Where to Eat, Stay, and Play

At 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City offers culture, history, galleries, great restaurants, and brewpubs. A weekend in Denver is the perfect way to sample what the city has to offer. Denver is known as the Napa Valley of craft beer, where eating and drinking rank up there with biking and hiking.

With a backdrop of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, Denver worked its magic on me more than three decades ago, and I’ve called it home ever since. It’s fun for me to brag about the Mile-High City and its eateries, brewpubs, neighborhoods, and nearly every-day sunshine. I want visitors to love my city as much as I do.

So, order an IPA and get ready to grin.

Nuts and Bolts for Your Weekend in Denver

The thin air in the Mile High City can make visitors feel light-headed. Remember to hydrate. The altitude can also increase the effects of alcohol. One Wynkoop Railyard Ale can equal two at sea level. Denver dining attire is casual, and jeans are acceptable at all but the finest restaurants. Neighborhoods like RiNo, Cherry Creek, and Lowry are easy 10-15 minute drives or Uber from downtown.

Visit Denver is the best resource for more information.

Map of My Recommended Weekend in Denver Spots

To make your time in Denver easier, here’s a map you can use to get around with my favorite spots listed. You’ll see that not everything is downtown. Instead, I like to encourage visitors to branch out and go beyond the normal stops in downtown Denver. After all, that’s how the locals do it!

Day One In Denver – Downtown is Where it’s At

Morning – Location, location, location

Start your weekend in Denver at Union Station, at 17^th and Wynkoop Streets. Exploring a train station may not sound rousing, but Denver’s “living room” is an exception. The open-air, historic centerpiece of Denver offers the best in people-watching, dining, drinking, and lodging. Union Station underwent a major transformation and renovation in 2012 and opened to super reviews in 2014.

Check into Union Station’s Crawford Hotel with rooms that are small but well-appointed. Then explore the station, with shops to browse including a small version of Denver’s famous Tattered Cover Book Store, where they occasionally offer happy hour and encourage shoppers to bring a cocktail into the store and get a discount on books. During the holidays, a 40-foot tree with some 7,000 lights fills the atrium of Union Station.

Begin your day at either