Things To Do
Restaurants
There are so many incredible restaurants in Denver but here are a few of our go-tos: - Blue Pan Pizza (Highlands Square location is our favorite and the Brooklyn Bridge Detroit style pizza is our go-to!) - Mister Oso - Spuntino - Temaki Den - El Five - Linger - Safta - Alma Fonda Fina - Avanti (food hall) - Green Collective (breakfast/coffee/juices) - Stowaway Kitchen (breakfast/pastries) - Leven Deli (best brownie in the biz and the curry potato salad is a must)
Breweries
Denver Beer Co is where we went on our first date and will forever have a special place in our hearts. There are many locations throughout Denver but the Platte street location is where it all began for us. Our favorite beers are the Princess Yum Yum or the Graham Cracker Porter. Cerebral is one of our all time favorite Colorado breweries! If you decide to stay near the venue in the Cherry Creek North area, Cerebral is only about a 5 minute drive away. Highly recommend the Rare Trait, if IPAs are your kind of thing, or any of their fruited sours. Other honorable mentions include: - TRVE (highly recommend trying Music City Hot Chicken in the back of the brewery too for our favorite fried chicken) - Odell (Sloan's Lake location) - Ratio - Bierstadt Lagerhaus - New Terrain (in Golden, CO but worth the trek) Cheers!
Denver Botanic Gardens
Erik lived one block away from Cheesman Park and became a member at the Denver Botanic Gardens due to the close proximity and entrance available through the park. We've had many dates here, have attended concerts and holiday events and genuinely love the space. With that all in mind, the Gardens have always been a very special place for us and we are so excited to share the beauty of the Gardens with you. The Gardens will be available to all our guests free of charge to visit the entire day of our wedding if you want to visit in the morning or early afternoon before the wedding begins.
Washington Park
We went on our second date here and it's one of Denver's most beloved parks! Come here for a nice stroll, a picnic or to play some park games. Also recommend checking out South Gaylord street and dining at Homegrown Tap and Dough or Perdida, which are all within walking distance from the park. Devil's Food or Wash Perk are also great nearby places to grab a coffee or pastry.
South Pearl Street Farmers’ Market
We are big farmers market people and we think this one is one of the best! So if you're sticking around through Sunday we highly recommend stopping by. There are plenty of food trucks and vendors to get a light bite and there are also many restaurants along Pearl street that are lovely too. As an alternative and depending on where you're staying, the Highlands Square Farmers Market is also a favorite of ours. Either are sure to make your Sunday!
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
We truly believe there is no better venue to see a concert than Red Rocks! Even if there isn't a show going on it's a beautiful place to visit during the day for a quick hike or just to check out the view. All its beauty is just 30 minutes away from central Denver via car.
Rocky Mountain National Park
We are so lucky to have one of Colorado's many national parks a little over an hour and a half away from the metro Denver area. Rocky Mountain National Park is a stunning place to take a day trip and explore the many hikes they have to offer. Recommend stopping in Estes Park and checking out the downtown and the Stanley Hotel, which was the inspiration for The Overlook Hotel in Steven King's, The Shining.
Boulder
Located at the foot of the Rockies only 40 minutes from Denver, Boulder is one of the most picturesque towns in America. Boulder is known for its vibrant downtown and proximity to the iconic Flatiron rock formations. If you make the drive to Boulder, check out the beloved Pearl Street or venture to Chautauqua Park to see the Flatirons up close and get a short hike in. Similar to Denver, Boulder is also known for their brewery scene. Avery Brewing is one of our favorites!
Hiking
September is one of the best months for hiking in Colorado. Below are a few of the favorite trails we have done! Due to character limits, we cannot include all hikes so please text Erik for more recommendations! Chavez & Beaver Brook - 5 mi - Moderate - 40 minutes away www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/beaver-brook-chavez-trail-loop Royal Arch - 3.3 mi - Hard - 45 minutes away www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/royal-arch-trail Mountain Lion Trail - 6.8 mi - Moderate - 1 hr away www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/rocky-mountain-high-trail Isabelle Glacier - 8.6 mi - Hard - 1 hr 30 mins away www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/isabelle-glacier-trail-full-loop Emerald Lake (Rocky Mountain NP) - 3.2 mi - Moderate - 1hr 50 mins away www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/emerald-lake-trail *Sky Pond (Rocky Mountain NP) - 8.6 mi - Hard - 1 hr 50 mins away www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/sky-pond-via-glacier-gorge-trail *Erik's favorite hike near Denver