating a level playing field where everyone has equal opportunities, celebrating and supporting diversity, and giving back and making a positive impact on the communities we engage with.

We often look for women, Black, and queer owned businesses and restaurants to patronize when we are traveling. #votewithyourpocketbook

If you are interested in giving back while in Denver, here are some ways to do it:

— Visit and pay the entrance fee to non-profits like the Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Garden, Museo de las Americas, and Denver Art Museum. If you have a little extra, round up your purchases in the gift shops or make an additional donation (Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Art Museum, Museo de las Americas).

— Share your visit to one of them on social media and tag to make them more visible.

— Make a contribution to the Meow Wolf Foundation. In 2023 they launched a community grant program (not their first, but the first for the foundation) to support “art, imagination, creativity, and the belief that an investment in artists and the creative economy can truly transform communities.”

— Shop or dine at a local establishment, thereby supporting a local business. Consider one of these Black owned businesses (including one of our favorites, Tattered Cover, at Union Station).

Who are we? We are Zeke and Terri Mead, 50-something Californians navigating our lives and the world, mostly together. We want more midlifers (40–65 year olds) to get out into the world, embrace midlife, and embrace adventure and travel in alignment with their values. We launched our YouTube channel in February 2024 and travel as much as our two children (20 and 23) and our empty nest puppy Good Boy George allow.