Last week I spent a long weekend in Denver, Colorado with my family before attending my host agency’s annual conference for travel advisors. If you’re planning a trip to Mile High City, you’re in for a treat! Because what I discovered is that Denver is more than just a pit stop for skiing or a gateway to the Rockies, it’s a metropolitan city with a small town feel, giving a unique blend of urban culture and outdoor adventures.

Whether you’re a foodie, a nature lover, or a history buff, Denver has something to offer for everyone. Check out my 3-day itinerary to exploring Mile High City for the first time with my family!

Arrival Day: In Search of Good Eats

The first thing we do in any city upon arrival is look for good eats! And you can find plenty of them all throughout Denver. Our first stop was to the Highlands district where boutiques, wine shops, restaurants and bars are plentiful.

If you want a more quaint city experience, head out this way to get less of a touristy downtown feel and go where the locals go. We had some great tacos at Kiké’s Red Tacos (yes, that’s coming from a SoCal native!) followed by a cold treat at Little Man Ice Cream.

Day 1: History and the Great Outdoors

On our first full day in Denver, we took the bus from our hotel to the historic neighborhood of Capitol Hill, home to the Colorado State Capitol where we joined a free guided tour of the building to learn about its past, the history and culture of Colorado, and marvel at its stunning gold dome made of real 24K gold – it is 100% Instagram-worthy.

Inside, you’ll find that the building features beautiful marble and rose onyx throughout. In fact, according to Visit Denver, the adornment of the Colorado State Capitol’s interior depleted the entire known supply of rose onyx.

The building also features portraits of all our U.S. Presidents, past and present, painted by local Colorado artists. We also got to see state senate and house representatives in action from the viewing galleries – it was very cool to see my school-aged daughter experience that now that she’s starting to learn about government in school.

We ended our tour at the top of the building, inside the gold dome, and got to take in beautiful 360 degree views of the city.

Tip: Our travel dates didn’t align this time, but if you’re visiting Mile High City Monday through Thursday, definitely check out the Denver U.S. Mint, one of only six United States Mint facilities. They also offer free tours to show patrons how our currency is created!

From Capitol Hill, we hopped back on the bus to grab lunch at Union Station before meeting our tour guide for an excursion out of downtown and into the outdoors.

Tip: Tours often get a bad rep but partaking in one while on vacation is a great way to really learn about the destination from a local. You’ll also get to see a lot when you’re limited on time and resources (AKA a car) and taking a tour allowed us to venture out to see more.

Our guide was very engaging and shared fun and interesting tidbits and info about where we were and what we were looking at – he even kept the attention of my 9-year old daughter, which was a plus!

Our first stop was to Red Rocks Amphitheater, an iconic outdoor venue formed from natural red sandstone formations, coincidentally creating the most amazing acoustics for music and concerts. I had no idea and it was truly amazing to see.

The next stop on our tour was to Lookout Mountain, a summit used as a lookout point by the Ute tribe with more breathtaking views of Colorado from a new vantage point. By his request, Buffalo Bill and his wife’s gravestone are located up here as well.

As we ventured back to Denver, our guide drove us through the city’s different neighborhoods and told animated stories about characters from its past. I loved hearing these and also seeing so many colorful murals throughout. As with most metropolitan areas, culture and the arts are woven in deeply throughout the city.

Day 2: A Foodie’s Delight and the Arts

There was rain in the forecast so we planned for indoor activities as much as possible on this day. Our first stop was to Hammond’s Candies where we attended the free factory tour to learn about their deep Denver roots and how their candy is made.

By the time we got there, it was full on snowing so we took our time perusing through all the sweet and even savory confections at Hammond’s.

Next we made our way to Edgewater Public Market, a retail and food hall on the Denver city border. There are lots of options for good eats to snack on all day and a selection of stores to browse in between. They have events and plenty of space to sit, have a drink, or two, and catch up. Or, in our case, stay out of the wet rain and snow.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of great food we ate while in Denver. The food scene is definitely tasty and diverse!

From there, we decided on another indoor activity – Meow Wolf Denver. If you’ve never been, it’s an immersive, interactive art installation. There are a few Meow Wolf locations through the United States, each with its own unique concepts, themes, and exhibits.

We easily spent a couple of hours here, but be warned, there’s lots to stimulate the senses and it can be overwhelming. We take it slow and try to take our time. My girl was definitely looking forward to it and had a blast exploring!

Day 3: Getting Our Steps In in Lower Downtown

You can easily spend a full day walking around this neighborhood, also known as LoDo to the locals. Here you’ll find a ton of restaurants, bars, and boutiques that line the streets on blocks surrounding Union Station, the central train transportation hub in Denver and one of the main landmarks here.

You’ll find even more hidden gems tucked away in alleyways and in the nooks and crannies of the city. Everywhere we turned, there was something to sample, beautiful murals to take in, and cheeky installations that made for Instagram-worthy backdrops.

We walked through Larimer Square, up to Union Station, and over to McGregor Square adjacent from Coors Field. We dropped in and out of shops, and were amused at the number of beers and breweries throughout the city. Did you know that Denver sits near the top of the list of U.S. cities with the most breweries per capita? You can actually do a walking tour of breweries and tastings – check out the list and route on Visit Denver!

If all day drinking doesn’t quite fit the vibe, head northeast from LoDo to River North Art District, or RiNo, for an urban dose of art. This vibrant neighborhood is renowned for its dynamic street art scene, with colorful murals adorning every corner, showcasing the creativity of local and international artists.

Denver may be known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor adventures, but it’s also a treasure trove of cultural experiences and culinary delights. Is a trip to Denver on your must visit list? I hope this post inspires you to go there, or visit my blog for more travel inspiration!

Useful Tips: Don’t be afraid to use the public transportation system! If you’re staying downtown like we did, navigating the bus system was easy and can save you a ton of money. There are two apps you should know of, first is the RTD Denver app which allows you to plug in your starting location and destination to find schedules and best or quickest routes to get where you need to go.

The second is the RTD My Ride app where you can purchase and store tickets right on your device. A one-way ticket between Denver International Airport to Union Station located in Lower Downtown (LoDo) is $10, compared to $50+ for an Uber, or more depending on time of day. A one-day bus fare runs $5.50 for adults (youth under 19 ride free) and will give you unlimited rides for the full day.