Denver Area Last Minute Lodging/Things to Do
June 18, 2022 9:09 AM Subscribe
Plans for a greater-Denver-area trip changed last minute, and now I need to book a new place to stay for the start of next week or more. Where in the greater Denver area should I stay, and what should I do to entertain myself?
Due to COVID exposure of a friend I was going to stay with, I'm looking to rearrange Denver-area plans for a few days starting Sunday. Plans were: stay in Monument at a friend's place, spend Monday doing some hiking near Colorado Springs, and see a friend near CO Springs. I'd work remotely during the week, and I have tickets to a show at Red Rocks on Wednesday.
Now I need to find someplace to stay for at least the first few days of the trip, if not more. I've also lost easy access to a car as a result of the COVID exposure, which complicates things. (For the sake of this question, assume I've got a way to get to/from Red Rocks.)
My first instinct was to find a small Airbnb someplace transit accessible in Denver, since urban is easier for navigation and self entertainment w/o car. If so, what neighborhood/area should I pick? What should I do to entertain myself on Monday (full day off), or evenings after work?
That said, Monument-friend-stay was originally appealing since it seemed less hot than Denver, and I could go hike/run easily. Is there someplace besides Denver I should stay for a few days? I'd prefer to avoid the added cost of renting a car, but don't mind getting around by Lyft if I can. Also willing to entertain car rental if lodging is cheap.
General stuff:
-Trying to not break the bank cost-wise since this is last minute, but I'm not too cost sensitive if it's worth it
-Still COVID-cautious: no indoor dining but would spend masked time in a museum if it were exceptional
-My vacations usually fall into these three categories: outdoor adventure, (pre-COVID) city-center food and arts trips, and as of late, have been doing chill-near-water-with-a-book trips
-Things I like: vegetarian-friendly food, hiking, running, kayaking, reading books while sitting by bodies of water/pools/other nice places, art/music/museums, tea, hot springs
-Things I don't like: hard physical exertion in direct sunlight if it's over ~75 degrees
So my questions are:
-Where should I stay?
-What should I do to entertain myself, esp Monday?
Due to COVID exposure of a friend I was going to stay with, I'm looking to rearrange Denver-area plans for a few days starting Sunday. Plans were: stay in Monument at a friend's place, spend Monday doing some hiking near Colorado Springs, and see a friend near CO Springs. I'd work remotely during the week, and I have tickets to a show at Red Rocks on Wednesday.
Now I need to find someplace to stay for at least the first few days of the trip, if not more. I've also lost easy access to a car as a result of the COVID exposure, which complicates things. (For the sake of this question, assume I've got a way to get to/from Red Rocks.)
My first instinct was to find a small Airbnb someplace transit accessible in Denver, since urban is easier for navigation and self entertainment w/o car. If so, what neighborhood/area should I pick? What should I do to entertain myself on Monday (full day off), or evenings after work?
That said, Monument-friend-stay was originally appealing since it seemed less hot than Denver, and I could go hike/run easily. Is there someplace besides Denver I should stay for a few days? I'd prefer to avoid the added cost of renting a car, but don't mind getting around by Lyft if I can. Also willing to entertain car rental if lodging is cheap.
General stuff:
-Trying to not break the bank cost-wise since this is last minute, but I'm not too cost sensitive if it's worth it
-Still COVID-cautious: no indoor dining but would spend masked time in a museum if it were exceptional
-My vacations usually fall into these three categories: outdoor adventure, (pre-COVID) city-center food and arts trips, and as of late, have been doing chill-near-water-with-a-book trips
-Things I like: vegetarian-friendly food, hiking, running, kayaking, reading books while sitting by bodies of water/pools/other nice places, art/music/museums, tea, hot springs
-Things I don't like: hard physical exertion in direct sunlight if it's over ~75 degrees
So my questions are:
-Where should I stay?
-What should I do to entertain myself, esp Monday?
My first choice would be Capitol Hill/Cheesman Park/Uptown — close to downtown, major bus lines/bike lanes, lots of food and close to museums and stuff. But Baker, Highlands, and other neighborhoods within a 2-3 mile radius of downtown should do what you need…
posted by heurtebise at 11:05 AM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by heurtebise at 11:05 AM on June 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Denver Art Museum’s Art of the Ancient Americas/Pre-Colombian collection is absolutely stunning. I would recommend a visit just for that gallery. They have it split into a spacious gallery that allows individual pieces to shine and a more in-depth chronological and geographical display in a separate room with smaller, partial, or more practical artifacts laid out to illustrate distinct cultures and historical periods. It’s one of my favorite museum experiences.
posted by theotherdurassister at 12:07 PM on June 18, 2022
posted by theotherdurassister at 12:07 PM on June 18, 2022
The botanical garden was excellent. I don't have current recommendations but at least in the before-times, Denver/Fort Collins/Boulder was one of the epicenters of craft brewing.
posted by mmascolino at 12:18 PM on June 18, 2022
posted by mmascolino at 12:18 PM on June 18, 2022
Stay in Boulder.
posted by Clustercuss at 1:56 PM on June 18, 2022
posted by Clustercuss at 1:56 PM on June 18, 2022
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Denver Botanic Gardens if not too hot
Meow Wolf (a little pricey but an experience~)
posted by eyeball at 10:08 AM on June 18, 2022