Denver Itinerary
The Facts:
Start Location: Denver
Distance: 25 miles
Suggested Duration: 3 days
Map of Route
Welcome to Colorado’s capital and the Mile High City. Located at 5,280 feet above sea level, this city is full of high-altitude energy and activities for you to enjoy. Stay at one of the city’s signature downtown hotels, such as the luxurious Brown Palace Hotel, the unique Curtis Hotel or the classic Oxford Hotel. Each is surrounded by great shopping, enticing restaurants and inspiring galleries and cultural attractions. There is a lot to see and do here, so start exploring.
Day One:
No other city in America has as many miles of bike trails as Denver. Start your trip by renting a bike from a local retailer such as REI and cruise along the Platte River to Confluence Park. Stop at Ink! for a great cup of coffee, then ride along the Cherry Creek Bike Path to the Cherry Creek Shopping District. Spend the afternoon strolling about the outdoor Farmer's Market (May-October) or shopping in Cherry Creek North, a collection of over 320 specialty shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and spas. That evening, take in a show at the Denver Center for Performing Arts where you can enjoy a Broadway performance, a classical ballet or opera.
Day Two:
Start your day on the greens at City Park Public Golf Course, then spend the afternoon exploring Denver’s wild side at the Denver Zoo—home to more than 4,000 animals from across the globe. In the evening, head downtown to LoDo (Lower Downtown) and dine at one of the city’s top restaurants and experience Denver’s nightlife. For great live jazz, visit El Chapultepec, where Frank Sinatra performed and Jack Kerouac frequented.
Day Three:
Soak in some Colorado sunshine while eating breakfast on the patio at one of Larimer Square’s notable restaurants. Then hop in your car and head west on State Highway 58 into Golden where you can explore the new Mountaineering Museum and see collections of western art. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the city’s superb riverwalk, which follows the banks of the Clear Creek. Then quench your thirst with a tour of the Coors Brewery which includes a free beer tasting. Follow the Lariat Loop Scenic & Historic Byway to Morrison and dine on big game cuisine at The Fort Restaurant, a replica of Bent’s Old Fort. Then end your day at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to experience some of the country’s finest musical acts. While you're there, check out the Performer’s Hall of Fame inside the Visitor’s Center. And don’t forget your boots—there are some great hiking trails in the area.
Insiders Tip:
The last month in February is Denver’s Restaurant Week. Nearly 200 area restaurants participate in this great celebration of the city’s culinary scene by offering a nightly prix fixe menu for two for just $52.80.
Travel Information
Colorado Welcome Center, Red Rocks (Morrison)
18300 W. Alameda Parkway
From Highway 93 take a right on Red Rocks Park Road, then a right of Trading Post Road and finally a left onto W. Alameda Parkway
303-295-4444