Red brick buildings. Lively streets. Colorful art murals. Drool-worthy food. Denver, Colorado is such a fantastic place to visit and a hub for food, art, and outdoor activities.
It’s become almost a tradition that I visit Denver, Colorado for a weekend around my Birthday. After the first few trips I thought, what else is there really to do? I’m sure to run out of things to put on my itinerary!
But with each trip, I keep discovering new fun places and attractions to visit in Denver that make it a great weekend destination. It also doesn’t hurt when your best friend lives in the city and has an insight scoop on all the newest spots to visit.
Psst! Be sure to check out this guide next: Fun Things To Do In Denver, Colorado Like A Local
So, if you’re planning a weekend trip to Denver, we cover 10 amazing attractions and things to do that will make it an unforgettable trip:
- Grab Food At The Denver Central Market
- Roam Around RiNo Art District
- Go Axe Throwing
- Watch A Baseball Game At The Coors Field
- Grab Food & Drinks At The Original
- Visit A Brewery
- Head Out To Castle Rock For A Hike
- Dine At The Tribe at Riverwalk
- Explore Dairy Block
- Enjoy Dinner At Jovanina’s Broken Italian
Grab Food At The Denver Central Market
If you have just arrived in Denver, one of the first things that you may be looking for is a spot to eat.
At The Denver Central Market you don’t get just one eatery – but 11 different food vendors all within the same building.
This is a great place to head for food if you’re just getting your bearing of the city and need quick, delicious nourishment before hitting the town.
If you’re traveling in a group, The Denver Central Market is a great spot to visit because it can accommodate everyone’s taste and diet needs. With 11 different food sellers to choose from, even the pickiest of eaters will be satisfied!
At The Denver Central Market, each vendor has a designated area where they sell food. All of the food stalls have unique, eye-catching designs and style that just draws you in. The hardest part was picking just one spot to order from because they all looked so good and appetizing!
From breakfast pastries and bagels to sandwiches, pizzas, and seafood, the food choices here are unlimited. During our visit, I got the Izzio Bakery & Cafe Eggs Benedict on Croissant that is served only on the weekends along with a Nutella pastry. Both were so fresh and the bread was extremely soft and fluffy.
At the center of The Denver Central Market, you can find the Curio Bar if you wish to grab a citrusy cocktail with your meal.
Want something healthier? Grab a smoothie from the Green Seed. Health Nut smoothie was our favorite that comes with blueberries, pineapple, kale, almonds, almond milk, yogurt, and honey.
For the full list of vendors and to browse their food menus see more on The Denver Central Market Website Here.
Location: 2669 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Roam Around RiNo Art District
After getting food at the Denver Central Market set aside some time to walk around the RiNo Art District.
River North Art District (or RiNo) is a unique neighborhood in Denver that showcases street art, murals and has a ton of cool galleries, breweries, and eateries.
RiNo Art District is one of the most beloved and interesting areas of Denver. At its core, it’s trendy, weird, hip, and extraordinary. It’s a place that gives a chance for street artists to express themselves, take political stands and display their talents to the general public.
There are many beautiful murals to observe and view throughout the RiNo Art District. The alley between Walnut and Larimer Streets has the highest density of murals so we recommend walking down this section of the district on foot.
If you’re interested in a guided walking tour, check out this highly-rated Denver Graffiti Tour that will cover 20-30 of the best art pieces and murals in the RiNo Art District.
Location: 3525 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205
Go Axe Throwing
Would it even be a successful trip to Denver, if you didn’t do something completely odd and unusual?
During our weekend trip, we planned a night out to Class Axe Denver Throwing & Bar. I mean, after all, this blog is called Fun Life Crisis, and what a better way to let off some steam and have fun than to throw sharp objects while drinking beer? So, put on your best plaid shirt and head out for a night of amusement & a good time!
Class Axe Throwing offers indoor and outdoor axe-throwing lanes that are perfect for group events and date nights.
After checking in, we were assigned to our own private area with a designated instructor to help us learn how to throw the axes properly and safely. The guide also gave us tips on how to improve our form, and generally cheered us on to have a great time!
We booked one hour indoors which went by super quickly. They did offer us the chance to add more time at the end (as long as there is availability and it’s not completely sold out).
Overall, it was one of the most fun things that we’ve done in a while and helped me discover a secret talent for axe throwing that I didn’t know I had!
Check out Class Axe Denver on Groupon here!
Watch A Baseball Game At The Coors Field
Looking for an activity that doesn’t involve throwing sharp objects? Denver is home to the Coors Field baseball park that is located right smack in the middle of the downtown. Coors Field is also conveniently situated just a couple of blocks from the Denver Union Station which provides easy train access to and from the airport.
Coors Field baseball park is the home field for the Colorado Rockies. Even if you’re not a big baseball fan, this is a great place to come for a few drinks, watch a game and enjoy a lively, fun atmosphere. Coors Field was built pretty recently so it’s well planned out and offers great food options, drinks, and tons of things to do within the stadium. Those with tickets in the standing areas can also enjoy views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains as the backdrop.
Traveling on a budget? For a few bucks, you can get cheap tickets in the Rockpile section. The catch is that you can only purchase Rockpile tickets the day of the game, have to go immediately in, and the seats are located furthest from the field – but the price is hard to beat!
Want to plan ahead? Browse the available Colorado Rockies Tickets on StubHub here!
Fun Fact: Denver is known as the Mile High City and one of the most notable things about the Coors Field is the 20th-row purple seats that mark the location of one mile above the seat level. And did you know that during the Coors Field construction they found triceratops dinosaur fossils under the stadium grounds? Hence the Colorado Rockies mascot was born – Dinger, the Dinosaur.
Location: 2001 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205
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Grab Food & Drinks At The Original
After the baseball game, head over to The Original, a brand new restaurant next to the stadium that centers around upscale comfort food.
The OG Denver is set up to look like a 1950’s diner, but with a hip interior and amazing food & drink choices. Their menu covers some innovative dishes and some American classics with a modern twist.
A couple of plates that you can’t go wrong with are the Charred Carrots appetizer topped with pistachio pesto and goat cheese. For dinner, the Short Rib Stroganoff is an absolute MUST!
If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, I really enjoyed the Pan Roasted Idaho Trout that was filling, light and healthy. Finish the meal strong with a warm brownie Sunday or one of their signature Boozy Shakes.
After dinner, we recommend grabbing a few drinks at the adjacent Rally Bar that has a sleek, classy interior and excellent service.
Location: 1600 20th St, Denver, CO 80202
Visit A Brewery (Or Two Or Three)
If you love craft beers, you’ll be happy to learn that Denver has an incredible selection of breweries to choose from. After all, Colorado is home to over 400 breweries, many of which are located in Denver.
Some of our favorite breweries that we have visited over the years are:
- Denver Beer Co in the Highland Neighborhood. This is a very popular brewery with a large, open space and an industrial look. If you want to bring back a hat as a souvenir for a loved one, Denver Beer Co hats have modern designs and look great! I got one for my husband and he wears it daily. After grabbing a beer be sure to stop by and check out the “Greetings From Denver” mural on the back wall of this brewery.
- Cerveceria Colorado. If you’re looking for more of a chill vibe, pop into Cerveceria Colorado which is located just next door from Denver Beer Co. This brewery has really colorful, eye-catching designs inside, out. Cerveceria Colorado takes pride in creating Mexican-inspired beers by using traditional Mexican ingredients and flavors.
- Epic Brewing in RiNo Art District. If you’re looking for a solid brewery & taproom, Epic Brewing is that spot. It smells like hops, it looks like a brewery and it has a great selection of beers like a brewery should. Along with a wide selection of beer they also offer hard seltzers. We tried the Barrel-Aged Pakka Shot which gets stored in whiskey barrels so it tastes like whiskey and is much higher in alcohol.
- Odell Brewing RiNo Brewhouse. This is another great brewery with a wonderful outdoor patio at the center of the RiNo Arts District. This is a great spot to come enjoy an afternoon beer on a sunny weekend day.
Can’t choose just one brewery to visit during your trip? Check out this awesome Craft Beer Tour in Downtown Denver that will take you to some of the best breweries in town!
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Head Out To Castle Rock For A Hike
Looking to get out of the city for a couple of hours and tackle a hike? Over the years we’ve been exploring some of the smaller cities on the outskirts of Denver like Morrison and most recently, Castle Rock. Although to visit these towns you will need to rent a car for a few hours, apps like Zipcar make it easy to do so!
Castle Rock is a charming town just a 30–40-minute drive from Denver. Besides visiting the cute downtown, the most popular activity here is hiking the 1.3-mile-long Castle Rock Trail that starts at the Rock Park. This trail leads to the top of a hill that’s shaped like a castle tower for which the town is named after.
We hiked the Castle Rock Trail in late April and there was still a lot of snow all around making this trail feel very magical.
The trail itself is short but gains over 300 feet in elevation going straight up. Once you reach the top it flattens out and goes in a loop around large rock formations.
There are also some benches and picnic tables for resting and enjoying the views before heading back down.
Location: 1710 Front St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Dine At The Tribe at Riverwalk
After hiking the Castle Rock trail be sure to stop at the Tribe at Riverwalk restaurant in Castle Rock town for an incredible lunch that you won’t soon forget!
Arthur Gonzalez and Vanessa Auclair have been making a name for themselves in our hometown Long Beach food scene for years. So, when they opened their latest restaurant Tribe at Riverwalk in Colorado, we had to check it out!
With stellar brunch & dinner dishes and a modern approach, the Tribe at Riverwalk showcases an extra level of creativity. From gorgeous drinks to unique food items like the Elk Burger made with local Colorado Elk, there is something interesting and delicious for everyone to enjoy.
For breakfast, our favorites were the Smothered Burrito in a bowl version and the Mama’s Special that comes with eggs, potatoes, choice of meat, and yellow corn pancakes. All the ingredients tasted very fresh, were well thought out, and complimented each other perfectly!
Location: 115 Wilcox St Suite 120, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Explore Dairy Block
The Dairy Block is a place that I’ve been to before but it’s such a fun area that we keep returning here.
The Dairy Block is a small neighborhood in Denver that has many great attractions for locals and visitors alike. Here you can find a ton of restaurants and eateries, bars, a hotel, and local vendors selling clothing items and crafts.
The main center of the Dairy Block is an alley that is best known for outside patios, stunning wall murals, and art installations. This section of the Dairy Block also has Vegas-style outdoor bars where visitors can grab a craft beer and walk around or hang out at one of the designated picnic tables.
If you’re looking for something to eat, stop by the Denver Milk Market that offers over a dozen different food stalls and eateries covering many different menus from pizza to pasta, sandwiches, tacos and so much more.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, The Maven Hotel is a highly rated, beautiful hotel at the heart of the Dairy Block.
For more on The Maven Hotel and to make reservations check it out on Booking.com here!
Dairy Block Location: 1800 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80202
Enjoy Dinner At Jovanina’s Broken Italian
For one last all-out dinner, I highly recommend dining at Jovanina’s Broken Italian. This is an upscale Italian restaurant that’s perfect for special occasions like turning 35 (ehhmm did I just say that out loud?!).
The inside of Jovanina’s features interesting pieces like an old elevator that now functions as a floating dining table. The vibe feels eclectic with the perfect balance of old and modern.
Jovanina’s Broken Italian offers an intimate dining experience that’s based on a small but well-thought-out Italian menu with a bit of a Colorado influence.
The food menu is limited to one page, but everything we ordered was mouthwatering, down to the smallest appetizers like roasted olives and Rosemary Country Loaf. For pizza, the Jovanina’s Fennel Sausage was a huge hit! For pasta we tried the Butternut Squash Gnocchetti and Wild Mushroom Fettuccini – both very light and filling.
And let’s not forget the cocktails! The First Empression is a favorite and comes with a well-balanced combination of gin, elderflower, lemon, lavender syrup, and sparkling rose – so fun!
Jovanina’s Broken Italian is an upscale restaurant so most food items fall in the $20-$30 price range.
Location: 1520 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202
Looking for more travel inspiration? Be sure to check out some of our other popular travel posts below!
- 10 Fun Things To Do In Denver, Colorado Like A Local
- 10 Best Downtown Denver Hotels That’ll Elevate Your Visit
- Guide To Driving Logan Canyon Scenic Byway In Utah
- Guide To Visiting Wind Caves In Logan, Utah
- Guide To Driving Nebo Loop Scenic Byway
Interested in stepping up your photography skills? Here is the camera gear that I use and recommend to create amazing travel photos:
- Main camera: Sony a7II Camera With 28-70 mm Standard Lens
- Polarizer Filter for the standard lens (helps eliminate reflection and enhance color especially on super bright days): Amazon Basics 55 mm
- Wide Lens (great for nature shots): Sony 16-35 mm F4
- Polarizer Filter for the wide lens: Amazon Basics 72 mm
- Small Tripod (to stabilize photos and eliminate blur): JOBY Gorrilapod
- Memory Cards: SanDisk 32 GB
- Batteries: Sony Camera Charger Set
- Camera Bag: Lowepro weather-resistant bag
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