Despite the terrible return trip from Denver we had an amazing time in the city and were so impressed by the food (huge plus!) We stayed downtown but spent most of our time in different neighborhoods and in that way it totally reminded me of Chicago. Luckily, our friends Adriana and Manny live there so it was great to not only get to spend time with them but also get recommendations for the week.

A couple spots we loved were the River North neighborhood or RiNo – it’s a lot like Wicker Park/Bucktown. An abundance of hipsters, lots of wall art & tons of coffee shops. Despite our lack of hipsterness the neighborhood has so many great places to eat and good coffee spots. We also spent a fair amount of time in the Highlands and made sure to visit Red Rocks and Boulder for hiking – I mean talk about breathtaking. I thought I would round up a few of our favorites in case you are planning a weekend trip – you can’t go wrong with these.

Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen: In the RiNo neighborhood the place could not be more beautiful (I’m sure you saw it on my Instagram) They also have a connecting outdoor patio which is perfect if the weather allows and the food was spectacular. Trevor had the spicy almond chicken sliders and I had an amazing avocado and beet toast that was unlike any avocado toast I have ever had.

The Source: Super cool concept in RiNo that has multiple areas to eat, drink & even picks up food. We grabbed a seat at the bar in Comida and the food was amazing! Tons of small plates each better than the next and a great atmosphere.

Pleasant Mountain, Boulder: Our friends had told us to make the drive and I’m glad we did. It’s only about a 20-30 min car ride and the entire drive is stunning. It’s amazing how close these beautiful mountains are to a city and makes me so envious. We hiked a few of the trails and sat at the top for most of our Monday afternoon. It was great exercise but also fun to be outdoors and get some fresh air.

Wynkoop Brewery: We grabbed lunch outdoors here one afternoon randomly and really enjoyed it. Trevor’s burger and my salad were both super fresh and their own brews were really good. If the weather permits I totally reccomend eating on the back patio – I know they also have brewery tours during the week but we never had the chance to catch one.

Union Station: It’s straight out of a movie! Adorable and beautifully renovated the area is filled with different cafes, shops, restaurants & the center houses tons of quaint sitting areas with games to play like shuffleboard. We grabbed coffee one morning at Pigtrain and sat and did a crossword puzzle so we could enjoy a slow morning.

Voodoo Doughnuts: Originally from Portland these famous doughnuts are now served in Denver and trust me when I say be prepared for a line. It moves quickly and they only take cash but oh man is it worth it. I am recovering from a doughnut addiction and hadn’t had one in quite a while and everything from their glazed to chocolate & their specialties were phenomenal!

I know there is so much more to see and do in Denver and I hope we can make it back again soon. We wish we had been able to bike a little more and it been warm enough for water activities but there’s always next time. Hope you guys have an amazing weekend!