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Things to do Denver Colorado Pt 2 – near Park Hill

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Denver Colorado is an exciting city to visit, one mile high near the Rocky Mountains. From its beginning in 1858 as a gold-mining town, it has grown around the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and historic Colfax Avenue to encompass several communities and many things to do. More about Denver: Stapleton & Aurora,  Cherry Creek & Washington Park, Capitol Hill & Lincoln Park, Downtown.Denver Colorado has Cheesman Park and City Park east of downtown with great museums. Botanic gardens, science museum, and old school steakhouse.

Cheesman Park and City Park are east of downtown Denver. These parks are home to two wonderful sites to visit.

Denver Botanic Gardens is located in historic Cheesman Park, south of 13th Avenue. Gardens and horticultural collections are displayed on 24 acres of land with water features, architectural objects, and fantastic artwork. Plan to spend 2 or more hours when you visit. The parking deck is on York on the east side, across from the gardens. There is some street parking in the neighborhood. You enter through an elegant gift shop to buy your tickets.

This such a great place to walk and wander: tropical conservatory, herb garden, Bible garden, art work, Victorian garden, Monet garden, and more. I especially enjoyed the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory and the Monet Pool. There are so many pockets and quiet places to reflect. And there are permanent sculptures and artwork along with regular exhibits. Admission is $12.50 for adults. Check the website for seasonal hours. https://www.botanicgardens.org/york-street/our-gardens You can take virtual tours of the Gardens at this link: http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_ListTours

Denver Museum of Nature and Science is located in City Park, off of Colorado Boulevard south of 26th Avenue. The museum is home to an IMAX theater and a planetarium. The museum has 3 floors of dinosaurs, Egypt, gems and minerals, space, and special exhibits. The museum is open 9 to 5 daily except Christmas Day and Adult admission is $16.95. There are extra charges for the IMAX and the planetarium shows. My favorite exhibits are the Gems and Minerals and North American Indian Cultures. Denver Museum of Nature and Science has something for everybody: dinosaurs, space, Egyptian mummies, Native Americans, wildlife, and rocks! http://www.dmns.org/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/

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A great place to eat is the classic steakhouse, Bastien’s Restaurant. We’ve eaten at steak places with more famous names in Denver, but our niece showed us that classic and local can definitely be better. The Bastien family has been running a restaurant in this Colfax Avenue location since 1937. I love the atmosphere, from the old-school font neon sign outside to the circus tent shape to the classic mid 20th century menu offerings and cocktails. It really has kind of a Rat Pack vibe.

Appetizers include classic escargot (with lots of garlic, butter and cheese) and warm brie. Bastien’s most famous steak is the sugar steak, a New York strip cooked at high heat in a blend of sugar and savory spices. It’s tender with great taste and the rub caramelizes into a kind of thin steak sauce. Seafood, salads, and a large dessert offering round out the menu. http://bastiensrestaurant.com/

Denver Colorado Map

Next time we go I’d like to visit the Pavilion at Cheesman Park and the Denver Zoo in City Park.

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Denver Part 5 – Downtown, LoDo, and Highland Park

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Denver Colorado is an exciting city to visit, one mile high near the Rocky Mountains. From its beginning in 1858 as a gold-mining town, it has grown around the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and historic Colfax Avenue to encompass several communities and many things to do. More about Denver: Stapleton & Aurora, Park Hill, Cherry Creek & Washington Park, Capitol Hill & Lincoln Park. Denver Colorado has a great downtown. Visit the historic Brown Palace Hotel and Larimer Square. Highland Park is nearby.

Downtown Denver is exciting with so much to see, eat, and shop. LoDo has historic Larimer Square and Union Station. Highland Park is a vibrant area for restaurants. So many things to do in the mile high city!

The Brown Palace Hotel was built in 1892 and is an early example of an atrium lobby (9 stories tall!). I love the red granite and sandstone exterior and the triangle shape. Many famous people have stayed at the Brown Palace, including President Teddy Roosevelt.

 

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Even if you don’t stay there, you must go by and visit the Brown Palace. We enjoy eating in the Ship Tavern, the casual restaurant with great hamburgers.

Afternoon tea is served daily in the lobby from 12 to 4 pm. I loved seeing the families with young children all dressed up for tea. The Brown Palace also has Ellyngtons for breakfast and brunch, Palace Arms for fine dining, and Churchill Bar for cocktails, cigars, and lunch and dinner. https://www.brownpalace.com/

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Larimer Square is one of my favorite areas to wander. I’ve always liked the Cry Baby Ranch shop and there are lots of shops, markets, and restaurants along Larimer Street. The first house in Denver was built by General Larimer in the 1850s on a street near Cherry Creek. This area became Denver’s first historic district in 1971 and is a great historic example of reclaiming an old downtown. https://www.larimersquare.com/

Tom’s Urban is one of my favorite spots for brunch/breakfast. This location is in the 1882 Granite Building. I like the mid-century décor and they make homemade poptarts! Pimm’s Cup, chilaquiles, and pop tart make one of my most memorable breakfasts! They are open from 6 am until late night daily. I’m campaigning for Tom’s to open a location in my hometown! http://tomsurban.com/denver/denver-toms-urban-7

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Auraria Campus is a 150-acre downtown college campus. It is home to Auraria Higher Education Center, University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver. The Tivoli Student Union is worth a visit. It is a renovated German brewery, dating back to 1866. The Tivoli Brewery Taphouse, coffee, campus bookstore, and other food vendors are all available. There is a parking garage at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway. https://www.ahec.edu/

Union Station in LoDo is an Amtrak station and also home to much more, including bus and light rail. The Crawford Hotel is part of the station along with many shops and restaurants. The Romanesque building is on the National Historic Register. https://unionstationindenver.com/

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duo Restaurant is in the Highland Park area northwest of downtown. It serves a famous brunch on Saturday and Sunday and is open for dinner daily. They partner with local farms, brewers, and more to make very seasonal Rocky Mountain dishes. There are excellent offerings for vegetarians. https://duorestaurants.com/

cocktails and first course

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main dish and dessert

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Places to stay in downtown Denver

Two hotels I can recommend in downtown are the Grand Hyatt Denver and the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. Live music, good bars and breakfast, and convenient locations.

Denver Colorado Map

Next time we go I’d like to go to afternoon tea at the Brown Palace.

Resource Links for downtown Denver

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Denver Part 4 Brown House Museum, Buckhorn Exchange

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Denver Colorado is an exciting city to visit, one mile high near the Rocky Mountains. From its beginning in 1858 as a gold-mining town, it has grown around the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and historic Colfax Avenue to encompass several communities and many things to do. More about Denver: Stapleton & Aurora, Park Hill, Cherry Creek & Washington Park.Denver Colorado has historic things to do in Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park near downtown. Visit the Brown House Museum and the Buckhorn Exchange.

The Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park areas of Denver are near downtown and have some interesting historic sites. The oldest Denver restaurant, The Buckhorn Exchange, and the home of a famous citizen, Margaret Brown, are fun to visit.

The Brown House Museum was the home of Margaret Brown, a colorful and influential Denver citizen. She also known in popular literature as Molly Brown.

Margaret went to Leadville, Colorado from Hannibal, MO as a teenager. She met and married J.J. Brown. J.J. was a gifted engineer and found gold at the Little Jonny Mine. The very wealthy Browns bought a mansion and moved to Denver in 1894.

Margaret was an active woman and did much for her new city, including fundraising for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (you can see it from the front porch), helping start the juvenile court system, and founding animal shelter and rescue. She achieved worldwide fame with her heroism as a passenger on the Titanic.

I have toured this home several times. I’m fascinated by the Titanic stories and I love the music from the Debbie Reynold’s movie, The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964). Kathy Bates does a great job playing Margaret in Titanic (1997).  In addition, I discovered that Margaret’s long time housekeeper was Ella Grable! I have a picture of a note Margaret wrote to Ella, planning a long-ago picnic at the original Elitch Gardens in Highland.denver-brown-13

The house tour is very interesting. The house was outfitted with all the best, including a telephone and golden Anaglypta wallpaper. The entrance hall is like a Moroccan dream and I’m sure people were blown away while waiting to be taken to see Mrs. Brown. https://mollybrown.org/

While you are downtown, you may want to visit the state Capitol building, open to the public Monday through Friday. The Denver Art Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Check the website for Monday and holiday hours.

The Buckhorn Exchange is the oldest restaurant in Denver, dating to 1893. The name comes from its location near the railroad yards. The railroad workers used to exchange their paychecks for gold and a free beer with the original owner!

The restaurant is east of downtown right across from a light rail stop on Osage. When you enter you are taken back in time. The walls are covered with hunting trophies and signed photos from the many famous visitors. You almost feel like you are being seated in an old Victorian living room. The food is hearty and old-fashioned, with meat being the feature.

Buckhorn is famous for their beans and steaks. The menu also includes fun cocktails and sandwiches. I really enjoyed my meal at the Buckhorn Exchange and will plan to go back again. There are handy parking lots next to the building and across the street. http://buckhornexchange.com/

Tony P’s Bar and Pizzeria is a bright, fun Italian restaurant. They have many delicious Italian dishes and pizzas. Their desserts are amazing! https://tonypspizza.com/

Denver Colorado Map

Next time we go I’d like to spend time at the art museum.

Resource Links

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Denver Part 3 – Cherry Creek and Washington Park

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Denver Colorado is an exciting city to visit, one mile high near the Rocky Mountains. From its beginning in 1858 as a gold-mining town, it has grown around the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and historic Colfax Avenue to encompass several communities and many things to do. More about Denver: Stapleton & Aurora,  Park Hill, Capitol Hill & Lincoln Park. Denver Colorado has Washington Park and Cherry Creek shopping area south of downtown. Classic old-school restaurants and interesting architecture.

South of downtown Denver are the Cherry Creek, Glendale, and Washington Park neighborhoods. The early 20th century neighborhoods are nice to see and some of Denver’s best historic restaurants are here.

Washington Park Boathouse. Washington Park is one of Denver’s largest parks and is over 100 years old. With lakes, pond, playgrounds, and recreation center, it’s a beautiful and popular place to visit. The Washington Park Boathouse was designed by J.B. Benedict and built in 1913. Benedict was a prominent architect in Colorado and designed many homes and buildings on the National Historic Register in Denver. Today, the bottom floor which was the boat shed has restrooms, a dressing room, and a kitchen that can be used by caterers. I love that the playground next to boathouse is prominently featured in some of the Hallmark Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies (did you see when Oliver was meeting his father?). And I have a soft spot for the boathouse because it was where my daughter Agnes and Pippin got married!  http://www.washpark.com/guide-washington-park-neighborhood/

Syrup is modern breakfast spot in a newer section of Cherry Creek shopping district. It’s got a clean, modern décor, friendly service and wide-ranging breakfast foods. They have 8 kinds of syrup! There is a parking deck less than a block away. Syrup has 3 locations in Denver. I love breakfast, so I really enjoy how many creative breakfast places there are in Denver! I got to meet a high school classmate for a fun breakfast at Syrup! http://www.syruprestaurant.com/menu/breakfast-and-brunch/

Cherry Cricket has been serving burgers and beer in Cherry Creek since 1945. It is open 11 am to 2 am 7 days a week. Appetizers, wings, salads, chili and more are all on the menu. You order their famous burgers by choosing your burger type (beef, turkey, chicken, bison, etc.) and then choosing from a huge list of toppings. They make a candied bacon and jalapeño jelly that’s pretty cool, but there are old favorite and creative toppings. Be prepared to stand in line! There’s a parking deck across the street. http://www.cherrycricket.com/

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Bonnie Brae Tavern is a centerpiece of the Depression-era Bonnie Brae neighborhood, not far from the University of Denver. They’ve been serving diner-style food since 1934 with a bar and turquoise booth seats. Denver is famous for their green chile, usually made with pork, tomatoes, and roasted green chiles. The green chile at Bonnie Brae Tavern is my favorite! The menu has lots of comfort food, including excellent pizza and Italian favorites. The tavern is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Because of the weather, I couldn’t get a good picture of the shopping district on University Boulevard but there are nice shops, food, beauty salon, and even a hydrate & oxygen bar. Bonnie Brae Ice Cream makes their own flavors! https://bonniebraetavern.com/denver-bonnie-brae-1

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Blue Bonnet Restaurant is a Mexican café and sports bar that’s been around since the 1930s. Try it for margaritas, Mexican beers, tamales, posole, chile rellenos, tacos al carbon, and more. http://www.bluebonnetrestaurant.com/

Hilton Garden Inn Denver Cherry Creek is a nice hotel in Glendale by the banks of Cherry Creek. The hotel is located in a shopping area called CitySet which has a large underground parking deck that is free. This hotel is conveniently located for south central Denver and has the convenience of all the meal options and shops in CitySet right outside the front door. We especially enjoyed Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar. The hotel has breakfast and a bar. http://www.hgicherrycreek.com/

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View from Hilton Garden Inn Cherry Creek

Denver Colorado Map

Next time we go I’d like to visit the gardens in Washington Park and try more breakfast restaurants in Denver.

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Things to do Denver Colorado – Stapleton & Aurora

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Denver Colorado is a beautiful city, one mile high near the Rocky Mountains. From its beginning in 1858 as a gold-mining town, it has grown around the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and historic Colfax Avenue to encompass several communities and many things to do. More about Denver: Park Hill, Cherry Creek & Washington Park, Capitol Hill & Lincoln Park.

Denver Colorado has grown around the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and historic Colfax Avenue including Aurora and Stapleton. Food, shopping, hotel.

If you are starting your trip to the Denver area at the airport, it is quite a sight. There’s artwork all around, the terminal building itself seems like an airy series of tents, and the Westin Denver International hotel is attached like a big set of wings.

Stapleton and Aurora are on the east side of the city. Aurora is home to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Colfax Avenue goes through Aurora and you can see lots of old motor courts, neon signs, and even a vintage McDonald’s. Try exploring in the area of the Martin Luther King Jr. library for family-owned restaurants and funky shops.

Stapleton was the original location of Denver’s airport. It’s got a new train station that connects it to downtown Union Station and Denver airport. A landmark in Stapleton is the old control tower, standing watch over all the new development around it. This will soon be an exciting destination as Punch Bowl Social experiential restaurant. http://www.punchbowlsocial.com/home

Stapleton area has lots of conveniences and amenities. I found myself daydreaming about living there and being able to walk to restaurants and shops. The Shops at Northfield is a big mall with lots of food and movie theaters. Another big mall near the Central Park Station has Walmart, Sam’s Club, and more food. I enjoyed the quiet area East 29th Avenue Town Center.

Four Friends Kitchen is a fantastic place for breakfast-brunch-lunch. We went 3 times on our last trip! Open from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm, the menu is inspired by Southern breakfasts. Cocktails include grapefruit vodka, jalapeño, ginger beer; sweet tea vodka, lemon; and blackberry mojito. The menu includes biscuits, beignets, brisket hash, pork belly, fried green tomatoes, and imaginative grits bowls. You can sit inside with old school airport décor or outside on the roof. http://www.fourfriendskitchen.com/

Stanley Marketplace is a fun renovation of an old aviation factory. This two story indoor mall has shops, food, and services. Be sure to visit Dani Everson’s beautiful hair salon, Clementine’s Salon & Skincare. Try Denver Biscuit Company for amazing giant biscuits with delicious fillings. http://stanleymarketplace.com/marketplace/

Drury Inn and Suites Denver Stapleton is a convenient hotel for this area. It’s very convenient to get on Route 70 to go downtown or use Central Park Boulevard to get to Colfax Avenue. The hotel has a friendly staff, an indoor pool and fitness room, and some nice food offerings for breakfast and early evening (included in room price). https://www.druryhotels.com/locations/denver-co/drury-inn-and-suites-denver-stapleton?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

denver-drury-suites

View from Drury Suites

Denver Colorado Map

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