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Denver Neighborhoods
Unless you're making your way to Rocky Mountain National Park, you'll likely spend most of your time hanging around the city center – specifically downtown, LoDo (Lower Downtown) and Uptown. Finding your way to and around these central neighborhoods won't be too difficult thanks to multiple forms of transportation, though you'll probably want to keep a street map on hand. Denver's streets are mostly laid out on a grid, though some major thoroughfares cut across diagonally. For help navigating the city's various neighborhoods, enlist the help of local by signing up for one of the best Denver tours.
Denver's core is a vibrant place bursting with restaurants, shops and museums. Anchoring the downtown area is Civic Center Park and the Colorado State Capitol. Separating downtown Denver from other popular areas (like Uptown) is East Colfax Avenue, the city's primary east-west thoroughfare, while Broadway and Lincoln Street are the more prominent north-south routes. Around the intersection of these streets sit numerous higher-end hotels catering to business travelers looking for easy access to the Colorado Convention Center.
Downtown Denver is composed of several smaller neighborhoods. Chances are you'll be spending much of your time in the Golden Triangle (a compact corner of the downtown area bordered by Lincoln Street, North Speer Boulevard and East Colfax Avenue) and Capitol Hill on the opposite side of Broadway. This part of central Denver is home to some of the city's most popular attractions, including the Denver Art Museum. You'll also find gems like the Molly Brown House Museum, the United States Mint and the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. If you'd prefer to spend your time outside, continue east of Capitol Hill to Cheesman Park or Congress Park – both offer walking paths and ample space for picnics. Sitting between the two parks is the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Despite its name (which is short for Lower Downtown), the hip LoDo district can be found a few blocks northwest of the state capitol – its epicenter occupying the area around the intersection of 20th and Blake streets. A walk through LoDo will lead you past a variety of restaurants, cafes and sports bars – after all, this is where you'll find Coors Field, where Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies play. To get a feel for LoDo, take a few hours to stroll down the 16th Street Mall; this popular pedestrian street is lined with shops, restaurants and bars.
Southeast of central LoDo – on the northeast fringes of the University of Colorado Denver campus – is Larimer Square. This historic neighborhood bustles with activity day and night. When the sun's up, people flock to Larimer Square to shop in its retail boutiques, while come nightfall, the area comes alive as nightlife venues open their doors. Though staying in LoDo or Larimer Square would mean easy access to Denver's entertainment, expect hotels in these areas to be pricey.
Continue northeast along North Speer Boulevard from downtown or Larimer Square and you'll find yourself along the banks of the South Platte River in an area aptly named the Riverfront. In addition to plenty of green space, this part of town is home to Empower Field at Mile High (where the NFL's Denver Broncos play), as well as some of Denver's most family-friendly attractions, including the Elitch Gardens Theme Park, the Children's Museum of Denver and the Downtown Aquarium. Adults will also find plenty to do along the Riverfront: The Museum of Contemporary Art is located here, while My Brother's Bar (once a hangout for Beat Generation icons Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady) is a nice spot to take a load off. The Riverfront is an easy walk from many of the hotels in downtown and LoDo.
Sitting on the opposite side of the South Platte River from LoDo, Highlands is Denver's latest "it" spot. This expansive neighborhood – bordered by Interstate 25 to the east, Federal Boulevard to the West, West 38th Avenue to the north and West 29th Avenue to the south – has experienced impressive growth over the past several years. Today, this neighborhood bursts with up-and-coming businesses, including shops and restaurants, but Denverites come here for eclectic eats. This part of the city has long been a gathering spot for Italian and Hispanic immigrants, and restaurants here serve up plates of Italian, Mexican, Peruvian and Argentinian fare. If you're interested in art, make your way to Tennyson Street, which boasts numerous art galleries and live music venues. Another hot spot is the Navajo Street Art District (south of 38th Avenue), where galleries, performance art space and restaurants abound. But if you're looking to hang your hat in Highlands, you won't find the same caliber hotels that you would downtown, though some budget-friendly properties do reside around West 29th Avenue.
Facing downtown's Capitol Hill area from the north side of West Colfax Avenue, Denver's Uptown district is the city's oldest residential district; Victorian and Queen Anne architecture dominates this part of town, and historic hotels like The Brown Palace and the Warwick Denver make elegant home bases. But like Highlands, Uptown is experiencing a surge in popularity thanks to the rising number of new bars and eateries. A big reason why Uptown beckons to locals and visitors alike is Restaurant Row: This stretch of East 17th Avenue is lined with all kinds of dining venues serving everything from tacos to Colorado's famous green chili. Uptown's other major draw is its proximity to City Park; flanking the eastern edge of the neighborhood, the 330-acre City Park boasts plenty of picnic areas, playgrounds and sports facilities, not to mention the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Northwest of Uptown is the Five Points district, another neighborhood known for its historical significance. Once referred to as the "Harlem of the West," Five Points was Denver's principal black neighborhood and a hot spot for jazz music – Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday are just some of the legends who passed through Five Points' clubs. To hear some of today's jazz greats, plan your Denver trip around the Five Points Jazz Festival, which the district hosts every May. This is also a great spot for dining, especially if you're craving barbecue, soul food or Caribbean cuisine. Although you won't find many hotels in this area, Five Points is easy to reach on foot from Uptown and LoDo.
Although the Highlands and Uptown districts are gaining ground, Cherry Creek remains Denver's primary shopping and dining district. Sitting southeast of Cheesman Park – and bounded by East 6th Avenue, Colorado Boulevard, Cherry Creek South Drive and University Boulevard – Cherry Creek features some of Denver's best restaurants and a bevy of high-end stores. Milwaukee Street – referred to as Cherry Creek North – boasts a wide array of art galleries and boutique stores, while the Cherry Creek Shopping Center houses such high-end designers as Burberry and Louis Vuitton. (The area also boasts some of the city's luxury lodging options, including the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek.) Meanwhile, the 40-some-mile Cherry Creek Regional Trail draws active travelers in droves, providing a scenic way to get from central Denver all the way to Cherry Creek Reservoir on the southeast fringes of town.
For a quainter shopping and dining experience, head southwest of Cherry Creek to the Old South Gaylord neighborhood. The area's main drag, South Gaylord Street, is lined with boutique stores, cafes and restaurants. When you're not exercising your credit card or your taste buds, head a few blocks west to Washington Park. One of the most popular green spaces in the city, this park features two big lakes (and a small pond), several walking trails and quiet respite from the bustling downtown area.
South Broadway is Denver's go-to antiquing spot. Fondly known as Antique Row, this 18-block stretch of Broadway starting at the intersection of West Alameda Avenue is known for its shops selling everything from collectable coins to historic artwork. The street also features a variety of bookshops, clothing stores and galleries, not to mention a mix of delectable eateries. If you're a night owl, you'll find plenty to do here after dark – South Broadway's nightlife scene comprises live music joints, salsa dancing venues, techno clubs and everything in between.
Meanwhile, Old South Pearl is a little more laid-back. Once the launch point of Denver's first trolleys, South Pearl Street is now lined with specialty shops, cafes and wine bars. You also find a variety of cuisines served in this part of town – from sushi to pizza. Just note that lodging options are scarce in this part of town (both South Broadway and Old South Pearl), so plan on bunking elsewhere.
These two neighborhoods in northeast Denver usually don't attract much tourist attention – neither Stapleton nor Northfield offers the cornucopia of shopping, dining or entertainment venues of more central areas. However, these two residential districts do attract nature lovers thanks to their proximity to the nearly 17,000-acre Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. This is the place to go if you're interested in seeing creatures like deer and hawks. Northfield offers the easiest access to the reserve, as well as to Dick's Sporting Goods Park, where Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids play.
Meanwhile, Stapleton (which sits directly south of Northfield) is a popular weekend spot among locals thanks to its numerous parks and its dog-friendly atmosphere. As far as shopping and dining is concerned, the Shops at Northfield Stapleton, an outdoor shopping plaza, comprises pedestrian-only streets lined with cafes and stores.
The main reason to visit Golden is to take a tour of the Coors Brewery, which was constructed in 1873 and is now one of the largest breweries in the world. But there's more to this neighborhood than beer. Located to the west of Denver, Golden holds fast to its Wild West heritage. Several of the attractions here – such as the Buffalo Bill Museum and the Colorado Railroad Museum – spotlight the area's cowboy culture. This area is also a great spot to enjoy views of the Rockies the way the pioneers did: on horseback. Golden boasts some excellent riding trails, including those at Apex Park and White Ranch Park. Another reason to make the trek out this way is to spend the day hiking (or the evening enjoying a show) at Red Rocks Park.
Safety
True to its name, the Mile High City sits 5,280 feet above sea level, and visitors should take precautions against altitude sickness, the symptoms of which include headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activities (and too much alcohol) for a day or so upon arrival. Only about 8 to 10% of visitors suffer from altitude sickness in the Mile High City. However, once you head to the mountains, your chances increase; an average of 25 to 30% of visitors get altitude sickness once they head up to the mountains. If you plan on visiting the Rockies, save it toward the end of the trip when you're body has already adjusted to the thinner air.
You also shouldn't underestimate the sun; even during the winter, the city's thin atmosphere makes it easier to get sunburned, so apply sunscreen regularly, even when the weather's cold.
Speaking of the cold, winter travelers may encounter "black ice" while walking or driving around the Denver area; black ice occurs when water on the road freezes and becomes practically invisible, especially after sundown. Be mindful of the weather by tracking storms and drive slowly on highways when there is one.
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