Christmas in Denver

I do this every year. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate (mine is usually spiked with a little peppermint schnapps), buy the 3-D glasses (too funny!) and walk around the gardens. It's fun, easy, and gets you in the Christmas spirit. Little tiny kids love this...older kids might find it a little boring. I think it's romantic and the 3-D glasses thing cracks me up!

I haven't actually tried the Zoo lights (I always hit Blossoms of Light), but I will check it out this year and update this Go list. However, I love the Denver Zoo (it's actually quite good), so I imagine that the lights are fun. This one is supposed to be great for kids.

Larimer Square is a section of LoDo (lower downtown) that has some really cool shops and restaurants. During Christmas, they string lights over the street -- the entire block is beautiful. This is my favorite way to Christmas shop -- start with coffee and a little yummy, do some shopping, have dinner & drinks! Too fun!
Coffee and a yummy: The Market (good sandwiches also)
Shop a little:
There are 5 amazing boutiques on this block. My favorites are Square 1 (for denim), Violet, and Octane (for men & women). Loft.22 just opened - I have high hopes.
Dinner: OOOhhh -- this is a toss up between Bistrot Vendome and Rioja. They both are amazing. Do apps/dinner in one, and dessert & after-dinner drinks at another. You won't be disappointed.

The Colorado Ballet does a beautiful version of the Nutcracker...and it's now playing in the Elie Caulkins Opera house (fairly new to Denver - very beautiful!!). If you are bringing kids, go to a matinée. If you are sans kids, dress up (Denver likes to get fancy), and go early for drinks & apps in the Kevin Taylor restaurant located inside the opera house. KevinT is pricey, but the drinks and apps are really good - we usually just sit a the very cool bar.

The Bug Theater does this show every year. This is my all time favorite Denver Christmas tradition. I have NEVER laughed so hard. The Bug is cool - you can have a drink while you watch this show. Warning: this show is NOT for kids. Love it. Go see it. Merry Freakin' Christmas.

This is an adorable outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of a ritzy shopping neighborhood, Cherry Creek North. Go for the great shopping, have a good drink, look at the ice skaters...but if you are over 10, this probably isn't for you. However, it's completely festive, completely adorable, and the little kids love it. It's a tiny rink, but definitely has that "we want to be a mini Rockefeller Center" feel. If you love Christmas, you'll love this.

The galleries in Denver's Art district (on Sante Fe) stay open late the first Friday of every month, but the first Friday in December feels especially festive. Bring a couple of bucks -- most galleries offer free wine, cheese and crackers, but most have a donation/tip bucket. The art ranges from so-so to amazing...it depends on the exhibit. It's a fun scene -- and again, people tend to dress up a bit. If you can pull off the cool artsy look, this is the place to do it!
NOTE: There are sometimes a surprisingly large number of (pre-teen/teen) kids.

The picture on their website looks dorky. However, this is a really great tea. And this really great tea is especially festive at Christmas. This is a fun little tradition...though my girlfriends like it more than my husband does.

Many people have complained about the price of hotels in Denver over the Christmas season...this promotion was referenced on the denver.org site, and lists low hotel and event prices for the holiday season. It's worth checking out. Let me know what you think of this link, and I'll either update the Go list with better info, or remove this item. Good luck!!