Denver: An Adventure Seeker's Paradise
Denver (also known as “Menver,” for its favorable gender ratio to women, so get after it, babes!!) is an absolute must. For those who’ve been following my articles you’ll know by now that exploring new places is my favorite thing to do...but every now and then I come across a new favorite, and revisiting those favorites become one of my new favorite things to do! For me, Denver has become one of those faves, and bitches you better buckle up because you’re in for all the fun things in this awesome Colorado city.
Obviously the state and its neighbors are known for its breathtaking natural beauty and surplus of outdoor activities, so it’s best for those looking for spots to hike, ski, swim, climb, and the like. While the downtown is delightfully clean and well-kempt - with its own foodie spots to boast - those more comfortable in the posh places of LA, New York, or Paris may satisfy their tastes better there.
On the final leg of my Friend Tour (my last hail Mary run around the States to visit as many friends as I could before I went back to full-time work), I booked a flight to Denver for a five-day stay. I needed every minute of every day to do all the things I wanted - this is my minimum recommendation for a stay here, elsewise you miss out on so much!!
Quick disclaimer: there is a LOT to do and see here, not to mention a boatload of eateries and drink spots. But what I offer is my humble list of things I personally recommend from experience ;) That said, here are my lists, a gift from me to you, of everything (I think) you should see and do:
Good Eats
Once upon a brunch...my buddy took me to a quaint spot outside the city in a Denver suburb of Littleton, a charming little town that wakes up with the cutest pops of color in its houses and flowers each morning. The air was dry and crisp, birds chirped, and the sun rose slowly to blanket mountainous Colorado with summer warmth. It was a marvelous day to sit outside for breakfast.
And gosh did we feast. Supplemented with fabulous coffee and fresh fruit, we ordered the Curtice Street Breakfast Burrito and the LiDo and went half-zies for both (menu here for reference). The food was fresh, flavorful, and prompt, service was great, and our shaded table was the perfect spot to observe other patrons and enjoy Colorado summer heat.
The moral of my story is drive to Littleton and get you a damn good breakfast.
via Pinterest
Housed in a giant, 28-foot high old-school cream can (inspired by those vintage Coney Island hot dog stands!), the first Little Man location opened in the Highland neighborhood, and since have expanded to West Colfax. It stays reliably busy, with a long line snaking all the way around the block corner...but the wait is worth it (and y’all know that’s a sign it’s the good stuff, anyway). Vegans, fear not, because they have options for you, too, because they do serve vegan flavors and sorbets, as well as four different ice cream sandwiches. Be sure to leave room for dessert, babes!
Wonderful spot for coffee and if you have that hankering for avocado toast (or something like it!) It’s located on Broadway Street, right down the road from where I tried Thump Coffee.
Where We Caffeinated
via Thump Coffee
A contemporarily designed coffee chain with locations in Tech Center, downtown, Capitol Hill, Broadway, and NW New York Drive. Thump serves plants, modern dark walls, natural light, industrial ceilings and lighting, (yasz, hunnie) - not to mention serving a good cup of brew. I went to the one on Broadway and took home a bar of craft locally-made chocolate to carry with me on the plane ride home.
What To Do
Due to a canceled flight, I had to miss a bluegrass concert I was planning to attend on a Saturday night. But it’s an easy drive by, and there are tons of events going on at this venue. They even hold outdoor movie screenings in the warmer months!
via Rox Pile
While I personally don’t follow baseball, I still appreciate America’s pasttime, and few outings feels more American than sitting down with a brat and a beer to watch a baseball game, and Coors Field faces the setting sun at game time so you can catch the sunset without missing a homerun. Not too shabby.
River Float
In a neighboring town called Golden, Clear Creek runs through and offers shocking cool waters that make for a refreshing river float on a hot summer day. Fifteen of us met to rent inner tubes and walked about fifteen minutes upstream at the entrance point, which gave us about an hour-long float.
New Terrain Brewing Company in Golden
Following our river float we went to an outdoor brewery and baked in the open sun sitting outside with our beers. Perfect view of the mountains, several food trucks in time for lunch, dogs everywhere, and lots of people - it was the perfect backdrop to a summer day well spent. Keep in mind there’s no shade, so if you sit outside (which you must), bring sunscreen!
Hiking
There are dozens of spots reachable from the city, but for a close by waterfall, I recommend Maxwell Falls in Evergreen, Colorado. I rented a yellow mustang (pictured here), drove it forty-five minutes outside the city, and enjoyed an entire morning to mostly unoccupied mountains, rewarded with a breathtaking peak overlooking a huge expanse of what looked like, fittingly, were thousands of matching evergreen trees.
Streams led to gently flowing waterfall, flanked by impressive rocky terrain you won’t find much of on the East Coast. If you’re looking to unwind and unite souls with nature, try to go on a weekday morning when it’s less busy (I was lucky to get to go on a Monday).
via lei companies
This has been voted one of the best in the States because of their massive variety of animals to see. I spent two whole hours here, covering all the exhibits by walking the perimeter and weaving my way through everything in the middle. (This zoo is where I got to see my first hippo, even if he was sleeping deep deep underwater in his little pond! LOL) I saw penguins up close, funky and tiny little eels in their tanks that looked more like plants than something sentient with eyeballs, and every mammal you’d think to find on the plains of Africa, and then some.
In fact, a few of the exhibits allow you to get pretty close to the animals, such as the mongoose pen at the zoo’s entrance. The animal exhibits are spacious and well designed, too. When I was done, they had a rental bike rack right outside that I could use to ride back into town. It was the perfect daytime outing to entertain myself while my friends were at work.
What to see
via gold calendar
Every major city seems to have their own “Union Station” (we, for instance, have one of our own here in DC). But Denver’s is exquisite, clean and marvelous, a fitting accessory amidst the entire look of downtown Denver.
Mountains
Around the city perimeter, you can look out and see the Colorado Mountains, that peak at these six points.
Lakes
via 303 Magazine
Because it’s landlocked, the lakes will have to do, but with their clear waters and cooler temps, they definitely do do. They range considerably in size, from small ones at Wash Park to the more massive ones compatible for boating and skiing.
City Parks
via Night Out
There are lots of these in Denver, too, but by far Washington Park, or “Wash Park,” was one of my favorite parts of the trip. (Shortly after my visit, The Bachelorette’s beautiful Blake Horstman posted on his Instagram stories that he was at Washington Park Grille...I only justttt missed him by less than forty-eight hours. Blake, you tease me.)
A green space that centers a residential area of Denver, all the city’s young and active flock here for pickup games of volleyball, soccer, and frisbee. Dogs are everywhere. Trees, flowers, and jogging paths line the park perimeter. There are two lakes, one at each end of the park, where you can hop on a rowboat and peddle around at your leisure or seat yourself at a park bench and watch ducks and swans paddle about.
And there you have it, chicas. Denver is such a bomb-ass city that I can’t wait a second longer to see, so I’ll be going twice in the same twelve-month stretch. Should I record all my romps through “Menver” on Insta stories? ;) Keep me posted and I’ll share more Denver adventures with all of you. This may warrant a Denver Guide Part 2…!
What are your favorite spots in Denver?
#EARealBabe your pics from Denver, and we’ll feature you on Insta!
Cover image Your Travel Park
