Tracy IsemingerOften when we are traveling we do not have all the time we would like or really need to explore a destination. Typically, you are confined to a weekend or if you are lucky, a long weekend. I recently had the chance to visit Denver, Colorado, for one of these quick trips myself. Experiencing all of Denver wasn’t possible, but I did manage to get a really good taste (literally) of what it has to offer in 24 hours. Now it is definitely on my must return list!
After a long adventure in trying to reach Denver from home, I already lost out on 5 hours of play time. I arrived at the SpringHill Suites Downtown Denver just in time to admire my room, change my clothes and get ready for a night of fun. (read my hotel review on Examiner.com)
We started out by heading into the RiNo District where the Infinite Monkey Theorem is making amazing wine in an urban setting. Dedicated to being “green” they are serving up wine in a specially designed can that is 100% recyclable yet does not affect the taste of the wine. They compost their waste and use it to fertilize the urban garden which in turn supplies local restaurants. Not only is the wine unique and delicious, they offer a great place to hang out with friends and play games in the tasting room.
Afterward, we headed back to the SpringHill Suites for a specially prepared tasting of gourmet dishes prepared by the hotel from the restaurant, Degree, to pair with several of the canned wines of Infinite Monkey Theorem since it is the featured local wine at the hotel for guest to enjoy.
On full bellies, it was onward for a night on the town. It is a tough choice which of the many trendy hot spots to drop into. There truly is something for everyone in this city.
The first stop for us for the night was a quaint rustic-chic restaurant and cocktail lounge called Beatrice and Woodsley. Featuring a warm relaxing decor made to look like a fairytale treehouse, you can sit back and relax with friends and enjoy one of many unique craft cocktails. Between us, we tried many and all of them were incredibly tasty.
Then to switch gears entirely, we finished our evening at a sports bar. Well… not just any old sports bar. This is the Blake Street Vault which is one of the oldest buildings in old Denver and is rumored to be haunted by a ghost named Lydia. I’ll admit, walking the basement which once housed a brothel where Lydia once worked was VERY creepy! Thank goodness she decided to not make an appearance for us that evening!
After an amazing night sleep back at the SpringHill Suites, we continued our adventure in the morning after enjoying the wonderful complimentary breakfast at the hotel.
We met up with our guide from Denver Microbrew Tours, this time in the LoDo District, and did a condensed version of a full walking tour to experience some of the local beer flavor. We only had time to make 3 stops but were able to try many awesome Microbreweries including; Wynkoop, River North Brewery, Trve Brewing, Stem Ciders, Bare Brewing, Desteeg – specializes in French and Belgium ale, Crooked Stave – sour beers, and Black Shirt Brewery – specializes in red ales. If you are a beer aficionado, then you absolutely must try out the Denver Microbrew scene!
Now with only about 4 hours left to my flight departure, it was time to return back to the hotel and grab my things and make my way back to the airport. Ideally, I would have experience one more local restaurant before heading out but time was running thin, so I promised myself I’d come back for more when I have longer than 24 hours.
In this short time, I was able to get a great taste of the local flavors, history and hospitality. I can genuinely say, the people I met on this trip were some of the nicest of anywhere I’ve been from staff to strangers. I even met a local at the airport at customer service and ended up having lunch with her at in the terminal before our flights left where she filled me in on many of the other fun things Denver has to offer!
Thank you so much to the SpringHill Suites for inviting me to Denver and their “little extras” that turn your stay into an experience. I can not wait to return!
