Travel :: How to have a fun urban weekend in Denver!
i recently flew to Denver to photograph a couple of shows and decided to go early to check out the city as i'd never been there before except on a layover at the airport. Denver definitely has charm! this trip was an urban adventure. i can't wait to go back to check out all of the trails and hiking next time. as for this, it was an urban weekend and here are my recommendations.
FRIDAY
WHERE TO STAY?
i booked a room at the Art Hotel. i researched online and read that it was a newer hotel and it looked really cool. i'm always looking for something a bit more unique with great design elements and this place did not disappoint. it's centrally located and the art was fun and created a modern museum experience everywhere you looked. highly recommend this place.
upon check-in grab one of the art collection brochures for exploring the works later.
the rooms are great. check out mine.
(if your browser doesn't show the embedded video above click here)
GRAB A DRINK!
after you've set down your bags and freshened up from your flight, head upstairs to the Fire Lounge, order a cocktail and some food, take in the view and map out your plan for the night.
this is the jackson pollack, made with rosemary infused Hendricks, lemon, simple syrup, muddled strawberry, + balsamic reduction
WALK OVER TO A MUSIC VENUE IN A CHURCH!
check out a show at the Church Nightclub. you can see the venue from the upper floors of the hotel. it was an actual church that's been renovated and changed into a live music venue with an almost gothic vibe. and the best part is you're only a block away from your room when you're ready to get back and chill.
hard to believe from the outside that it's a club, right? it is. click here for their show listings.
SATURDAY
BREAKFAST, SHOPPING, LUNCH
+ THE RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE
grab some breakfast upstairs at the Fire Terrace.
then head over to the 16th Street Mall. it's a pedestrian and transit mall where you can grab a coffee and walk to the different shops. the weather was warmer than i thought it was going to be so i wanted to look for something different to wear to the show at Red Rocks later that night, but it turned out to be a fun way to spend the afternoon before the show.
get lunch at Henry's Tavern for tasty pub food, microbrews and games.
then spend an evening at the phenomenal Red Rocks Amphitheatre! this is THE BEST live music venue i've EVER been to! it's an incredibly special place with acoustics that are immense and the energy and views are truly breathtaking. if you're a music fan, it's an absolute MUST-SEE PRIORITY for you someday.
they also do Yoga on the Rocks classes. i didn't know about it in time for this trip and they sell out fast, so book well in advance for what i can only imagine is an incredible energizing and spiritual experience.
for photos of The Budos Band performance see my next blog post!
SUNDAY
BRUNCH, SHOP, + ART DAY IN DENVER!
wake up and go to breakfast down the street at City O' City.
walk off that food next door and check out Queen City General Store. i'm such a sucker for general stores. i swear i wanted to buy every single thing in there.
if you're looking for a backdrop for a photo shoot, meet your client for some breakfast then work this wall. i was beat after the shoot the night before or i might have grabbed a random couple and asked them to be my models.
i also stopped in Buffalo Exchange on the same block and found a cute embroidered dress.
while walking in the neighborhood, i came across the Jack Kerouac apartments at the end of Poet's Row. i like how the quotes are inlaid into the brick of the building.
"whither goest thou, America, in thy, shiny car in the night."
"blow as hard as you want to blow." - Jack Kerouac
"my fault, my failure, is not in the passions i have, but my lack of control of them." - Jack Kerouac
after brunch and a bit of shopping, it's a great time to head over to the Denver Art Museum and get your culture on. this is a beautiful museum with stunning exhibits. SEE MY INSTAGRAM for more photos.
all in all, Denver was a pleasant urban surprise. and as mentioned above, i can't wait to go back and do the yoga class at Red Rocks then explore the vast amount of hiking and outdoor adventures for my next trip!
go see Denver!