How to have an instagram worthy girls weekend in Denver, what to see, where to eat, and what to pack

Are you headed to the mile-high city? Colorful Colorado will not disappoint and if you want to have the best girls weekend that includes sightseeing, fashion, shopping, and yummy foodie finds, then I have the perfect itinerary for you!

WHERE TO STAY: HOTEL TEATRO

We booked our stay at Hotel Teatro on Expedia and got a very fair rate. Hotel Teatro is located in downtown Denver and it was a very walkable location to many of the things we wanted to do and see. Bonus! They offer a free town car service, which was a pleasant surprise to find out about when we checked in. The rooms were comfortable, especially the over-sized bathroom with the sunken bathtub and shower. I took five bubble baths during my three night stay. Luxury is in the little things! The hotel offered a work-out room, easily accessible in the basement, and had a restaurant on the main floor called The Nickel with a very tasty menu.

FIRST STOP: FOOD!

First stop – afternoon snack at Bistro Vendome just a few blocks from Hotel Teatro. Home of perhaps the best grilled cheese sandwich, called The Oozy, that has ever passed my lips.

TIME TO SHOP! LARIMER SQUARE

I highly recommend shopping at Larimer Square, Denver’s oldest and most historic block. I discovered my love of UNO de 50 at Scarpaletto Shoes, a family owned business. My friend Carol and I were tickled to discover wallets by Secrid at this shop as well, and now call them our friendship wallets. This wallet has changed my life and comes with a three year guarantee. I was worried it was so small, I might lose it, but the shopkeeper talked me through that fear and I’m so glad he did.

NEXT UP: UNION STATION

We headed back to Union Station, after passing through it on our way from the airport (via train). This 100 year old landmark has recently been renovated and is a delightful place to dine, shop, and even stay! (The Crawford Hotel) No trip to Denver will be complete without at stop here.

LAST STOP DAY ONE: TAVERNETTA

DAY TWO: START WITH GOOD COFFEE

It didn’t matter to me that it was only 17 degrees outside, I still take my coffee cold. Amethyst Coffee was the perfect spot to start our day and get caffeinated. (Plus, how fun is the “I am fucking awesome” selfie station?)

DIOR: FROM PARIS TO THE WORLD

The entire reason for this weekend getaway was this exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. Dior: From Paris to the World surveys 70 years of the House of Dior’s enduring legacy and its global influence. A selection of more than 200 couture dresses, as well as accessories, costume jewelry, photographs, drawings, runway videos, and other archival material, will trace the history of the iconic haute couture fashion house, its founder, Christian Dior, and the subsequent artistic directors who carried Dior’s vision into the 21st century. This exhibit will be at the Denver Art Museum until March 3rd, 2019, at which time it will be moving on to the Dallas Art Museum. Check out my Dior video here.

“Happiness is the secret to all beauty. There is no beauty without happiness.” 
― Christian Dior

NEXT STOP: DENVER CENTRAL MARKET IN THE RINO NEIGHBORHOOD

All that fashion really worked up our appetites, which made the next stop on our tour of Denver a natural stop. The Denver Central Market is the perfect stop to fuel up for a healthy lunch!

DENVER: STREET ART IN RIVER NORTH ART DISTRICT, AKA RINO

One of my favorite things about Denver is that the art is not just contained inside of the walls of their art museum. The Denver street art movement is a joy and a delight, as you can spy hidden treasures all over the city. (Seattle, you have some catching up to do!) The RiNo neighborhood is a must do if you want to see street art in a concentrated area.

MORE SHOPPING!

When in RiNo neighbhord, The Modern Nomad is a must stop! Modern Nomad is a Denver design collective featuring new and vintage furniture, textiles, lighting, rugs and accessories for the home.  Everything has been carefully curated to bring you the latest in art and design, with an emphasis on supporting local businesses.  The space is housed in a 5,500 SF warehouse in Denver’s booming RiNo district, and functions like a 3 dimensional living magazine with retailers displaying their product cohesively in an open-air market. Here are some pics of my favorite spots in this design collective.

NEED MORE FUEL? #SHAKESHACK

Although I didn’t stop in on this trip, Shake Shack is one of my favorite greasy burger bars. I discovered this high calorie treasure in NYC. In fact, one just opened here in Seattle where I live, but I haven’t battled the lines yet. Need caffeine? Shake Shack serves up one of my favorite cold brews from Stumptown Coffee.

Determined to shop until we dropped, our next stop was at Cherry Creek. I was excited to pop into the CB2, as we don’t have one in Seattle. Plus it was nice to see some familiar brands as we stopped for coffee at Starbucks (I met Captain Hook!) and dropped in at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. In my opinion, no trip is complete without some quality time in a good, cozy bookstore. Locally owned and operated since 1973, Hermitage Bookshop is a true treasure!

DAY THREE: BOULDER OR BUST!

Only a short 35 minute drive out of Denver is the lovely town of Boulder, Colorado. I’m a small town girl at heart and Boulder did not disappoint. Historic downtown Boulder and Pearl Street Mall was the perfect place to spend a Sunday. The sun was shining and the air was crisp as we made our way through Pearl Street Mall, stopping in at multiple shops plus lunch at Pizzeria Locale. My favorite shops included Bliss, Freebird, Weekends, Peppercorn (plan to spend some quality time at this one), and Starfish (where I found even more UNO de 50 that I don’t think I can live without).

DINNER TIME!

At the end of day three, we were ready to enjoy a nice meal. The Source Hotel + Market Hall was highly recommended by a fellow co-worker that frequents Denver for work trips at KUSA, sister station to KING 5 that I work at in Seattle. With several restaurants to choose from, all in one convenient and aesthetically pleasing location, we selected Acorn and it did not disappoint. I’m flagging The Source as a place to visit again on my next trip back to Denver.

THE SOURCE HOTEL + MARKET HALL

DAY FOUR: FINAL DAY TO TAKE PICTURES LIKE A TOURIST

After a whirlwind weekend, we braved the last day of our four day getaway in 7 degree weather before flying back home to Seattle. Last stops included visiting the big blue bear, searching for more street art treasures, and a final stop for lunch and more shopping at the Denver Milk Market. It was easy to develop a crush on Denver in my short time there and one thing is for sure, I will most certainly be back.

DENVER MILK MARKET

WHAT TO PACK: WARM CLOTHES

If you are planning a visit to Denver in the winter months, I strongly suggest lots of layers and cute, but comfy boots. Love hats as much as I do? This is the perfect place to bring out your hat game. Leave room in your bags to bring back treasures, because you will not leave Denver empty handed.