Emily & Benjamin
Things To Do
River North Neighborhood (aka RiNo)
When Emily and Ben first met, this is the part of town Emily lived in. With lots of breweries and restaurants there’s plenty to keep you occupied down here if you’re looking for some fun downtown! Blue Moon has a big taproom with good bar food and many beer options. Our Mutual Friend and Ratio Beerworks are two smaller Denver breweries that we both like a lot. Check out Denver Central Market which has excellent pizza, salads, acai bowls, pastries, and pizza!
Tennyson Street
This family-friendly part of town has a bunch of neat shops, eateries, bookstores, and the shop where Ben bought Emily’s engagement ring! Denver Biscuit Company will make sure you aren’t hungry til dinner if you head there for breakfast.
Washington Park and City Park
Two large urban parks. If you’re looking to stretch your legs while in the City both of these parks are great spots for a stroll! Ben used to live right down the street from Wash Park!
In Golden
If you’re staying in Golden there’s plenty to do! Some of our recommendations in Golden include: hiking North Table Mountain, going on a tour of the Coors factory, New Terrain Brewing Company, Golden Mill food hall, and getting a drink at the Miners Saloon if you want to feel like a cowboy/cowgirl.
Summit County
If you’ve never been to the mountains, Summit County is a great place to start! If you take I70 west in about an hour you’ll be in Summit County. Home to Breckenridge and many other ski resorts you’ll be surrounded by beauty in every direction. You can rent kayaks/canoes to go out on the Dillon Reservoir, go horseback riding, or go shopping at one of the many fun shops in downtown Breck.
Rocky Mountain National Park
This national park is renowned for it’s stunning views, wildlife, and accessibility. If you’re a national park lover or if you have never been to a national park this is a must see. We’d recommend trying to get there earlier in the day before the crowds and before the wildlife seek shelter from the hot midday sun. They are requiring guests to have a reservation to get into the park, which you can learn more about here:
Hike Chief Mountain
This is one of Emily and Ben’s favorite hikes. Emily calls it “the best bang for your buck hike in Colorado!”. The trailhead for this hike may be a little tricky to find, but if you download the AllTrails app it will take you right there. At the top, after about 900’ of elevation gain over a hike of ~1.5 miles you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of the Rockies unlike anything you have seen. At the summit, you’ll be at about 12,000’ so pack some water, sunscreen, and take your time getting to the top.
Grand Lake
About a 2 hour drive from Denver. This alpine lake is located on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park and makes you feel like you’re in the Alps. The town of Grand Lake has food, mini-golf, art galleries, and the most picturesque waterfront we’ve seen in Colorado. We've been on some great trips here over long weekends with friends!
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Colorado has sand dunes? Yes we do! A 4 hour drive south of Denver will lead you to this one of a kind park. Emily and Ben went on a camping trip early in their relationship and had a blast! The sand gets warm so closed toes shoes are advised. Be sure to stop in the “town” before the park to rent a sandboard to ride down sand dunes!
Telluride
Perhaps Emily’s favorite part of Colorado. This beautiful town is about a 6 hour drive from Denver, but so so worth it! If you like hikes you are in luck. Pick any hike here and you will not be disappointed. With waterfalls, alpine lakes, dramatic cliffs, and thinner crowds this is a special place. Downtown offers everything you could possibly want plus a gorgeous view of the mountains that surround you during your stay. If you want to camp here text us and we will send you our super secret A+ camping spot.
Honorable Mentions
Coffee Shops: Crema Coffee House, Blue Sparrow Coffee, Thump Coffee, Huckleberry Roasters Breweries: Four Noses Brewery, Cabin Creek Brewing, Outer Range, Ratio Beerworks, Our Mutual Friend, Zuni St Brewing, Little Machine Restaurants: Safta, Jovaninas Broken Italian, Avanti, Hop Alley, City O' City