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25 Articles

From The Editor

Rerouted Nothing was going as planned. I was just a few days into a weeklong family trip in Iceland (thank you, inexpensive nonstop flights from DIA), and already, two northern lights excursions had been canceled due to weather. Our eight-person group knew that seeing Mother Nature’s light show was improbable, but we had decided to visit in February—one of the country’s coldest months—specifically because its long nights often translate into peak aurora borealis viewing. We managed to push our disappointment aside by preparing for the two-hour snowmobiling tour we’d planned in Akureyri. Then our guide told us our outing was off because of too much snow. Luckily, I’d done some research before we left Denver. Goðafoss waterfall was just 30 minutes from our hotel. So, we rented a four-wheel-drive van…

From The Editor

Despite glamping’s popularity, camping with a king-size bed isn’t possible—or permissible—just anywhere. Through Denver’s Collective Retreats, however, options abound. The company leases land (think: bucolic farms, urban islands) from private owners, allowing you to overnight in places you normally wouldn’t be able to stay. Plus, Collective’s locations feature luxury tents and local culinary offerings, like Collective Vail’s marshmallows infused with 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company bourbon. If that doesn’t tempt you to add Collective Retreats to your travel plans, one of these sites just might. COLLECTIVE VAIL Wolcott, Colorado Opened: Summer 2015 The Setting: Collective Retreats’ original location (now with 18 tents) shares land with 4 Eagle Ranch. For a classic Colorado experience, go full cowboy (or -girl) and sign up for horseback rides in the Sawatch Range or…

Offbeat Adventures

We’d wager that you’ve hiked, biked, and skied to your nature-loving heart’s content in the Centennial State. If so, consider a more unconventional approach to adventure tourism this season via one of these quirky Colorado excursions. Bonus: If you’re new to the area (and your flatlander lungs are still adjusting to the elevation), these trips let you immerse yourself in stunning landscapes without too much exertion. 1 BY AIR If you’ve ever wondered how a red-tailed hawk feels riding the thermals of the Rockies, Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides’ sunrise flights ($275 per person) will give you the chance to find out. Lift off from the South Park area at sunrise for a faintly lit panorama of 36 fourteeners, then try flying the balloon under the guidance of your professional…

Offbeat Adventures

WHERE TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER Sentinel Point DRIVE FROM DENVER About 2 hours WHY WE LOVE IT For a hike that’s off the well-trodden path and comes with a quirky surprise at the top, head to the six-ish-mile Sentinel Point Trail near Divide. This challenging loop passes beaver ponds, a wildflower-speckled valley, and a long stream before delivering you to a talus field for the final approach. Make it to the 12,527-foot summit and you’ll be rewarded with majestic views of two different ranges and Pikes Peak and near-total silence—apart from the brays of Sentinel Point’s unofficial guardian, a wild donkey that sometimes greets weary hikers.…

Freezing water. Hands too numb to tie on a fly. Eyes watering in the biting wind. Winter doesn’t sound like the best occasion to pull out the ol’ tackle box. But angling experts claim the chilliest season is an ideal time to fly-fish northern Colorado’s Cache la Poudre River—as long as you’re prepared. Here, three essential tips for catching fish (and not colds) during the snowy months. 1 SLEEP IN The “early bird gets the worm” adage isn’t always true in the winter. Warmer water yields more frequent catches because active fish are more likely to chomp on your lure, which means it’s best to cast a line midday. Translation: You have time to enjoy your breakfast in front of the roaring fireplace at Wild Boar Cafe in Fort Collins.…

WHERE TO EXPLORE THIS WINTER The Poudre River Trail Corridor DRIVE FROM DENVER About one hour WHY WE LOVE IT Immerse yourself in the Cache la Poudre’s winter beauty (without, you know, actually immersing yourself) by hiking the eastern section of the Poudre River Trail Corridor. The 21 miles of paved path between Greeley and Windsor have multiple trailheads. Our favorite is the Oxbow-Overland entry point, where the trail ascends and offers an overhead view of the snow-lined banks.…

The 2014 opening of Big Red F’s Post Brewing Co. in Lafayette promised more than some of the state’s best fried chicken; it also touched off a flurry of commerce in the community. Other new businesses continue to sprout, but the town has also become a sanctuary city for shops and eateries fleeing pricey Denver and Boulder. “Lafayette is less expensive for housing and retail square footage, so lots of regional stores and restaurants are coming in,” says Debbie Wilmot, the city’s public information officer. Combine recent transplants like Boulder’s beloved Ras Kassa’s with longtime staples such as Eats & Sweets and the Taco Wagon, and you have one delicious daytrip—although you’ll want to take a spin around Waneka Lake Trail to work up an appetite first. LITTLE HERBAL APOTHECARY…

SATURDAY 9 A.M. Sustenance is required to power any whirlwind tour, so load up at Frontier Restaurant. The decades-old spot is known for dishing out the heartiest green-chile-topped breakfast burrito in town—though its gooey sweet rolls might be even better—and plenty of kitsch. The barn-shaped spot seats more than 300 diners, who feast under the gaze of multiple John Wayne portraits. 11 A.M. From Acoma to Zuni, the vibrant cultures of New Mexico’s 19 Pueblo tribes are always on display at the 43-year-old Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Through October 20, the iconic Zia sun symbol will be featured in an exhibition that celebrates its history and questions its cultural ownership. No need to wander far for lunch: The on-site Pueblo Harvest restaurant sources many ingredients from nearby tribal communities to…

Fortress Of Solitude

Maybe it’s my rumbling stomach, but as I gaze across the sandstone domes surrounding the lofty Cassidy Arch Trail in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park, I’m reminded of candy. The blond rock formations look like 400-foot-tall nuggets of caramel—or maybe gumdrops, given their rounded tops. Infatuated with the view, or just the notion of sugar, I stop hiking and simply stand in the middle of the cliffside path so I can cast my eyes across the sea of amber knobs and gullies. This sudden halt would never work in most national parks, where popular trails see so much traffic that stopping mid-current is akin to stalling in a passing lane on I-25. More than 4.3 million people visited Rocky Mountain National Park last year, and 4.5 million visited Zion, about…

Fortress Of Solitude

At 13,305 feet, Mt. Daly dominates the skyline as you wind up Brush Creek Road toward Snowmass Village. The mountain’s smooth lines and signature gold stripe beckon visitors to the 51-year-old ski resort that lies just nine miles northwest of Aspen. Upon reaching the threshold of Snowmass’ base village, however, the view morphs from groves of aspen trees to stands of cranes and dramatic cathedrals of rebar rising out of half-built structures. Dirt, churned up by bulldozers, hangs heavy in the high-elevation air. The sight of workers in steel-toe boots and the din of construction have become commonplace in the village over the past two years. But it isn’t the first time locals and visitors have watched a redevelopment plan spring from blueprints into real life near the intersection of…

LONGS PEAK Rocky Mountain N.P. CO The northernmost fourteener in the Rocky Mountains, 14,259-foot Longs Peak rises resolute from inside Rocky Mountain National Park and stands watch over Colorado’s Front Range. Mountaineers the world over come to the Centennial State for the singular purpose of climbing the famed Keyhole Route, so named for the oddly shaped notch that lies at the top of a sprawling boulder field. Would-be summiters—who must navigate narrow ledges, falling rocks, and a 15-mile round-trip climb that requires some advanced mountaineering skills—pass through the Key-hole and scramble the final 1.5 miles to the top. Did You Know? The Agnes Vaille Shelter—visible just down and to the left of the Keyhole—is a beehive-shaped stone hut originally built in 1927. It’s named for the first woman to summit…

Blame it on Airbnb, the local-first movement, or Instagram, but travelers today are increasingly uninterested in generic, cookie-cutter hotels. They crave lodging options with unique characteristics that communicate something about the locales they’re visiting, that go beyond offering just a place to sleep, and they’re willing to forgo brand loyalty and rewards to get that authentic vibe. “The experience economy has really taken full hold of the industry, and millennials are driving that,” says David Corsun, director of the University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management. Nationally and here in Colorado, the shift has forced big-box chains to develop hip brands that will appeal to a younger, lifestyle-oriented demographic as well as opened up the market to smaller, upscale boutique properties—sometimes in neighborhoods far from convention centers and…

Thoughtfully tucked into Cherry Creek North’s revitalized retail zone, Sage Hospitality’s 154-room Halcyon hotel feels like the urban condo building you always wished you could afford to live in. The atmosphere is casual but hip; the ground-level restaurants are among the city’s best; and the decor details—charming welcome mats that say things like “You Belong Here” outside your room’s door; modern turntables with a small selection of vinyl—make you feel like you’re living inside a chic designer’s Pinterest board. GET A ROOM: If you can swing the substantial per-night outlay, book a terrace room king (starting at $535 per night), which gives you access to a large private balcony. ON THE MENU: You can’t go wrong with the on-site options here. Allow time in the morning for coffee and a…

2014 The Curtis Est. 2007 Budget: $7 million Scope: Specially themed rooms Millennial Bait: The video game suite—yes, there’s a Donkey Kong arcade machine—is made for social media stardom. 2015 Hotel Teatro Est. 1998 Budget: $6 million Scope: First-floor renovation (2014); guest room makeovers (2018) Millennial Bait: Sofa beds were added to corner suites to accommodate groups of friends who might otherwise opt for a multibedroom Airbnb rental. 2016 The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa Est. 1892 Budget: $10.5 million Scope: Exterior restoration, guest room updates, new meeting spaces Millennial Bait: Flat-screen TVs and device charging stations now await streaming-addicted travelers. 2017 Magnolia Denver Est. 1995 Budget: Undisclosed Scope: Guest room renovations (2016); redesigned public spaces, like the fitness center (2018) Millennial Bait: The new workout area has a dedicated…

ME TIME Four Seasons Hotel Denver On Monday through Thursday (holidays excluded), booking a spa treatment of more than $120 scores you access to the luxury downtown hotel’s third-floor pool terrace. Bonus: Playing hooky on a weekday means you’re more likely to be able to sunbathe in solitude. Details: Open May to early October A DAY DATE Warwick Denver Nonguests can snag day passes (prices vary) to the renovated rooftop pool at this Uptown hotel. Bonus: The building was the first and only Playboy Club in Colorado, meaning the legendary Bunnies used to ply these waters. Romantic, right? Details: Open year-round A BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE PARTY Halcyon Guests can reserve a cabana for up to six people atop this eight-story Cherry Creek North hotel (a $500 food and beverage minimum per five-hour…

From the hanging, swinging chairs outside the elevators on each floor to the hooded, gray terry cloth robes (good riddance, show-every-makeup-smudge white) in your room, LoDo’s the Maven gives you permission to chill out and let loose. And its location in the bustling Dairy Block development—which also includes office space, ground-floor boutiques, and places to sip and nosh—means you don’t even have to cross a street to do it. Want to take the margarita you ordered at the lobby’s Airstream out back to explore the Alley at Dairy Block’s interactive art installations? You can get it in a plastic cup. Having a nightcap at the Maven’s soda-fountain-esque bar, Poka Lola Social Club? Help yourself to a game of foosball—it’s free. Or, should the “chill out” part be your primary goal,…

3 Le Méridien Denver Downtown

There’s nothing sexy about Le Méridien’s location near the Colorado Convention Center: If you’re on the same block as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., all hope is lost for street-level allure. But—but!—the seduction begins as soon as you walk into the midcentury modern lobby. The come-on continues on the hotel’s 20th floor, where guests meet 54thirty Rooftop, a twinkle-light-bedecked bar with jaw-dropping vistas and a flirty, urban vibe. You’ll be so enamored of Le Méridien after just one #thatviewthough cocktail you might fall into bed without noticing its other charming qualities, including 272 neutral-palette guest rooms that are low on kitsch and high on serenity. GET A ROOM: We’re always looking for an excuse to upgrade, but at Le Méridien, the classic rooms (starting at $322) are all you really need…

3 Le Méridien Denver Downtown

NEXT LEVEL LODGING

TREND NO. 1 Boutique branding The definition of a “boutique” hotel is up for debate—Does it need to be independently owned? Can it have more than 100 rooms?—but, used loosely, the term refers to a relatively small property with a distinctive persona, elevated food and beverage offerings, and attentive service. LEVEL UP Whether it’s obvious or not, big-name brands are actually behind much of Denver’s boutique scene (e.g., millennial-magnet Moxy is a Marriott International concept). The Source Hotel, however, is co-owned by longtime RiNo operator and first-time hotelier Zeppelin Development and managed by the high-end hospitality pros behind Boulder’s St Julien, meaning control over every decision—from which restaurants are chosen to who makes the throw pillows in the guest rooms—stays at the local level. TREND NO. 2 Neighborhood gathering places…

NEXT LEVEL LODGING

4 Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown

The northernmost end of LoDo is blowing up, and 180-room Hotel Indigo is smack in the middle of the white-hot bedlam—for better (myriad nearby options for dining, imbibing, and general merrymaking, such as Whole Sol Blend Bar and the Pig & the Sprout) and for worse (the area between 16th and 20th streets along Wewatta Street has been plagued by construction). The rooms are stylish but fairly standard, which is just fine since you won’t be spending much time in them: The real draw of this InterContinental Hotels Group property is its easy access to Coors Field, Union Station, and the trendy Riverfront Park and LoHi neighborhoods. GET A ROOM: Splurge on an expanded corner king suite (starting at $419) if one is available. The floor-to-ceiling windows on two full…

4 Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown

The Ramble Hotel

The most truly boutique of Denver’s new hotel crop, the 50-room Ramble in hipper-than-hip RiNo—relatively far from the convention center and tourist hubs like the 16th Street Mall—is more like an exclusive club you can’t believe you got into. The impeccable design details go beyond pleasing the eye; rather, you feel the luxury in the brass keys and their embossed leather cases, in the velvet headboard, in the antique rug beneath your bare feet. At the same time, you hear cars circling for parking spots and the chatter of people waiting for tables at surrounding eateries drifting in through your cracked-open window. It seems like the gritty hustle of Larimer Street would create a disconnect, but it only adds to the feeling that you’re in the buzzy center of Denver’s…

The Ramble Hotel

Basecamp Hotel Location: Boulder Opening Date: June 2016 The Draw: One of the People’s Republic’s most interesting hotels (formerly a Quality Inn), Basecamp feels oh-so Boulder in the best way possible. Located near the Boulder Creek Path and just a 15-minute walk to Pearl Street, the 49-room venue oozes an adventuresome vibe—especially if you book the Great Indoors Plains Room, which is designed to look like a campsite, synthetic grass included. The Elizabeth Hotel Location: Fort Collins Opening Date: December 2017 The Draw: Stylish yet still Colorado-comfortable, the 164-room Elizabeth was a much-needed addition to Fort Collins’ lively Old Town area. Its Sunset Lounge and on-site restaurant, the Emporium Kitchen and Wine Market, make an already-bumping dining and nightlife scene even better. Origin Red Rocks Location: Golden Opening Date: August…

The Sophisticate Even by Cherry Creek standards, the 201-room Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop (a Marriott Autograph Collection property that opened in October 2018) is swanky. Fine Italian bath linens and robes by Frette and a 75-foot-long private rooftop pool help guests live la dolce vita in Denver. The Behemoth With 1,501 guest rooms, more than 485,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, four ballrooms, and eight dining options, the much-debated, seven-month-old Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center near DIA is a one-stop shop for travelers. It’s also not a bad place for locals to catch a game on Colorado’s largest HDTV screen outside of a sporting venue (75 feet wide by 14 feet tall) or enjoy an indoor-outdoor pool and lazy river. The Tree Hugger Environmentally conscious travelers will…

After hopping off the A Line train from DIA, visitors only have to roll their suitcases some 110 steps to reach the cabin-cozy lobby—wooden-slat-covered two-story windows, plaid upholstery, a flickering gas fireplace—of the Hotel Born. Giving the 200-room Kimpton property a palpable Rocky Mountain sense of place was a priority for local design firm Semple Brown; in fact, the first thing you’ll see when you open your eyes in the morning are the knotty pine panels that extend from the headboards onto the ceiling. GET A ROOM: Save your dollars for Union Station’s eclectic boutiques. Even the standard rooms, which start at $239, have plenty of natural light, thanks to full-length windows. Bonus: Tell the staff you’re bringing your pup (he’s welcome at no extra charge), and they’ll have a…

7 Moxy Denver Cherry Creek

If the bar-as-reception shtick doesn’t catch your attention and you somehow miss that the hotel’s “restaurant” is really just a fancy grab-and-go station, the elevator car styled as a selfie photo booth will probably clue you in to the fact that Moxy—a boutique brand by Marriott International—caters to the millennial set. Even if the giant Jenga in the communal space feels a little precious and calling its staff “crew” comes off as just a bit affected, it’s difficult to deny that the breezy, live-and-let-live ambience is anything other than outrageously fun. GET A ROOM: Except for possibly upgrading to a room with a mountain view—usually $30 more than the $199 starting price—you need not worry about splurging for the “good” room. Almost every one of Moxy’s 170 guest rooms looks…

7 Moxy Denver Cherry Creek

What do you do when you feel young but are starting to look your age? If you’re C Lazy U Ranch, you get a face-lift. The luxury dude ranch outside of Granby marked its 100th year with a $10 million renovation that included updates to the main lodge and all 40 cabins—the new, rough-sawn hardwood floors and bed frames were crafted from beetle-kill pine harvested on ranch property—not to mention the addition of the Adega Wine Room. The celebrations are extending to guests in other ways, too, with special overnight packages (starting at $275 per night, per person, the Trains, Horses & the Wild West offering comes with tickets for the Winter Park Express train); weekly summer fireworks shows; and Prohibition-era cocktail-making classes. Cowboys and cowgirls can also toast to…

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