Anyone in Denver, CO

kaitley44

I have to go to Denver for a week for some training and have never been there. Anyone from around there know of any really cool touristy things to do?? 

schoolsoutbride

What part of town are you staying in?  Will you have a car?  Any time to go to the mountains?  The Aspen are turning and it's BEAUTIFUL in the mountains right now.

ETA: you should ask on the CO board of the nest.  very active board.

kaitley44

I have no idea where I am staying yet, but I will have a rental car. I will only have the evenings to do things, so I am pretty sure the mountains are out.

We are still deciding if I am going on my own or if my DH will be going too. I am very nervous about going. I have never left my babies for more than 8 hours. I really don't want to go, but I really don't have a choice. I am looking for things to do to keep me busy and make the time go by faster.

 

schoolsoutbride

I don't know where your meetings are, but if you can, stay downtown. 16th St Mall is a pedestrian area and you can walk up and down and there's a free shuttle that runs up and down the mall. Lots of stuff going on. If you stay elsewhere, let me know and I'll make better suggestions.

You could see a Rockie's game at Coors Field.  A show at the DCPA (they have big traveling Broadway shows but also lots of indie plays.)  We have a great zoo.  If you like beer, CO is known for its microbrews.  Lots of bars downtown will have a zillion things on tap.  The Pavillions at one end of 16th st have a movie theater if you just want to veg.

Coors brewery tour.  Even if you can't spend a day, you could make it to someplace like Evergreen in the evening to get a little mountain air. There's a winery on main street called Creekside Cellars that has the BEST brownie I have ever had EVER and you could have wine on the river.

The REI flagship store is a blast and I could spend hours wandering around there.  Hit the clearance room

Park Meadows Mall and IKEA are south of town in the burbs.  I didn't see where you're from, so I don't know if this is a draw. They're just malls.  We have outlets at Colorado Mills (30 M west of downtown)/

You could ride an alpine slide at Heritage Square.

My favorite restaurant downtown, especially if work is paying, is Zengos.  Vesta Dipping Grill is also good, as is Root Down, Strings, D Bar (Desserts only), and Mizunas.  There are some fun restaurants at 32nd and Lowell in a neighborhood called "The Highlands" (not to be confused with Highlands ranch)

The Molly Brown House is cool, but maybe not open at night.  The Art Museum here is pretty fun and recently redeisgned.  The mint has free tours, but again maybe not at night.  Civic Center Park Downtown often has events going on that are free.  

This is fun if it's still open this late in the year:

https://www.veniceonthecreek.com/web/

Downtown Denver is really fun.  We did a "Staycation" when I was PG and had a blast (search staycation in my blog for a few more ideas and what we did.)

kaitley44

Thank you so much!! I will check and see where the training is. 

Waiting4Fred

Everything that schoolsout said.  Her restaurant suggestions are exactly what I would have said, with Zengo's being my number one.  We also did a staycation there a year ago (we live in Colorado Springs), and we had a blast.