As you walk through downtown Denver, you might not realize when you cross into neighborhoods such as the Golden Triangle. You can easily go from business at the Colorado Convention Center to vacation exploring the displays at the museums.
You can see a lot of Denver - and learn a lot about this classic Western city - without ever leaving downtown. When Denver was founded at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek it grew east from there, always seeking higher ground from flooding. Railroad tracks led to the building of warehouses for the goods that were being brought to the city as supplies for miners and settlers. As the city evolved with more money and civic engagement, the Colorado State Capitol Building was built and the Denver City and County Building developed around the turn of the 20th century. In between these significant buildings is Denver Civic Center Park and this is where downtown transitions to these other neighborhoods. Downtown is connected by the pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall, which has a free shuttle bus that can take riders along the mile-long stretch.
From the airport, you can drive or ride the bus or light rail train to Union Station and from there walk to a hotel. You can take a free mall shuttle bus east up the 16th Street Mall to go from LoDo to downtown and closer to Capitol Hill and Golden Triangle. Note: there may be construction on the 16th Street Mall that changes the bus availability.
In the heart of Capitol Hill, about 1.5 miles from downtown Denver, is the 24-acre Denver Botanic Gardens. Although ideal to visit in the spring and summer, these gardens have appeal in the winter too. A large indoor conservancy has a tropical garden and there are art galleries and a café. In summer there are outdoor concerts and other events.
The Denver Art Museum anchors the Golden Triangle neighborhood with its two buildings and many levels of art collections. In addition to the changing exhibits, there are vast collections worth seeing here such as the Western American art, indigenous arts, of North America, textile arts, modern and contemporary art, and more. There are two restaurants on the premises and a large gift shop.
In the shadow of the modern Denver Art Museum is the historic Byers-Evans House which is also home to the Center for Colorado Women’s History. You will earn about the families that originally lived in this home and their contributions to Denver’s history.
On weekdays, you can take a free tour of the state’s gold-domed and granite Capitol building, and you might cross paths with local lawmakers if the legislature is in session. Every inch of this building has a story behind it, including the steps as you walk in that mark the point where the city reaches 5,280 feet above sea level.
There are free self-guided tours of the public art downtown, but the most popular sculpture is the 40-foot-tall Blue Bear looking in the windows of the Colorado Convention Center. You can walk up to the bear’s feet or go inside the center and almost be at eye level.
Coins seem quaint in the days of plastic credit cards and online payment options, but for those interested in the history of money make a tour reservation at the Denver Mint. There are only United States Mints in the country, and this is the only one with guided public tours. The 1906 building is an example of Italian Renaissance design and the many additions to this original mean that the Mint now occupies an entire city block.
Inside the Brown Palace Hotel is Ship Tavern, the historic hotel’s casual dining option in a corner room that sort of resembles a ship. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with hearty sandwiches, seafood and steak platters. Given the proximity to the state capitol building, it’s not uncommon to see local politicians or business leaders huddled over a power lunch together here, or stop in at the holidays for a festive drink and some seasonal cheer.
City O’ City is just up the hill from the Denver Art Museum by a couple of blocks and offers a full vegetarian menu with vegan options too. The vibe here is Bohemian and the service is friendly. There are open all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even late-night eats until midnight with a full bar of beer, wine, and cocktails. The menu seems to have everything – burritos, pizzas, pasta, noodle bowls, salads, and sandwiches.
For a sophisticated dining experience, try Panzano, a restaurant that focuses its menu on Northern Italian cuisine. Splurge on the chef’s 4-course tasting menu or just order off the menu for freshly-made pasta, pizzas, and antipasti. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they also have gluten-free choices.
If you are looking for a souvenir for your visit to Denver, stop in at the I Heart Denver in the Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall. This store supports local artists and makers by selling their goods on consignment. There are t-shirts that read, “Colo-radical,” kitchen aprons, cookbooks, soap, salsa, cutting boards, coffee mugs, and maps.
I Heart Denver is my first stop when shopping for a gift for someone who has visited us here as a reminder of our time together.
There’s outdoor gear and then there’s gentleman’s outdoor gear. M.W. Reynolds, just off the 16th Street Mall, has rugged apparel for men whose time in the outdoors involves fly fishing, shooting, or riding a motorcycle. This is where you go for a weathered leather jacket or a pair of waders. Primarily a men’s store, there are options for women too.
Just a block from the Denver Art Museum, the Sacred Thistle is a home goods store with a Southwestern aesthetic. Tall potted cactus plants are for sale alongside Native American prints on saddle blankets with matching pillows. Gifts include leather pouches called “blessings” and unusually-shaped ceramic vases. The scent of pinon-incense wafts through the small shop as you browse the book collection and select candles in the shape of gods and goddesses.
The Art Hotel, across the plaza from the Denver Art Museum in the Golden Triangle, was designed by the same architects of the Denver Art Museum and the art on display was selected by a former curator of the museum. There is art in the lobby, the hallways, and the guestrooms and suites.
Ask about Brown Palace’s green initiatives, including their rooftop honeybees. In 2010 their rooftop became home to bee colonies in an effort to support sustainability and protect the bees.
The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa is part of Denver’s history. Opened in 1892, the triangular building was designed to cater to high-end guests who expect luxury. There are three restaurants, a cigar bar, and live piano music being played under the stained-glass atrium. Come during the holidays for a champagne tower, or in January for National Western Stock Show festivities.
If you’ve come to Denver for an event at the Colorado Convention Center or the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center is an ideal location. A stay here includes access to Peaks Lounge on the 27th floor, with views to the west of the mountains (schedule your day to be here for sunset). There are 1,100 rooms and 59 suites in the contemporary hotel, the restaurant Former Saint Craft Kitchen and Taps is open all day, and there is a pool.
Located in the former Colorado National Bank on 17th Street, the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel has a stunning lobby of marble columns and muraled walls. The murals were done by artist Allen Tupper True, a Colorado-born artist who specialized in depictions of Western life. The pet-friendly hotel has an in-house restaurant, Range, and there is live music here on weekends.
Le Meridien is a luxury boutique property on 15th Street, a block from the convention center and near a light rail line. This stylish hotel has a rooftop bar with comfortable seating and fire pits, perfect for catching the sunset at happy hour. The hotel’s lobby is an inviting series of spaces that encourage lounging, meeting up with friends, and having a drink at the Lobbyist bar.
Downtown Denver is family-friendly and good for business travelers as well as vacationers. There are certain times of the year, such as during baseball season, that might be more appealing to families.
