Soul Travel Chronicles Vol. 2 - Denver, Colorado USA
If you're looking for a new travel destination, look no further than Denver, Colorado. With so many fantastic attractions and activities to do in this bustling city, it's easy to see why so many people flock here every year. In this guide we'll cover some of our favorite places to visit while you're visiting the Mile High City. So let's get started!
Denver is full of many beautiful places to visit and experience. There are many restaurants, coffee shops, and parks throughout the city. You can even find great hiking trails at Red Rocks Park or take a trip up Mount Evans if you're feeling adventurous!
Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo is located in City Park, which is the oldest park in Denver. It's home to over 1,000 animals and over 2,000 plant species. The zoo was started by Charles Bemis who had an interest in bringing live camels to the city but eventually ended up with a menagerie that included lions, tigers and bears! The zoo has been open almost continuously since it opened its doors in 1896 with only one year being closed during World War II when there wasn't enough food for all of the animals (how did they get so many animals?)
There are plenty of places for kids (and adults) to climb on rocks or slide down hillsides while still keeping an eye on their little siblings who prefer walking around quietly looking at all kinds of animals rather than running through them like maniacs! When you're done checking out all of these wonderful creatures head over towards downtown where you'll find lots more things to see like museums galore!
Downtown Aquarium
The downtown aquarium is a great place to visit if you want to see the city from another perspective. The aquarium is located on 16th Street Mall and has over a million gallons of water, 100 exhibits, and 4D theater. It attracts over 500,000 visitors each year.
The Denver Aquarium is one of only three aquariums in the world that are certified by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA).
Denver Botanical Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens is a garden and botanical garden located in the city of Denver, Colorado. It was founded in 1895 by the Denver Horticultural Society, an organization formed for the purpose of building a public display garden for educational and scientific purposes. The gardens are situated on sixty acres at 10th Avenue Parkway and York Street in City Park west of downtown Denver.
What's great about this place? You can take pictures there! There are all sorts of different plants and flowers that change with each season. And if you're not into flowers or photography, you can still enjoy the beautiful scenery around you or try out some new activities like bocce ball or yoga!
Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is located in the heart of downtown. With its location and collection, it is one of the top museums in Denver.
The DAM has a large collection that includes more than 40,000 works from around the world. This includes paintings by Rembrandt and van Gogh as well as sculptures by Rodin, Houdon and Michelangelo.
The museum also hosts many traveling exhibits throughout the year such as "Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d'Orsay" which runs through October 27th 2019; "Art of Africa: Making Magic" which runs through January 2020; or "Pablo Picasso: Face to Face" which runs through February 2020!
Colorado State Capitol Building
The Colorado State Capitol Building is a great place for anyone interested in history. The building itself, which was completed in 1894, is a magnificent example of the Art Deco architectural style. It has undergone many changes over the years but still manages to retain its original character and charm. The interior features many beautiful murals depicting scenes from Colorado's past. You can also find statues depicting important figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S Grant.
All these things make this one of America's most important historical landmarks, but there is more to it than just that!
Coors Field
You arrive at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team. It's located in the LoDo neighborhood of Denver and is at the corner of 20th and Blake Street. There are two entrances: one on 20th street and another on Market Street (a pedestrian mall).
The stadium was built with a capacity to hold 38,000 fans, but has since been expanded several times to hold over 50 thousand people. It's famous for its retractable roof which opens when there is not enough snow to go skiing or skating (don't forget your winter gear!)
When you enter through any door, you'll see an entire wall filled with memorabilia from past seasons as well as photos from current players. You can even walk up close to some of your favorite players' lockers! The stadium also hosts special events such as concerts during summer months - artists like Taylor Swift have graced this stage before her rise to fame!
16th Street Mall
It's a 3-mile stretch of road with street performers, shops and restaurants. It is also home to some very interesting characters. You can see people doing all kinds of things from dancing in the middle of the mall to singing on top of their cars to playing checkers with their dog.
I began my walk along the mall by taking pictures at every store window I could find because there were so many interesting things to take pictures of. After I had taken enough pictures for my Instagram story, I stopped at to grab some food from Modern Eatery. So delicious!! I continued walking down 16th Street Mall until it ended at Larimer Square where another section started that led into LoDo (Lower Downtown).
Boulder, Colorado - 30 Minute Drive From Denver
The next day, I decided to take a 30 minute drive out of Denver and visit Boulder. The drive wasn't too hard and the scenery was definitely worth it! Once you get into town, you'll see plenty of cute shops, restaurants and cafes. I ended up eating at a quaint little place called Adrift Tiki Bar & Grill that had delicious food! If you're looking for something more casual though, I highly recommend The Kitchen Next Door (which has locations all over the city).
After lunch I went on a hike through Chautauqua Park; it was such an incredible experience! If you love nature then this is definitely worth checking out while visiting here :)
Hotel Stay: Hyatt Denver Centric
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver will be your starting point when you visit the Mile High City. Immerse yourself in downtown Denver’s skyline from its rooftop terrace, then set out to explore their diverse neighborhoods. This hotel was very centrally located. If you're looking to explore the city without a car, you have the bus and train right at your disposal.
I absolutely loved my stay here. This fun boutique hotel is part of the Hyatt family. It only opened eight months ago and still has that new feeling to it! The room had a modern artsy feel to it with its wooden floors and modern features. My room came with two spaces where I was really able to work, a long desk where I could also store things and a chaise chair.
The chaise chair was a lovely shade of orange and I spent a ton of hours sitting there. There was even a cute little mobile desk for me to set my laptop on while working.
The staff were very lovely and accommodating. I requested early check in and my room was ready when I arrived at 9:30am!
I checked out the Apple Blossom restaurant and it is definitely worth the price. Out of all the things I ate there, my favorite I ate while there, the Bloomsdale Spinach Rotolo and the Fries with Beet Ketchup were my absolute favorite.
Tried a few different drinks and they were just as tasty. Shout out to the cute bartender that let me borrow a bottle opener and finally be able to drink the Mexican coke that I had been trying to open for three days! My struggle was to absolutely work at it.
Overall, Denver was quite the adventure. The city felt alive but yet, not overly crowded. If you decide to visit (and you should!) embrace the local spirit at nearby Venue West, where you can find the Downtown Aquarium, Mile High Stadium, and Ball Arena. Discover the hottest restaurants, explore Union Station in Lower Downtown, enjoy the expression of RiNo & Santa Fe Art Districts’ galleries and murals.
Submerge yourself in Denver’s Historic Larimer Square, 25 museums, the Denver Zoo & much more. Or stroll through the Central Business District, featuring the nearby Colorado Convention Center and Denver Performing Arts Complex.
I'm already planning a trip back and I'll make sure to update you on my finds the next time that I do.
Until next time my luxury adventure babes,
Lauren