He Said/She Said Denver

Kristin and Allen may have grown up in different states (she hails from the Chicago suburbs and he’s a native of Cincinnati, Ohio), but they adopted the same city as young adults: Denver. That’s where they met and had their first date (at iconic Denver diner Steuben’s). Now newlyweds who have been married for just over a year, the couple shares their unique he-said, she-said take on what to see and do in the Colorado capital they call home.

Denver Is His/Her City

Allen: When someone comes to visit me, the first place I take them is t0 Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Kristin: When someone comes to visit me, the first place I take them is to a local microbrewery. Prost Brewing, The Great Divide, and the Wynkoop are some of my favorites.

Summer is the best time to visit my city because there are so many great outdoor events and activities.

September is the best time to visit my city because the aspen leaves begin to change to a pretty yellow and the weather is beautiful and sunny.

You can see my city best from a bicycle! Denver has a nice network of trails and bike lanes.

You can see my city best from the Highland neighborhood in northwest Denver or by hiking up Green Mountain just outside of town.

Locals know to skip ordering “Rocky Mountain oysters” and check out one of the farm-to-table restaurants around town instead.

Locals know to skip the Denver Aquarium and check out Denver Botanic Gardens instead.

Rockmount Ranch Wear is the place to buy authentic, local souvenirs.

DING!

In the past, notable people like author Jack Kerouac, First Lady of the United States Mamie Eisenhower, and RMS Titanic survivor Molly Brown have called my city home.

In the past, notable people like folk-rock band The Lumineers, politician Madeleine Albright, and Titanic survivor Molly Brown have called my city home.

My city’s best museum is the Denver Art Museum because of the incredible architecture of the Daniel Libeskind building.

My city’s best museum is the Denver Museum of Nature & Science because it usually has great exhibits.

If there’s one thing you should know about getting around my city, it’s that you should make use of the bicycle-sharing program or take one of the RTD buses or trains. You can get anywhere on them.

If there’s one thing you should know about getting around my city, it’s that it’s best seen by bicycle.

The best place to spend time outdoors in my city is Confluence Park.

DING!

My city really knows how to celebrate the opening of the National Western Stock Show. Where else could you see a cattle drive through the middle of a major city in January?

My city really knows how to celebrate Labor Day. People really value their time off here and take advantage of the three-day weekend to camp, hike, go on bike rides, barbecue with friends and family, and hang out in great parks. Plus, the weather is perfect for spending time outdoors. 

You can tell if someone is from my city if they are wearing Denver Broncos gear or something from Patagonia.

You can tell if someone is from my city if dressing up to go out means they are wearing a pair of nice jeans, a collared shirt, and a Patagonia jacket.

For a fancy night out, I

DING!

Just outside my city, you can visit amazing mountain towns like Dillon, Frisco, Estes Park, and Breckenridge.

Just outside my city, you can visit the beautiful Rocky Mountains. They’re less than an hour’s drive away.

My city is known for being snowy and cold, but it’s really blessed with 312 days of sunshine a year.

My city is known for being snowy and cold, but it really has a mild winter with frequent days of sunshine (especially when compared to the weather in the mountains).

The best outdoor market in my city is Civic Center EATS (Tuesdays and Thursdays, May through October). Food trucks and vendors come from all over town to participate.

The best outdoor market in my city is the Cherry Creek Farmers Market (Saturdays and Wednesdays, May through October).

The Denver Biscuit Company is my favorite place to grab breakfast, and My Brother’s Bar is the spot for late-night eats.

Snooze is my favorite place to grab breakfast, and Sputnik is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what’s going on at night and on the weekends, read the Westword.

DING!

My city’s biggest sports event is any Broncos game. Watch one at Sports Authority Field at Mile High—if you can score a ticket.

My city’s biggest sports event is the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Watch it live near Civic Center Park.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I eat at one of the amazing and affordable local Mexican taquerias.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I attend First Fridays on Santa Fe Drive to admire the art and snag free drinks and snacks at local galleries.

To escape the crowds, I go to one of the fun north Denver neighborhoods like Highland or Berkeley.

To escape the crowds, I head to Evergreen, Colorado, for a hike close to town.

The dish that represents my city best is Denver green chili, and microbrewed beer is my city’s signature drink. Sample them at Benny’s Restaurant and Tequila Bar and the Wynkoop, respectively.

HALF DING! 

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the best place to see live music, but if you’re in the mood to dance, check out The Denver Turnverein.

HALF DING! 

A giant blue bear peering in the window of our convention center could only happen in my city.

Having more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks locations could only happen in my city.

In the spring you should bike along the Cherry Creek Trail to Washington Park.

In the spring you should hit up a Rockies baseball game at Coors Field.

In the summer you should catch an outdoor movie at Red Rocks’s Film on the Rocks.

In the summer you should ride your bike down Clear Creek Trail to Golden, Colorado, for the day.

In the fall you should venture to one of Denver’s mountain parks to catch the aspen trees turning yellow.

In the fall you should head up Guanella Pass Scenic Byway through Georgetown, Colorado, to see the beautiful autumn foliage.

In the winter you should venture west into the mountains for skiing.

In the winter you should snowshoe or ski at Eldora Mountain, just 45 miles from Denver.

If you have kids (or are a kid at heart), you won’t want to miss checking out one of the trains at Denver Union Station.

If you have kids (or are a kid at heart), you won’t want to miss the Children’s Museum of Denver.