#denver vacation

[jzvacationrentals]

Denver Vacation: Exploring the Mile-High Magic

Nestled against the majestic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, the capital of Colorado, beckons travelers with a unique blend of urban sophistication and outdoor adventure. As a city that sits exactly one mile above sea level, Denver offers a captivating mix of cultural attractions, vibrant neighborhoods, and access to unparalleled natural beauty. This article delves into the essence of a Denver vacation, guiding travelers through the must-see attractions, diverse neighborhoods, and outdoor adventures that make a visit to the Mile-High City an unforgettable experience.

Discovering Downtown Denver:

16th Street Mall: Begin your Denver vacation by exploring the iconic 16th Street Mall. This bustling pedestrian mall is lined with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. Hop on the free MallRide shuttle for a convenient way to traverse the length of the mall and take in the vibrant atmosphere.

Union Station: A historic landmark and transportation hub, Union Station has been revitalized into a chic space featuring restaurants, bars, and a boutique hotel. Grab a cup of coffee or indulge in a gourmet meal while enjoying the architectural charm of this Denver gem.

Denver Art Museum (DAM): Art enthusiasts will find solace in the Denver Art Museum, home to an extensive collection of American Indian, Western, and contemporary art. The unique architecture of the Hamilton Building is an attraction in itself, making DAM a must-visit cultural destination.

Colorado State Capitol: A visit to the Colorado State Capitol offers panoramic views of Denver and the Rocky Mountains. Climb the steps to see the distinctive gold-plated dome and explore the interior, including the Mile-High Marker on the 13th step, symbolizing Denver's elevation.

Denver Botanic Gardens: For a serene escape, head to the Denver Botanic Gardens. Explore themed gardens, including the Japanese Garden and the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. The gardens host various events and concerts throughout the year, providing a peaceful retreat within the city.

Diverse Neighborhoods to Explore:

LoDo (Lower Downtown): LoDo is Denver's historic district, known for its red-brick buildings, trendy boutiques, and vibrant nightlife. Explore the microbreweries, art galleries, and the historic Union Station in this lively neighborhood.

RiNo (River North): RiNo has evolved into Denver's arts and creative hub. Murals, galleries, and avant-garde spaces define this neighborhood. Stroll through the Denver Central Market and experience the dynamic energy of RiNo's ever-changing art scene.

Capitol Hill: Capitol Hill is a bohemian neighborhood with historic architecture, eclectic shops, and a diverse dining scene. Take a walking tour to appreciate the well-preserved Victorian homes and immerse yourself in Capitol Hill's unique character.

Cherry Creek: Cherry Creek offers a mix of upscale shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation. The Cherry Creek Trail is perfect for a leisurely bike ride, while the Cherry Creek Shopping Center caters to those seeking high-end retail therapy.

Outdoor Adventures in and Around Denver:

Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Just a short drive from downtown, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a geological marvel and an iconic music venue. Even if you're not catching a concert, exploring the amphitheater and hiking the surrounding trails provides a breathtaking experience.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Embark on a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, located just over an hour from Denver. Hike, drive the Trail Ridge Road, and witness the awe-inspiring landscapes of alpine meadows, towering peaks, and diverse wildlife.

Denver Mountain Parks: Closer to the city, Denver Mountain Parks offer a variety of outdoor activities. Visit Genesee Park for buffalo viewing, hike at Lookout Mountain, or enjoy a scenic drive through the historic Lariat Loop.

City Park: City Park, adjacent to the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, provides a vast green space for picnics, sports, and relaxation. The park's centerpiece, Ferril Lake, offers stunning views of the city skyline against the backdrop of the mountains.

Culinary Delights in Denver:

Denver's Craft Beer Scene: Denver is renowned for its craft beer scene, with numerous microbreweries and taprooms scattered across the city. Take a brewery tour or simply explore neighborhoods like LoDo or RiNo to discover local brews and innovative flavors.

Farm-to-Table Dining: Embrace Denver's commitment to farm-to-table dining by exploring restaurants that showcase locally sourced ingredients. The city's culinary scene celebrates diversity, offering everything from innovative fusion dishes to classic comfort food.

Food Truck Culture: Denver's food truck culture adds a dynamic element to the culinary scene. Head to Civic Center Park or any of the city's food truck gatherings to indulge in a variety of international cuisines and innovative street food creations.

Denver Central Market: Located in the RiNo neighborhood, the Denver Central Market is a gourmet food hall featuring artisanal products, fresh produce, and a diverse array of culinary delights. It's a one-stop destination for food enthusiasts seeking a taste of Denver's culinary innovation.

Conclusion:

A Denver vacation unfolds as a journey through diverse neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, and breathtaking outdoor landscapes. From the vibrant streets of downtown to the tranquility of City Park and the majestic heights of the Rocky Mountains, Denver offers a myriad of experiences for every type of traveler. Immerse yourself in the Mile-High magic, and let the unique spirit of Denver leave an indelible mark on your travel memories.

[latenightsushi]

Random shot I took in our Denver hotel room at dawn, featuring my husband and a baggy of melted ice on the balcony 🧊

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[rabbitcruiser]

Downtown Denver (No. 2)

The Paramount Theatre is a concert venue in Denver, Colorado, located on Glenarm Place, near Denver's famous 16th Street Mall. The venue has a seating capacity of 1,870 but is a popular destination for large acts looking for a smaller concert setting.  With spelling as Paramount Theater, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

The Paramount opened in 1930 as a movie theatre, part of the Paramount-Publix Theatre Circuit, the exhibition arm of Paramount Pictures. The theatre itself was designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp, with decorations by designer Vincent Mondo, murals by Louis Grell of Chicago. The original main entry to the theatre was at 519 16th Street, where an entrance lobby was cut through an existing commercial and office building.

Source: Wikipedia

[8one6]

Ever since I was in high school (in the before times, in the long, long ago) I had dreamed of taking road trip. Just me, my car (in high school it was a Cadillac Hearse that got absolutely awful gas mileage and high school me used to bitch about gas when it went over a $1 a gallon), and the open road, but I never managed to do it. Sometimes it was money, sometimes it was lack of opportunity, sometimes it was just the fear of doing something new.

In my mid-30s I finally did it and let me tell you it was one of the best experiences of my life.

A few years ago (2022 to be exact) my boss made me take a vacation in the spring (mostly because I had two years of pto from not using it during the lockdown years, but also because he was legitimately concerned with my stress levels, but anyway) and that year I decided to take two weeks to see all three Meow Wolf locations in one big trip. (Convergence Station is the coolest one btw, with Omega-Mart a close second.)

I70 through Kansas is a zen experience if you make the drive at night. Endless fields of stars and farmland, accompanied by whatever podcast you queued up for the drive.

Visited family in Denver, spent a day at Convergence Station, and the drive to Santa Fe was like driving through a postcard!

The House of Eternal Return was neat (IMO it relies a little too much on backstory you can only really get from sitting down and reading a lot of the SCP-style documents lying around the house, but unless you rented the entire place for the day you're competing with dozens of other people who are also trying to read the same thing.), I stayed at this cool, fully restored Route 66 vintage motel called the El Rey Court (A++, would stay again), and then I was off to Las Vegas.

There's a trick i40 plays on you. You'll be driving through some incredibly beautiful but still harsh desert wasteland (I passed more than one husk of an abandoned building on that stretch of highway) and then all of a sudden you're in a lush green forest. It was seriously as close to passing from one Minecraft biome to another as you can get in real life. (I also stopped at Meteor Crater National Landmark. It was cool.)

Just outside of Vegas I got two incredibly singular experiences. The first was seeing a tumbleweed in real life for the first time. I swear, I was alone in my car and I said out loud "Holy shit they're real!!!" The second was driving through an actual sand storm. In hindsight I should have pulled over and let it pass, but no one else on the road was doing it, so I just crawled through it at 30mph.

I spent a few nights in Las Vegas. Visited Omega-Mart (super cool, I recommend it), watched Blue Man Group (also very cool, also highly recommend), got to see a Penn & Teller show live (a fucking dream of mine since I was a little kid!!!), and had the best meal of my life.

Honestly, before that trip if you told me there was a difference between a $20 steak from Longhorn and a $100 steak from an actual steak restaurant I'd have called bullshit. I was in Las Vegas, I figured "This is likely the last time I'll take a trip like this, fuck it, why not splurge."

Oh my sweet raptor christ! The $100 steak was worth every cent!

What followed was a day of driving through beautiful parts of Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, including the most nerve-wracking stretch of highway through the mountains (literally through them in one spot. The Eisenhower tunnel is a little more than a mile and a half of tunnel bored straight through the spine of the Americas). A brief stop to sleep, and then 14 hours straight on home.

It was a fantastic trip. Two weeks away from home, from work, from any responsibility, the first time off since 2019. Two weeks of moving to my own schedule and crossing things off of the bucket list.

[worm-death]

Colorado Trip Part 3

STILL Day 4 - Denver Botanical Garden

Day 5 - Denver Zoo & Red Rocks

This fish did not allow me to take a picture of anything else in it's tank, it kept blocking me until I took a picture of it, I love them 💗

That's the last of it lmao. Sorry, I had quite the time there and was very busy, clearly. Got to reunite with some family, met my cousin's kid for the first time, saw my first wild bear, gorged myself on fettuccine alfredo too many times, nerded out over birds (i bought a book just so i could do some birding while i was there lol). Good times... thanks if you got this far ^^

[crownconstellation]

very sexy and delightful news in a two- hit punch:

i got a haircut and it has so far been a massive smash hit with my coworkers

finally called the airline & got a refund without any problems! yippee!

[andfinallywecansee]

Atlanta Georgia Sky 1:28 PM 7/7/24

New York City Sky 7:07 PM 7/8/24

Denver, Colorado Sky 4:04 PM 7/11/24

Tracy, California Sky 6:38 PM 5/4/24

[miradelletarot]

I got a Meow Wolf!! It's so cute!

[beheldandcompelled]

Thrived at Meow Wolf

[crow-talks-hockey]

fuck. k/cherov is leading again... sigh. at least when nate inevitably gets that lead back tomorrow IM GONNA BE THERE TO SEE IT 🤭

[wehavehadtoday]

[latenightsushi]

The Denver Botanic Garden was also quite lovely 💚

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[joeydaccord]

choosing between yotes gear and avs gear for yotes avs games is so hard every time

[rabbitcruiser]

Denver City was incorporated on November 7, 1861.

[inkandguns]

[iamonlyhereforthefreefood]

What are the best things to do in Denver?