I recently went out to Denver to visit my best friend that just moved out there. Massachusetts just recently added Colorado to the list of safe travel states, so I figured Labor Day Weekend was my window of opportunity to get one last trip in this summer. I visited from Friday to Monday, so we had plenty of time to check a lot of things off our list.
Since Becca is new to the city it was really fun to explore together. We did a lot of research prior to my arrival to make sure we looked into everything we were interested in doing. I would highly recommend this approach prior to any vacation so you aren’t scrambling once you’re at your destination. There were also a lot of places that required reservations (even the national park) ahead of time due to COVID-19. Here is a review of our perfect weekend!
Friday evening when I arrived Becca picked me up from the airport and we went right to dinner after dropping off our bags. We went to an Italian restaurant called Il Posto for dinner in RiNo. The restaurant had a great atmosphere inside and out! I got mushroom risotto and it was phenomenal. After enjoying dinner and a bottle of wine we decided to stay out and explore for a little bit. First we stopped into the Denver Central Market just so I could see it. The market has a ton of different vendors set up so you can get any type of food, snack, or drink you could ever imagine. Unfortunately, a lot of areas were closed due to COVID-19, but we did stop for a drink where they have a huge outdoor seating area. RiNo is the River North Art District and is a really hip part of the city and was so alive on a Friday night. There were a lot of murals, street art, and galleries everywhere in RiNo which is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
We met up with some friends and very happenstance ended up at an event held by a group celebrating the Latin community in Denver. There was someone painting an abstract piece live throughout the party. Here is the final product from what started out as a white canvas. We met the owner of the gallery and boutique the event was being held at, Mangata, and she brought us to the show room where she had beautiful art and photography on display. The party ended with a huge dance performance from the group holding the event that was so beautiful and fun. I definitely wasn't expecting to have this type of experience two hours into my trip but it reminded me why being open minded and trying new things is so important.
Saturday was an early day as our main event was visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. We woke up and got a quick breakfast then headed for Boulder which is about 35 minutes outside of Denver, but on the way to the park. For those wondering, yes, we blasted Closer by the chain smokers while driving into Boulder. Once we got there, we browsed the Boulder Farmers Market which was really cool. After exploring Pearl Street for a bit, we stumbled upon a gorgeous restaurant called Steakhouse 316. The owner had us pick a table and we sipped mimosas and bellinis before hitting the road. After paying our bill, the owner sent us over a round of mimosas on the house which was really sweet. This is a spot I would absolutely put high on my list next time I visit. Everyone was so nice and engaging— I will definitely be back to get brunch or dinner there!
After spending the morning in Boulder, we got back on the road and headed for Rocky Mountain National Park. We arrived at the park at the Beaver Meadows entrance in Estes Park and drove Trail Ridge Road all the way up to the Alpine. If you haven’t been to this National Park, add it to your list— it’s absolutely breathtaking. Being able to experience this place for the first time with one of my lifelong friends was such an amazing experience. We used an app called GyPSy Guide as we were driving through the park. This was a recommendation from a friend who recently did this trip and I’m happy I knew about it! The app is only $5.99 and will track where you are in the park and tell you where you are, what’s around you, the history of the park and area, tell you about the wildlife and nature throughout the different terrains of the park, and let you know the best spots to pull over for views. It really was like having our own tour guide in the car with us. Once we got to the top of the Tundra, we parked the car to face a beautiful view at the top and opened the trunk so we could sit in the back for a picnic with a view. I highly recommend doing this, it’s something I’ll never forget.
On Sunday we went for a walk along the South Platte River that runs through downtown Denver. We spent a few hours by the pool, then decided we were going to brave the heat and head downtown. We went to Corinne for drinks, then stopped at Stout Street Social for beer and snacks. Corinne is part of the Le Meridien Hotel in downtown, so we grabbed a drink while trying to get a spot at the hotel’s rooftop bar 54thirty. 54thirty is the highest rooftop bar in Denver so we were hoping to experience the views. We weren’t able to make it up there as it was first come first serve and there was a three hour wait—something I’ll definitely put high on my list for the next time I’m in Denver! Stout Street Social had amazing food and their menu had a wide range of options. After exploring downtown, we headed to LoHi and went to Postino for dinner and met some friends from back home in New Hampshire. Postino is an adorable wine bar with great indoor/outdoor seating. They had a ton of beer and wine options and their food was phenomenal—definitely a place I would go back to!
My flight was in the afternoon on Monday so we woke up early that morning and headed right to Voodoo Doughnuts. This place is delicious and is a must if you’re visiting Denver. We got a few different kinds so we could taste them all. Between the two of us we got raspberry filled glazed donut, chocolate frosted, and their Oh Captain, My Captain, which is a yeast donut with vanilla frosting and Captain Crunch—all of them were delicious! After relaxing and having breakfast, we walked around Larimer Square which is Denver's most historic block. The square has cute shops and a ton of restaurants to choose from! This is definitely another spot I would go back to at night for dinner on my next visit.
I had the most amazing trip to close out summer. What made it even better was that I was able to explore a new city and check off another National Park off my list with my best friend. I would highly recommend making the trip out to Denver whenever you have the opportunity. There is so much to do no matter what type of trip you’re looking for. We were on the go the entire time I was there and there are still so many places I’m looking forward to trying next time I go! If there’s any must sees and dos that you would recommend in Denver, please share in the comments below.