Things to do in Denver: Weekend Trips for Hipsters

 

While there is no denying that Denver has its share of the mainstream, up and coming art districts and funky neighborhoods are popping up all over the city where the culture-savvy will have no trouble filling the weekend with hip boutiques, breweries and baristas. Here are the top things to do in Denver on a weekend trip:

Eating: The Tea Bar‘s sustainable tea concoctions served with a side of chocolate truffle brownies out of a old school garage couldn’t get much better. On a cold day, try the Zuni cup made with earl of bengal tea, steamed milk and vanilla syrup. For a cool-down, try a fresh juice sourced from Boulder’s Pressery, made from local fruits and veggies. Don’t worry … your coffee friends can come too. Tea Bar rotates in guest roasters for those who can’t go without their cup of joe.

Just off Colfax Ave, the Juicing Tree offers up 100% organic, cold-pressed juices, nut milks and smart snacks. Un-pasteurized to preserve the vitamins, minerals and natural enzymes, Juicing Tree concoctions are as raw as they come. Try a la carte flavors such as the Green Wizard or Sunny Side to load up on fruits and veggies, or get serious with a juice cleanse/detox package.

City o’ City is a true hipster hangout. This vegetarian/vegan restaurant is a combination diner, coffee shop and bar all in one. Stop by for Kombucha and a gluten-free pastry or try their award-winning City o’ City quinoa and pinto bean burger. Be sure to take advantage of the happy hour from 2-6pm daily with deals on local Colorado drafts, house wines and gourmet eats.

Activities: Stranahan’s, Colorado’s first and only micro distillery, uses crisp Colorado water and Rocky Mountain barley to distill its small-batch whiskey. Reserve your spot on one of their one-hour tours through the production brew house, still and rack house. Check out the bottling room floor, and of course, taste some samples!

Earn your breakfast on a brunch run. Meeting at eateries across the city each Sunday, brunch runners embark on a 5K or 10K run around Denver before digging in to a delicious post-run meal. The 2014 restaurant lineup will include local favorites Vita and Olive and Finch. The brunching season will culminate in The bRUNch 5K at Stapleton Central Park, and will feature a Bloody Mary competition and best use of bacon awards.

Pack a lunch and a lot of sunscreen for an afternoon adventure to Bear Creek Lake Park. Located just minutes from Downtown Denver, the natural space offers a sandy swimming beach and water sport rentals at Soda Lakes Marina Boat Rentals. You can rent a stand up paddleboard and take a lesson from staff at Larson’s Ski & Sport. Test your balance on a stand up paddle board or make some wake with a water ski or wakeboard lesson on Little Soda Lake.

Nightlife: Check the chalkboard for the pints of the week, grab a pretzel and head out to one of Denver Beer Co.’s community tables to socialize with locals and visitors alike in a truly Bavarianbeer garden scene. This small-batch craft brewery draws a crowd with artisan ales and lagers, and hosts food trucks daily for when hunger strikes.

Eat, drink and play just blocks from downtown Denver at Ace, Denver’s only dedicated ping-pong hall. Taking up residence in an old Storz Garage space, Ace’s industrial design lends itself to a fun, relaxed hangout spot. Reserve a ping-pong table, munch on Asian inspired dishes or grab a beer on their year-round patio where heaters blaze in the winter.

Rock the juke box and celebrate the night at Vesper Lounge. A Frank Bonanno creation, this casual Capitol Hill bar serves up affordable eats and stiff cocktails. Try one of six Mediterranean dips served with fresh pita or the house cocktail, a – the signature drink of James Bond.

Shopping: Shop vintage in Denver’s trendy S. Broadway district at Boss Vintage. Specializing in both retail and wholesale vintage clothing, Boss Vintage offers pieces from the turn of the century to the 1970’s. In the business for over 25 years, this vintage store is a Denver institution.

Add to your eclectic music anthology at Twist and Shout, Denver’s largest, independently owned music collection. Check out this week’s new releases and catch an intimate, in-store performance. Or trade in your used CDs, DVDs, Video Games, LPs and Turntables for new tunes at their E. Colfax location.

Under the Radar: Slated to open in July of this year, Denver’s reinvented Union Station will soon serve as the epicenter of the city. Part of the FasTracks program, the multi-modal transportation hub will house new bike, taxi, rail and bus lines connecting downtown to the airport and outlying areas of the city. As part of the expansion project, the Crawford Hotel will house guests in 112 boutique rail-themed rooms in the renovated station. Guests will also have access to upscale shopping and dining at restaurants such as Kitchen Next Door, Terminal Bar, Snooze and Mercantile Dining and Provision by local famed-chef, Alex Seidel.

One stop gourmet shopping, The Source, as its name implies, is a collection of 15 carefully selected artisan restaurants and retailers housed under one collective roof. Occupying an 1880’s brick foundry building, the open nature of the repurposed space exemplifies its community-oriented philosophy. Try dishes from Acorn’s oak fired oven and grill, and Belgian sour beers at Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project. Or, pick up farm fresh cuts at Meathead and the perfect spirit at bottle-shop, The Proper Pour, for a night in.