My fall vacation started of in the beautiful city of Denver! I’ve been to the Denver airport several times over the years on my way to Canada and spent the night there several years ago on a drive to Canada but for some reason it has never been my final destination… until now! I took an early morning flight from San Antonio to Denver and took a shuttle to the rental car area of the airport. The funny thing about Denver, 420 is very legal and that was very apparent from the beginning. I opened up the door to the rental car and the smell of weed was very apparent! When I stepped out of the hotel in the morning the first thing I smelled, weed. It was kind of strange and definitely interesting. A big change from CBD only Texas.
When I left the airport, I went straight to a restaurant called Pierogies Factory. Now for all of you who don’t know, pierogies are amazing! Boil them, crisp them up in a pan and eat them with grilled onions and sour cream. This was my favorite food growing up and still is to this day. There are many different flavors but I think the best is potato with cheddar cheese. Thank you central and eastern Europe for this gift! hahaha
After this I went to check in at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver. I had stayed at a Kimpton in Austin a few months ago and loved it so I went for the Denver version. The staff was amazing, the room was beautiful, the location was central and there were parking options that didn’t break the bank (unlike other Denver hotels).
After getting settled, I got ready and headed out to see the beautiful Mount Falcon which is a bit outside Denver in Morrison. It took about an hour to drive there and up the mountain. The drive went through a small town and winding roads filled with the most breathtaking views. There are beautiful trails there and it is an awesome place to take pictures and watch the sunset. I felt a little strange with my backpack and heels, trecking through dirt trails but it was worth it.
After that I headed to a tiny restaurant back in Denver, Restaurant Olivia. Again, the people ho worked there were wonderful!! And the food matched the staff… wonderful! The food was so fresh and flavorful, They even give every table fresh, homemade focaccia that is to die for! I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for Italian in the city. After dinner, I decided to explore a little in the RiNo district where I was planning on going the next morning. There is so much art in the city and this area is no exception. There is beautiful are EVERYWHERE! There were some fun little spots and plenty of places to take pictures! (see the gallery below)
When all was said and done, my first day, really a half day was great and full of relaxation! Where has been your favorite place to visit? Where do you plan on visiting next?
I loved Denver, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, and Boulder! So beautiful!!!
I want to go to Utah! Looks beautiful too!
I know! That part of the country is so beautiful. Its nice to be in places that are different from what we live in, you gotta change things up every once and a while 🙂