Travel Guide: A Day In Denver

What to do on a Layover in Denver

On our recent trip to the North West, my man and I flew from the East Coast riding Frontier Airlines. This was the cheapest airline option available. What made it even less expensive? Opting for a long layover in Denver, where the airline is based.  One more city on our adventure to Portland and Seattle and an extra $200 in our pockets? Yes, please. Denver welcomed us with delightful food and coffee, interesting conversation, and quality shopping.

After our plane landed around 9 a.m., we dropped our bags at the Westin (what an excellent service!), hopped on the train, and then walked and Lyfted (yes I made that a verb) our way to a few sweet spots I think you’ll like if you have the opportunity to spend a day or more in the Queen City.

Take the Train to Union Station

How about that? A city with a train directly from the airport to downtown. (Ahem, Richmond!). For $9 each, we hitched a 30-minute scenic ride on the train, which ends at Union Station in downtown Denver. The historic landmark houses a hotel, restaurants and more. Snooze is a cheery breakfast spot to start your day with a creative breakfast on the patio.

See Some Local Art 

We stumbled upon an art festival along 16th Street. There were easily a hundred jewelry makers, painters, and even some wild cars. Denver seems to have a very healthy art community based on conversations with makers and witnessing the caliber of work. Here is a full list of Denver festivals to incorporate into your itinerary.

Throughout the city are brightly painted pianos. Each are painted by a different artist and have their own character. If you know how to play or remember a few bars from middle school music class, take a stab and play in public. It is incredibly rewarding.

Grab a Latte

I was on a mission to try a latte every day in every city from a different place. Novo coffee was a good start. Their coffee is roasted right in Denver and they have several locations depending on where your adventure takes you. I went with the recommended Orange Zest Mocha. I also picked up a bar of dark chocolate made with Novo roasted coffee for the plane. See a few photos from my outfit shot outside of this coffee spot. 

Shop With Purpose

If I were to create a business of my own, it might look something like Hope Tank. Everything in the store benefits a certain charity and there are educational messages scattered throughout. I spied cute studs, crazy belts, Swell bottles, and funny a** magnets. This is definitely a good souvenier spot. 

With three locations in Denver, you’ll easily find a Starlet near your adventures. The girly girl mecca will feed your floral infatuations and need for the perfect clutch. I was excited to find this bright spot as we strolled and explored Broadway, a must-walk street in Denver where several of the spots on my list are located.

We chatted with a team member of BuxieJo Bags at the art festival (above). The brand carries small-batch leather goods from wristlets to wine bottle wraps. I also stopped and drooled at Sabina Jewelry at the art walk. The brand is based in Steamboat, CO. Visit their site and you’ll see what I mean.

I stumbled upon Relevant Goods much too late in our day-long layover. I wanted to touch everything in sight. The bohemian-chic vibe spoke to me and I’m sure it’s going to be a hit among the locals as it grows in notoriety.

Find a Rooftop (early)

While you are right next to the gorgeous Rockies, it’s hard to catch a glimpse of them or the downtown city scape. I searched Yelp for the best places to catch a good view. We were able to visit Historians, which was casual and trendy.  ViewHouse has the best reputation for good views based on in-person conversations we had and reviews on the web.  But by 5 pm, there were lines to get in. Sweet Sauce doesn’t wait in lines, especially on vacation. Tamayo also ranked high among locals for a good time.

Visit a Dispensary

I am not suggesting that anyone visit a dispensary to actually consume the products sold there (but, FYI, you can even if you aren’t a CO resident). I think this is a culturally interesting stop for anyone. The legalization of marijuana is spreading from state to state. It’s worth it for us all to stop in, understand what a legal state atmosphere looks like, and get to know the employees behind the counter and the movement. They LOVE to answer questions. Curious people are welcome. We stopped at Herban Underground (recommended by a barista) and I think it’s safe to say we picked one of the best to visit. It is one of VERY few places you can publicly watch the plants grow.

Grab a Book

Post herbal awakening, we stopped in Mutiny Information Cafe. We didn’t try the coffee–which we heard was great–but we did pause to go indulge in some pages. From style guides, Robert Frost, to old typewriters we found it all.

I shop used bookstores for the same reason I love shopping for vintage and consignment clothes. It’s a beautiful cycle when we use an item, get what we need from it, and then pass it on to the next person to appreciate and gleam something from. It’s also a great way to get in touch with a community. Locals likely fuel the inventory of this store. Here is a list of the best bookstores in Denver.

Get A Sweet Fix

Sweet Action Ice Cream is popular for a reason. The ice cream and sorbet is made with Colorado dairy and features expected flavors like Milk Chocolate and creative spins such as Fresh Basil and Olive Oil. This was a great spot to stop on a hot sunny day. Thought it was packed, we were in and out of the quaint and colorful shop pretty quickly. We felt good about our decision because we had been on foot all day. (Photo by Sweet Action).

Share Some Tapas

When we realized that we weren’t getting in to the rooftop bars on our list, we opened Yelp. We found the Ninth Door, a Spanish tapas spot. After our trip to Spain, we are definitely more drawn to tapas spots. More variety and less over eating, which is especially good before getting on a plane. This spot was pleasantly uncrowded despite its excellent reviews. Try the fried goat cheese with honey. It was practically dessert.

Unwind at the Westin

This new luxury hotel is just as mesmerizing inside as it is outside. Grab your bags here and lay back in one of the lobby chairs, grab a coffee at Starbucks, or grab a drink a the bar if that’s your thing. There is something very Mad Men about this new destination hotel.

Have you been to Denver? Any favorite spots?

Don’t forget to see my list of beauty must-haves for your next trip!