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Denver Itineraries
- Denver’s “Wild West” History
- Downtown Tour
- Touring Metro Denver
Get the day started at the 16th Street Mall at Wazee Street.
Designed 25 years ago by I.M. Pei, the 16th Street Mall is a mile-long pedestrian promenade lined with outdoor cafes, flower baskets and retail shops, making it the perfect starting point for an adventure-filled day. Free shuttles depart every 90 seconds from either end of the Mall, traversing the length and stopping at every intersection so it’s easy to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and let the day begin.
From the intersection, walk ½ block east to: The Tattered Cover located at 1628 16th St.
Locals and visitors alike love one of the nation’s largest and certainly most well-known independent bookstores, The Tattered Cover. Along with great views of Union Station, Tattered Cover offers the most extensive collection of books about Denver and Colorado in the area.
Next on the agenda: a walk through LoDo (Lower Downtown)
This historic district has been turned into the entertainment epicenter of Denver with 28 square blocks of restaurants, live music venues, art galleries, sports bars and brewpubs. You’ll definitely want to spend some time taking in the architecture of renovated and restored Victorian building and turn-of-the-century warehouses, as well as stepping into the art galleries in the area before heading for your next destination.
From LoDo, on the 16th Street Mall, hop on the free shuttle and get off at Champa Street. From here, head west and you’ll run right into your next destination for the day: Denver’s Performing Arts Complex at 950 13th St.
The complex encompasses 10 venues including the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the Buell Theatre, Boettcher Concert Hall, the Garner Galleria Theatre, the Stage Theatre, the Space Theatre, the Ricketson Theatre, the Jones Theatre, the Seawell Grand Ballroom and the Tramway Theatre. The complex is highlighted by the interesting architecture both historic and contemporary. Guided backstage tours are available also.
Head back to 16th Street and once again catch the southbound shuttle. Get off at Court, cross 16th and head one block to The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa at 321 17th St.
The Brown Palace Hotel has hosted presidents, princes, kings, queens, rock starts and famous athletes for more than a century. A walk through the lobby and you can’t help but catch your breath in the nine-story glass atrium. If the mood strikes and you’re starting to get a little hungry, you can stay for high tea or grab a bite to eat.
After taking in The Brown, walk back to 16thStreet, hop on the southbound shuttle and take it all the way to the end. Get off the shuttle and walk up the stairs where you’ll find yourself at your next destination: Civic Center Park.
Civic Center Park is a two-block oasis filled with flower gardens and Old West statues. Some of Denver’s most intriguing architecture and museums surround the park, and while you won’t have time to stop in all the buildings or visit all the museums, the area is ripe with photo opportunities.
Next stop: Colorado State Capitol.
The Colorado State Capitol is modeled after the U.S. Capitol and is topped by a dome containing more than 200 ounces of real gold. The 13th step on the west side is exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. To learn the story of the gold miners, cowboys, Native Americans and adventurous explorers who helped shape Colorado, visit the Colorado History Museum adjacent to the Capitol. Just across the street, the Denver Public Library is the fourth largest library in the United States. The beautiful mixture of towers and rotundas was the vision of architect Michael Graves and the site for the historic Denver Summit of the Eight in 1993. From here you’ll see your next stop on your whirlwind tour.
Next stop: Denver Art Museum.
The new Hamilton Building on the Denver Art Museum campus, designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, is a piece of art itself. The striking modern design of titanium peaks and shards that mimic the Rocky Mountains has changed the city’s landscape. The original 28-sided Denver Art Museum was designed by Gio Ponti of Milan, Italy. Inside you’ll find an outstanding collection of Native American art and more than 30,000 pieces of art.
Now return to Civic Center Park and catch the shuttle north. Get off at Larimer Street and head one block west to find yourself in the heart of Larimer Square for shopping and dinner.
This is Denver’s trendiest and most historic block. Here, you’ll find several coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries, nightclubs and some of the most exclusive boutiques in the city. Victorian brick buildings and gas lamps line the streets adding to the area’s charming, quaint feel and making it the perfect setting to watch the sun set and enjoy dinner.
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