DENVER
Denver has grown so much, it has evolved so much as a bustling city, complete with popular football, basketball, baseball, and hockey franchises. With a healthy lifestyle, jobs, booming restaurant scene and a thriving arts community, it’s no wonder so many people are flocking to move here and that it continues to make best places to love lists, as Denver’s allure comes from a mix of everything the city has to offer: a brisk morning run through tree-lined Washington Park, a tour of the internationally renowned Clyfford Still Museum, craft beers on one of the city’s many patios, 420 friendly stops, and a concert under the stars at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Even though Denver is famous for its chill vibe, its residents take the Great Outdoors very seriously—even the most laid-back visitors will find that a side effect of Denver travel is an overwhelming urge to get active, as the city offers scenic trails and parks perfect for hiking and mountain biking. The hot Highlands neighborhoods to the west continue to house some of the city’s best boutiques and restaurants, Cherry Creek—one of the city’s top shopping districts—is regaining its trendy status, and to the north of the city, the industrial and still rough-around-the-edges RiNo neighborhood is a mecca of dining and public art. At the heart of the city lies LoDo, home to a revitalized Union Station and the new train connecting downtown to the airport. Walk the streets of Denver on a Friday afternoon and there’s an energy that’s hard to pin down. The restaurants are bustling, the galleries are full, and the people are friendly. Visit Denver Tourism
Stay: Four Seasons, Brown Palace Hotel, Halycon Hotel, Hotal Monaco (Kimpton), Hotel Teatro, Crawford hotel, The Oxford, The Art, Ritz-Carlton
Eat: Acorn, Avelina, Bardough, Cho77, Denver Central Market, Departure, Hop Alley, Linger, Old Major, Rioja, Sushi Ronin, Tacos Tequila Whiskey, The Populist, Vert Kitchen, Work & Class
Weekend trips from Denver: Boulder, Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Durango, Telluride, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park...and so much more! Check out our post Escape from Denver for more weekend trip details, stays, and guides
BOULDER
Go Buffs! Home to the main Colorado University Campus, Boulder embraces it’s hippie past and healthy lifestyle and is only about 40 minutes from Denver, closer to the mountains. In fact it tends to be a daily routine to hike the Flatirons there, as it is to walk the shops on Pearl Street (where they usually have open markets on the weekend). The historic Hotel Boulderado is here as well, and its stained glass ceiling is stunning – grab a drink at its bar for sure.