Not gonna lie, I’ve been procrastinating putting this post together. It just seems so daunting and I have to allot a certain amount of time to collect my notes from the trip and transcribe it all for the blog. A working mom, who’s pregnant might I add, doesn’t have that type of time just laying around. But thankfully breaking up my time and editing little by little helped me knock this post off my to-do list.
I’ve been to Colorado before but didn’t get the chance to visit Denver when I did, so I was really excited to get the chance to really explore the Mile High City this time around. With mountain views, colorful murals and farm fresh food all around there’s no doubt the fella and I had the times of our lives! With a cool downtown vibe to the city and luscious scenery, Denver offers so much for tourists from across the country. It is definitely a place we’ll have to revisit because there is no way we experienced all that the Mile High City had to offer.
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza (Colorado Springs, CO): Artisan pizza done right! Fresh ingredients, an assortment of options and wood-fired crust? You just can’t go wrong!
Nosh (Colorado Springs, CO): This is were we had my birthday dinner and it was the perfect place to celebrate! The menu consisted a lot of deconstructed version of fun plates, like the deconstructed pupusa’s I had (soo good!) and their take on nachos – potachos!
Duo Restaurant (Denver, CO): Situated in the cutest little rustic street, we had brunch on Mother’s Day here and I’m kid you not, I am still dreaming about their lemon curd! Mouthwatering I tell ya! I also highly recommend the fried chicken sandwich.
Henry’s Tavern (Denver, CO): We settled here after realizing we were famished one day and boy was that a good spontaneous decision! Located in the heart of 16th Street Mall, if you’re in the area you’ve got to their massive Bavarian soft pretzel as an appetizer with the cheddar ale and onion sauce.
Acorn (Denver, CO): Located in Denver’s River North District, this by far was my favorite place to eat while on holiday. Nestled within The Source food market, which is basically a warehouse that housed various eateries, coffee shops and more, the pork belly BLT is what dreams are made of! Bacon, pork belly, arugula and a fried green tomato, this sandwich deserves recognition!
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (various locations): sweet tooth, this is where you want to go! Let’s just say the fell and I stocked up on fudge and other delectable goodies.
Amore Gelato (Denver, CO): Another
16th Street Mall gem, this charming, little shop had an assortment of gelato flavors. From avocado cilantro to jalapeno, my favorite by far was the salted oreo flavor. I still crave it it was so good!
Snooze (Fort Collins, CO): Nestled within a quaint town in Ft. Collins, this eater had an old school vibe with bomb ass food! Highly recommend the huevos rancheros!
Next Door Union Station (Denver, CO): Located within downtown in a community they call, ‘The Kitchen’ this restaurant served food packed with flavor! The chorizo bacon wrapped dates were phenomenal and their smashers were to die for.
Guard and Grace (Denver, CO): According to my husband we saved the best meal for last. This steakhouse was AH-MAZING, complete with cured percutio flights, perfectly cooked steaks and a la cart sides, this place is a must for the fancy folk.
Helen Hunt Falls: Packed with tons of hiking trails, scenic views and spots to enjoy a beautiful picnic (which is what we did), Helen Hunt Falls offers a great view of the city from Cheyenne Canyon. Oh and it’s free!
U.S. Olympic Training Complex: The flagship training center for Olympic hopefuls, it is the headquarters for the US Swimming Shooting teams. It was really cool to get a look at the facilities and it reminded me of a college campus.
Garden of the Gods Park: From hiking trails, to rock climbing to what I can only consider as a mini museum, Garden of the Gods was pretty spectacular. I highly suggest stopping by their Visitor Center to get a taste at the wide variety of fudge!
Denver Botanical Gardens: Complete with a conservatory and a variety of theme gardens, the botanical gardens is great stop for quiet morning.
Colorado Capitol Building: With historic architecture and great views of the city, the state capitol building sits at exactly one mile above sea level. A cool place for tourists to stop by and say they’ve been
“One Mile Above Sea Level.”
Denver Zoo: I love the zoo so I typically make it my mission on most of my vacations to hit up the local one whenever possible.
The Big Blue Bear: Located at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, the Big Blue Bear is a massive, 40-foot tall bear that attracts tons of tourists for the perfect photo opp.
Pearl Street Mall: Known as Boulder’s central location for food, shopping and art, the Pearl Street Mall is packed with tons to do. With your choice of breweries, boutiques, restaurants and more you’ll find plenty to do while also enjoying the beautiful mountainous views.
16th Street Mall: The pedestrian friendly mall is located in downtown Denver and ideal for a little outdoor people watching! With plenty of restaurant options, popular stores and even a movie theater, this is a great place to spend a few hours of your day.
Downtown Denver Aquarium: Like the local zoo, I’m a sucker for an aquarium! I think it’s the perfect pass time when you’re experiencing a day with bad weather, which was the case for us.
Local, non-locals, frequent visitors – what are some of your favorite places to explore in Colorado? Please share in the comments below!
Heading to San Francisco, check out my travel guide here!
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