You’re probably reading this and wondering why I put Denver in quotations. Well, it’s because we didn’t actually stay in Denver and we didn’t really do much in the city. However, it is a great central point for what we did end up doing and I highly recommend staying around that area. We stayed in Westminster, CO at a Quality Inn to save a little money and to not be too far from the airport. We also rented a car, which is definitely important if you plan on following this guide because the places we went were a bit of a drive. Anyway, let’s get to it!
1. Garden of the Gods
This was our day one activity. We arrived to Denver early in the morning and had plenty of time to start our adventures and kill time before check-in. We decided to go here because we were not yet acclimated to the altitude change to do any serious hiking, but we still wanted to get outside and explore a little. This park was the perfect place to do just that, plus it was FREE. Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado Springs, which is a little less than an hour and a half from the airport. It is a fantastic family place. The trails are all relatively easy, many paths are paved, and the views are so unique! However, because of that, the place can get a little crowded. No worries though, you can avoid most of the people by taking the “harder” and unpaved paths. Also, make sure to pick up a map so you know where you’re going and you can find the trails easier.
2. Red Rocks Amphitheater
We were not lucky enough to get to go to a concert here, but you can still go check it out for free. This venue is honestly so cool and I want to go back to Colorado just so I can go to a concert here! It’s neat going when there isn’t a show though because you can go on the stage and explore the place a little more with less of a crowd. The trek up to the venue is not the easiest, so be mindful of that, but the views are worth it!
3. Coors Brewery Tour
This brewery is located in Golden, CO, which is about 25 minutes from Denver. The tour is self guided and go at your own pace, but they give you audio that you carry around and play at certain parts of the factory. Once you reach the end, permitting that you’re 21 or over, they give you 3 nice sized samples of your choice as long as they’re on tap. The best part of this tour? It’s completely FREE, beers included! You don’t want to miss out on that!!
4. Catch a Broncos Game
This is for all the football fans out there! My husband is a huge Broncos fan, so visiting Denver in the fall was the perfect opportunity to see them. I’ll admit I don’t always love to watch football, but this game was so fun!! Of course with our luck they lost terribly, however the memories we made and getting to watch them in person made up for it. A little tip for those who may not know, the stadium is outdoors and Colorado can get quite chilly at night, so be prepared and dress warm.
5. Rocky Mountain National Park
This was on the top of my Colorado to do list and completely surpassed all of my expectations. This National Park is BEAUTIFUL!! I’m still amazed by it even when I look back at pictures. It’s truly surreal. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Denver and cost $20 per car. There are many trails and a long scenic route throughout the park that you can drive providing plenty of opportunity to explore or hike. We chose to hike to Emerald Lake, which is located at Bear Lake trailhead. This trail has gorgeous views and you pass two other lakes, Nymph and Dream. We also drove the scenic route after hiking, up until Rainbow Curve Lookout because that’s where it closed due to windy conditions. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this park. It was so incredible that I wish we had more than one day to explore it. I will definitely be heading back to tackle some of the other trails. Also, I’d like to mention that going in the fall gives you a higher chance of seeing elk. Lastly, if you’re not from a mountainous area I advise you to acclimate at least 24 hours before exploring. Altitude sickness is no joke and doesn’t discriminate.
6. Lookout Mountain
Lookout mountain is located by Golden, CO, making it a nice place to explore that’s not too far from Denver. To get there, you take the scenic Lariat Loop to the top. Once at the top, you’ll be greeted with lovely views of the Rockies. The overlook has a few trails heading down, but it’s mostly a spot to get out of your vehicle and take pictures. This is also Buffalo Bill’s Museum and Grave, who was an actor and Civil War hero. After visiting the top, you can head down the Lariat Loop where you’ll see a pull off with a trailhead to multiple trails. These are not heavily trafficked, so enjoy the peace and quiet!
