COME TO LIFE / 24 Hours in Denver THE HIGHLIGHTS: 24 HOURS IN DENVER 1 MORNING First, check out the beautifully restored Union Station (1) , a destination in and of itself and a vibrant gathering place bursting with history, shops and places to grab a bite. Next, the city’s 850 miles of paved and off-road trails are a testament to how easy it is to get around on two wheels. Rent one from Denver B-cycle, with 88 stations to choose from. Grab a cup of coffee in Larimer Square (2) , in the heart of LoDo (short for “Lower Downtown”), and make your way to the History Colorado Center . from History Colorado Center, it’s also home to the Denver Public Library , Denver Art Museum and the new location of the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art . Next stop: Cherry Creek , the region’s largest shop-ping district, including Cherry Creek North’s (4) wide array of only-in-Denver shops, and Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s upscale stores. COLORADO Denver’s airport-to-downtown rail line makes it easy to explore the city without a car: Fly into DIA, hop the train to Union Station, then explore downtown by foot, the free 16th Street MallRide, pedicabs and the pioneering B-cycle bike-share program. are plenty of breweries and craft beer tours to prove it. Sample some at Great Divide , Woods Boss , Renegade , Oasis , Bruz or Denver Beer Co. and dozens of others. The Denver Beer Trail is a good place to start if it’s too hard to choose. Denver also has a growing craft distillery scene; stop in for a taste at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (5) , Leopold Bros. , Laws Whiskey House , Rising Sun , The Family Jones and Mile High Spirits . And the evening is the perfect time to explore Denver’s many neigh-borhoods. One favorite is LoHi , home to of the city’s most innovative restaurants and bars, and incredible views of downtown Denver. Visit denver.org for more neigh-borhoods. CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM RIGHT: STRANAHAN’S COLORADO WHISKEY; LITTLE MAN ICE CREAM; CHERRY CREEK NORTH; COORS FIELD, VISIT DENVER; LARIMER SQUARE, VISIT DENVER/EVAN SEMÓN; UNION SQUARE, VISIT DENVER/SCOTT DRESSEL-MARTIN. 2 EVENING Cheer on the home teams: In the spring and summer it’s the Colorado Rockies (3) and the Colorado Rapids ; September to January, the Denver Broncos ; and from October to June, the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche . Perhaps the only thing that brings out more Denver passion than sports is beer — and there AFTERNOON While in the area, check out one of Denver’s Certified Colorado Creative Districts, the Golden Triangle (see p. 46 for the others). Just steps 3 STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Aurora (page 191), Arvada , Brighton (page 192), Castle Rock (page 193), Centennial (page 193), Commerce City , Denver (page 195), Englewood (page 196), Evergreen (page 197), Glendale , Golden (page 198), Greenwood Village (page 199), Highlands Ranch (page 200), Lakewood (page 200), Littleton (page 200), Morrison (page 202), Parker (page 203), Roxborough , Sedalia (page 203), Wheat Ridge 4 5 QUICK TIP 92 / A new crop of stylish, boutique hotels provide hyper-local flavor that goes beyond your standard accom-modations. Check out the offerings at The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block, Kimpton Hotel Born, The Source Hotel, MOXY Denver Cherry Creek, The Jacquard and The Ramble Hotel. 1-800-COLORADO
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 92
