What do you think of when you think of Colorado? Denver to be more specific. In all of my travels around the world, I have heard a lot of what people think Denver might be like. More often than not, it isn’t really even close. It seems that for many years Denver was thought of as a mountain town with hermits living in it, or behind the rest of civilization somehow. However, in 2012 Colorado voted to legalize marijuana and all of a sudden that is what it became known for and people started thinking of it as maybe slightly more progressive, as well as a more desirable place to live.

Denver has been experiencing a boom in citizens that have moved in from other states for years since the legalization of marijuana. While people had been moving in before then, it was around that time that we really experienced a surge in growth. It also goes along with Boulder being another tech-capital of the United States. There are several tech companies in Denver and Boulder and those companies also bring people in for jobs. The growth has been making it more difficult for locals to adjust to the cost of living.

Colorado has had a lot of beetle kill of the trees, as well as forest fires and the loss of the trees has really affected the air quality in combination with the traffic increase. What used to be clean views of the mountains has become hazy most days. There used to be very great views of the mountains from all around Denver. There still are great views all around Denver but most days those views are covered in the haze.

The surge in citizens of the Denver area has not been all bad. It has brought a good mix of food, activities, and beer. Colorado has always had Coors. I am not going to stir the pot on beer debates but I think we can all agree Coors is a specific taste for some individuals. Colorado now has beers like Odd 13, New Belgium, and really so many more to choose from. There are breweries all over the state. Many of them do free tours but make sure to schedule in advance because places like New Belgium do book up quickly.

Denver is the capital of Colorado. It was founded November 17th, 1858 as Denver City. Denver almost wasn’t the capital of Colorado. The city of Golden was almost the capital of Colorado. Denver has a long history and is very much thought of as the “Old West.” Colorado has experienced quite the gold rush in the 1800s and is really what brought people to Denver. There are lots of buildings still standing in Denver that are from that time period too. There are parts of the underground tunnels where politicians from back then would have prostitutes brought to them without anyone seeing, as well as using those for other indiscretions. There are history tours you can take throughout Denver to learn more about parts of the city that date back hundreds of years. In the lower part of Denver you can tour the Molly Brown House. You probably know of Molly Brown from movies like Titanic and the Unsinkable Molly Brown. The real Molly Brown lived in Denver and her home is mostly as it was when she lived there, including items that belonged to her and her family, and you can tour this house for a low cost. There is Cheesman Park downtown which is said to be very haunted and has a very troubled past as it used to be a cemetary. Now Cheesman Park hosts a lot of LGBTQ+ events as well as being a touristy park. Denver also has Union Station which has a long history since 1881, which burned in a fire and was rebuilt in 1914. There is so much more to do in Denver.

As for food in Denver, you can find a wide variety of foods. You can usually find vegan, to high-end steakhouses, to seafood and everything in between. Chipotle Restaurants were started in Denver in the early 90s. Qdoba started in the mid-90s, Snooze A.M. Eatery is gaining traction around the United States but originated in Denver. Noosa Yoghurt, Hammond’s Candies, Celestial Seasonings (Boulder which will be another blog post), as well as Jolly Rancher all started in Colorado, just to name a few. Some of those places also do tours. Check out the Dairy Block for a unique culinary experience in Denver. It was once Windsor Dairy but is now home to 18 restaurants, 15 shops, and boutique hotel rooms. Denver Milk Market is where you can find the restaurants including FEM which makes some of the best crepes I have ever had. You will not go hungry in Denver.

If you are a sports buff, Denver is home to the Denver Broncos (American football), Denver Nuggets (basketball), Colorado Rockies (baseball), Colorado Avalance (hockey), Colorado Rapids (soccer/football), Denver Outlaws and Colorado Mammoth (lacrosse), and many more. Even if you aren’t a sports fan, checking out a game here and there is a fun way to spend an evening or afternoon because Denver fans put out a lot of energy for their teams and it can be infectious, as well as enjoying fresh air at any of the outdoor stadiums is a fun pastime.

Red Rocks Amphitheater is outside of Denver a short distance, and is a venue that is sitting in the mountain and rocks and hosts concerts in the summer, as well as movies. Because of the climb to get to your seats and the hiking around it, many people go there when events aren’t happening to run the steps of the seating. It also has church services on Easter mornings - weather permitting. It is unlike any other concert venue in the world and is a favorite amongst musicians. It has held concerts for decades.

Colorado loves their dogs. Be prepared to see dogs everywhere. Denver does have BSL so if you’re traveling with a dog that is banned under BSL, please stay outside of the city in a neighbor city that allows those breeds. Although many of us believe in overturning that legislation, it is better to be safe than sorry. Always check the policy with the place you’re staying for pets. Check leash laws where you will be visiting but leashes are encouraged and even law in most places.

Hiking is a big thing to do in Colorado. The trails are usually outside of the city a little bit. There will be another blog all about hiking in Colorado but please know that cleaning up after your animals that you hike with is very important. Some places have had to close due to excessive waste and there are fines charged if you are caught not cleaning up. Please make sure to dispose of the bags you use to clean up the mess as well. Picking up the poo and leaving the bag on the trail is the same as littering.

THINGS TO DO: History tours, Molly Brown House, Denver Art Museum, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Zoo, Children’s Museum, Denver Aquarium, Denver Mint (where coins are made and opened since 1863), Red Rocks Amphitheater, Elitch Gardens, Lakeside Amusement Park (historical but not downtown), Water World (summer months only), Union Station (train station and light rail station but has restaurants, bookstores, and shops), Coors Brewing Company tours (Golden, Colorado), New Belgium Brew Tours (Fort Collins - about an hour and a half north of Denver), Sloan’s Lake Park, many restaurants in Denver have a history of being something else, so it’s good to check out places and their backstories when picking a place to dine, Hiking is a great way to check out the mountains but you will have to drive a bit out of the city, and still so much more to do.

WEATHER: Colorado does experience all four seasons and the joke is sometimes those all four happen in one day. It is wise to pack for warm and cold weather as the weather can be pretty unpredictable. The legend says Colorado has 300 days of sunshine every year. The reality tends to be around 250 in Denver. While end of May to beginning of October tend to be the most predictable times to travel, the winters overall are pretty mild in the city. Spring is beautiful but does tend to see a lot of blizzards and heavy snowfall occasionally. Usually when it snows in Colorado, the sun melts it away within a day. We have seen snow in summer months and experience 60 degree days in winter months.

PACKING LIST: Walking shoes, Type A/B outlet adapter if needed, USD but credit cards are widely accepted, All weather types of clothing, Camera and accessories, Sunscreen, Hiking specific shoes if you plan on hiking

DO: Drink lots of water as the altitude in Denver (AKA The Mile High City) is 5,280 feet which is one mile above sea level and the air is thinner, which also means altitude sickness can knock you out. So, stay hydrated, Learn traffic laws before driving here - especially that the left lane is for passing only and slower traffic must keep right, Plan ahead for the journey to the airport as it is not very close to downtown, Tip your hosts, waitstaff, drivers, bartenders, and so on, Smile and be friendly, Watch where you’re walking and driving for bicycles as well as scooters, Book things in advance, Clean up after your pets if they come along especially in the cities and even on hiking trails, Wear plenty of sunscreen, Clean up trash if you see it

DON’T: Hog the left lane, Litter, Be pushy, Get angry or road rage, call it “the I-25” - it’s just I-25, Try to take marijuana with you when you leave

TRANSPORTATION: Light Rail, Buses, Taxis, Lyft, Uber, Rental Cars, Rickshaws, Scooters, Bicycles

Special shoutouts: Thank you to The Skyline Group for Rockies tickets and photo-ops! If you are moving to Colorado, or even moving within Colorado, check out the Skyline Group for your real estate needs.

Coors Field is home of the Colorado Rockies Pictured here on Game Night

Downtown Denver with the Rocky Mountains Behind it from Denver Museum of Nature and Science with City Park in front

The Brown Palace has hosted many famous guests including the Beatles and is one of Denver’s older hotels. The cash register building seen behind the Brown Palace is a famous Denver landmark that sets the skyline apart

Empower Field at Mile High Formerly Sports Authority Field at Mile Hight Formerly Invesco Field at Mile High

St. Mary’s Glacier is a hike about 40 minutes from Denver in Idaho Springs

Ice Castles in Dillon, Colorado - about an hour and 15 minutes outside of Denver

Golden, Colorado about 20 minutes outside of Denver and home of Coors Brewery

Nuggets Game inside of Pepsi Center (home of Nuggets, Avalanche, Mammoth, concerts, and shows

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