Denver in Three Days
based on 8 votes
Some highlights in and around Denver geared especially for those interested in history and culture. Three days is not nearly enough to see everything!
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Denver, Golden
- Category: Perfect weekend
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors
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Appeals to: Business travelers, Couples/romantics, Families with teenagers, Tourists
- Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
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DAY 1: BREAKFAST
Yes, a greasy spoon, but it's a Denver institution. |
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2. Colorado History Museum
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DAY 1: AFTER BREAKFAST
To make your trip to Denver more meaningful and interesting, first stop at this museum to learn a little about Colorado's colorful history and the characters who helped shape Denver into the city it is today. |
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3. Colorado State Capitol
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DAY 1: AFTER BREAKFAST
Now that you know a little about Colorado's early movers and shakers, walk the few blocks from the CO History Museum to the capitol building and see today's movers and shakers at work. Free tours are offered on weekdays. The story of the construction of the building itself is quite interesting. |
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4. Afternoon Tea at the Brown Palace Hotel/Historical Tour of Hotel
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DAY 1: LUNCH AND AFTERNOON
Tea at the historic Brown Palace is truly a Denver tradition. You generally get enough to eat that you won't need to eat lunch. Reservations in advance are a must.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays the Brown Palace also offers free historical tours at 2 PM. Try and time your tea so you can take advantage of a tour. |
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5. Denver Botanic Gardens
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DAY 1: AFTERNOON
Denver's is one of the top botanic gardens in the country, featuring a variety of beautiful gardens. Don't miss it when you are in town! |
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DAY 1: DINNER
Considered by many to be the best restaurant in Denver, reservations are absolutely necessary. If you can't get in here, then try Mizuna's sister restaurant around the corner: Luca D'Italia... |
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DAY 1: AFTER DINNER
Denver Center Theatre Company and Curious Theatre are the two best theatre companies in Denver. You will see a very good performance at both, but Curious Theatre is less expensive and tends to produce more interesting, cutting edge work. |
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DAY 2: BREAKFAST
A cute little cafe in northwest Denver. |
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9. Visit Denver's Riverfront Parks
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DAY 2: AFTER BREAKFAST
Walk off breakfast with a stroll around Denver's riverfront. Visit Commons Park and Confluence Park (where Cherry Creek meets the South Platte River), site of Denver's founding (which you know if you went to the history museum).
During the summer months, you can go for a boat ride with "Venice on the Creek Punt Rides" on Cherry Creek. |
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DAY 2: LUNCH AND AFTERNOON
This is Denver's historic restaurant and club district. Go shopping, visit Tattered Cover, Denver's local independent book seller, and stop by Wynkoop Brewery or a restaurant on Larimer Street for lunch. Coors Field, the city's baseball stadium is in this neighborhood if you want to catch a game.
Take a walking tour to learn about the fascinating history of this area as well. See the website and look under walking tours.
The FREE 16th Street Mall Shuttle runs from LoDo through downtown to Civic Center near the State Capitol. |
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11. Molly Brown House Museum
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DAY 2: AFTERNOON
Visit the lovely, Victorian era home of Titanic survivor Molly Brown and learn about the significant role she played in Denver's history. Some of our modern institutions (like Denver Dumb Friends League) exist at least in part because of Molly Brown. |
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12. Byers-Evans House/Denver History Museum
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DAY 2: AFTERNOON
If you have energy for one more museum, go to this one, adjacent to the Denver Art Museum. Here you'll learn about two of the most important figures in Denver's and Colorado's history. |
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DAY 2: EARLY EVENING
After a long day, rest your feet and feast your eyes on the fabulous views of the Rocky Mountains. Have a drink and relax at this lounge in the new Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center. |
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14. Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge
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DAY 2: EVENING
Continue the night's relaxation by having dinner while listening to jazz at Denver's finest jazz club. Make reservations in advance. |
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DAY 3: BREAKFAST
There are outlets of this restaurant in several cities--Go to the one in Denver. A good, hearty breakfast will prepare you for another active day. |
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DAY 3: AFTER BREAKFAST
You can't visit Denver without experiencing at least a little of the natural beauty that makes this such a great place to live. Red Rocks Park, one of Denver's Mountain Parks, is a nice example of foothills habitat and features some interesting red rock formations. Go for a short walk and check out Denver's beautiful, outdoor Red Rocks Amphitheatre where many great concerts are held.
Red Rocks Park is in Morrison, CO about 30 minutes west of Denver. |
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DAY 3: AFTERNOON
Just down the road from Morrison and Red Rocks Park is little Golden, Colorado. Stop in downtown Golden for a bite to eat before driving up Lookout Mountain for great views and some more history. |
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18. Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum
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DAY 3: AFTERNOON
At the top of Lookout Mountain, enjoy a view of the entire Denver area (look for the white peaks of Denver International Airport's terminal in the distance) and then visit the fascinating museum about the life of an unbelievable man: Buffalo Bill. You can also pay your respects at his grave up on the hill. |
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DAY 3: DINNER
If the weather is good, sit in the beautiful, peaceful garden of Denver's best Japanese restaurant. You will forget you are in a city. |
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20. See a Film at the Starz Film Center
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DAY 3: EVENING
Do you really have energy left after this whirlwind tour? If so, check out one of the fine independent or foreign film offerings in the Tivoli building on the Auraria campus near downtown. Now the student union for three colleges, the Tivoli building was once a brewery.
Well, watching a movie doesn't take too much energy.... |
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Compliment denverflora
denverflora
I live in Denver and love it!
