Things to do in Denver, CO

Where to Stay

Denver hotels range from historic to contemporary, boutique to grand, moderate to luxury. Downtown hotels, such as The Oxford in LoDo and The Ramble in RiNo, offer walking access to trending restaurants and attractions. Architectural intrigue comes into play at Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center housed in the historic Colorado Bank Building; The Crawford Hotel, a boutique gem tucked into meticulously renovated Union Station; and The ART Hotel in the museum district. Hotels in Cherry Creek, including the design-centric Jacquard, give guests stellar shopping with their chic urban stay. Plenty of value-oriented hotels abound as well.

Hot Tips: Check online websites and call the front desk of hotels you like as deals often differ depending on the source.

Caution: If you stay at a hotel near Denver International Airport, you'll need a car to get around.

What to Eat

Denver is experiencing unprecedented growth and nowhere is that more evident than in its thriving restaurant scene. Chefs move to Denver for the quality of life, bringing their creative dining concepts with them. Señor Bear and Super Mega Bien provide a fresh take on Latin cuisine, while Ultreia and Bistro Vendome satisfy guests in search of superb Spanish-Portuguese and French dishes, respectively. Uptown, D Bar Denver is a sweet spot for coffee and dessert, and in Denver's rapidly evolving RiNo neighborhood choices now abound including Los Chingones for Mexican and Denver Central Market with its something-for-eveyone appeal.

Be Sure to Sample: Denver has a robust happy hour featuring craft cocktails and chef-driven bites so save money and discover which has your faves by trying several.

Hot Tips: Larimer Square offers discounted valet parking for some of its restaurants including Bistro Vendome, Rioja and Ocean Prime.

Places to Party

Denver's nightlife has something for all ages and all tastes. The pulsing dance floors of the South of Colfax Nightlife District draw a young crowd, as do many clubs in LoDo. But not all who stay up late are in their twenties! The city also offers more sophisticated late-evening options including intimate wine bars and restaurants where a fine menu is complemented by jazz or contemporary singers and musicians. On the other hand, if boot-scootin' boogie is your style, the Grizzly Rose has dance lessons and dance floors, to say nothing of a mechanical bull, just off I-25.

Hot Tips: Parking downtown is a challenge but a few garages offer rates as low as $5 for the evening for cars entering after 4 p.m.

Take It or Leave It: El Chapultepec, near Coors Field, is one of Denver's oldest jazz clubs and still going strong. It's funky but worth checking out.

Caution: Late at night in LoDo the young crowd spills onto the streets, some having over imbibed. If this isn't your scene, choose a different part of town.

Where to Shop

Denver's varied neighborhoods feature diverse shopping of all kinds. Downtown's Larimer Square is one city block packed with interesting shops and with restaurants for a respite between purchases. First Friday Art Walks through the Santa Fe arts district could yield surprising finds, and the tree-lined streets of Cherry Creek North invite strolling and window shopping among the eclectic boutiques and art galleries, some featuring locally made goods. Denver's stellar independent bookstore, The Tattered Cover, has several locations including LoDo, and museums such as Denver Art Museum and Denver Museum of Nature & Science offer intriguing shops for all ages.

Best Local Souvenir: One-of-a-kind artwork from galleries in the Santa Fe arts district or LoDo.

Hot Tips: You don't need to purchase museum entry to go into the museum shops.

Take It or Leave It: Check out the online events listing for Cherry Creek North, which lists dates for trunk shows and other fun events.