Warwick Denver boasts a touch of elegance and rightfully so as far as we can tell. Their 219 rooms are the largest in square footage in Denver, marking in at 500 square feet, and are adorned with European antiques. Each room has a private balcony and floor to ceiling windows that offer a nice view of the city and the Front Range. The roof of the Warwick Denver has a heated pool that is open all year long. They are more than adequately equipped with meeting and banquet rooms. A Fitness Centre is available for guests as well as a 24 hour Business Center. A few blocks away is the 16th Street Mall and hence- the free 16th Mall Shuttle.

Don’t feel like going in to town for dinner- Warwick Denver presents Randolph’s Restaurant & Bar. Randolph’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily with the bar ready to accommodate drinks. One could even meet friends on the veranda for a garden like setting. The neighborhood of Uptown Denver also offers plenty of hip and fun restaurants and coffee houses as alternatives to conquering downtown.

Room Rates run from $100 to over $400. Though they do have an internet saver rate and sometimes they do pop up on other internet discount sites.

Take a look for yourself by clicking over for a Virtual Tour!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The 16th Street Mall

Spanning the expanse of Downtown, The 16th Street Mall is one of the most convenient and accessible places Denver has to offer. Pick an end of Denver, either Civic Center at Broadway and Colfax, or Market Street Station- the 16th and Market side or hop on one of the FREE 16th Street Mall Shuttles and ride the Mall from start to finish.

The Shuttle Buses run every few minutes and the Shuttle stops are on every block on both sides of the street. They are free, handicap accessible and you can bring your bike on with you. Many residents and tourists utilize the readily available shuttle buses to get to all points in Downtown Denver. This works fantastically as 16th Street is fairly central, so once you get to the block you need it is only a few blocks walk to where you are going!

One can truly use the 16th Street Mall as an epi-center and its Shuttle to navigate all of your Downtown Viewing or Business. Take it to Civic Center and you are across the street from the Capitol, The City and County Building, The Central Library, The Courthouses and the Basilica. Hop off at Arapahoe Street and you are two blocks away from The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, The California stop brings you within two blocks of The Convention Center. The possibilities are endless!

16th Street Mall has something to offer everyone with plenty of shopping, a plethora of restaurants for your every taste and craving, and Civic Parks for relaxing in the shade. There are many hotels either on the mall itself or within walking distance so that you may stay in the heart of the action, and businesses that cater to anything you could think you might need – including barbers, drugstores, knick knack shops and sundries. Don’t miss the Street Vendors, buskers, game tables, the public art installations, and so much more!! And don’t forget – transportation up and down the mall is free with the shuttle, but if you must drive, the parking meters are free on Sundays!

If people watching is your sport of choice- plan a visit around lunch time and the 16th Street Mall will delight your senses even more as the business folk mingle with the teens who are mingling with the performers who will no doubt mingle with you!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Henry Cordes Brown, who was originally from Ohio, brought his family to Denver and homesteaded on the 160 acres that is now known as Capitol Hill. Over the years he built up the neighborhood into one of the most swank in Denver at the time. Unfortunately he lost his fortune in economic crisis of 1877 and was forced to sell his estate. not one to be kept down long, he was back in the flush by 1880. Several years later when he was refused entrance into Denver’s fanciest Hotel, The Windsor, because he was wearing his cowboy clothes he set out to make a Hotel just right for his kind.

In 1892 The Brown Palace opened its doors for the first time- and in no time at all surpassed any grandeur that preceded it. Built in the Italian Renaissance out of Colorado Red Granite and boasting 26 hand carved medallions of Rocky Mountain animals, the lobby inside is adorned with imported Onyx and Marble and was the first atrium lobby in a Hotel surrounded by balconies up to eight floors! The Hotel was soon known as the best in town and settled in for that reputation to remain alive for over century. Located on the unique corner of 17th and Broadway, The Brown Palace has a triangular shape that accommodates the odd converging of those streets. In its early days the food was provided by its own farm, water was from its own artesian well, generated its own electricity and had its own incineration facility. The furnishings were the finest money could buy inside the rooms and throughout the entire hotel.

Legend has it that tunnels ran under the Brown Palace and under the streets to The Navarre Building where there was a Gambling House and a Brothel. The tunnels supposedly hid the statesmen and famous guests from being exposed while using the amenities across the street. Also, on May 24, 1911 one of Denver’s most notorious murders took place in The Brown Palace- the tragic outcome of a love triangle.

There have been many reports of ghost sightings. The Hotel itself offers a haunted tour! If you fancy yourself a ghost hunter make a reservation for room 904. Once inside unplug the phone and bring some friends in to tell them the story of a socialite who lived in room 904 from 1940 to 1955 and suffered a love loss so severe she never recovered. Then go downstairs and ask the front desk if there have been any calls from room 904. Yes, this has been known to happen- so frequently that the story has been removed from being mentioned on the haunted tour. There is a great recap of this tour over at a neighbor blog of ours, LiveDowntownDenver.

And be sure to check out The Brown Palace when you are next in downtown Denver. It started as a place for one man to feel at home and has become one of our Must Sees!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The Colorado Renaissance Festival has opened for the season! Featuring artisans showcasing their hand made crafts (everything from swords and knives to clothing and jewelry) and plenty of great food, the Renaissance Festival is open every weekend from June 14th to August 3rd! Located just 30 minutes from Denver in Larkspur, Colorado, it’s a short day trip that is sure to be full of fun for the entire family! Check out their suggestions for a more “scenic route” from Denver if you’d like to avoid the sometimes heavy traffic on I-25. Colorado is beautiful, and if you have an adventurous spirit, the detour will be right up your alley. I know I love taking back roads and little used highways to get somewhere because sometimes you see the most interesting things off the beaten path.

The Festival features Theme Weekends, including an Ale Festival, Celtic Fling, Children’s Festival, and Wine Revelry. Each weekend the fair is open will feature a different Theme, so if you’re into something particular you might want to plan your trip down to Larkspur accordingly. The crafts and food offered won’t change, however, so if you’re just going for the atmosphere and to see a little jousting, have no fear, you can go any weekend you choose! The last weekend, August 2nd and 3rd, is a birthday party for King Henry (his 517th!) which is sure to be a rollicking good time for all attending.

Tickets are available online, or at the gate, or at King Sooper’s locations, and you can get discount coupons at local Wendy’s restaurants. Until July 11th, tickets are sold at a discount, so get them early, even if you don’t plan on going until later in the month!! If you’re thinking of tying the knot as a Knight and Lady, well, they can accommodate that too! There is plenty of Entertainment for the whole family, including roaming jesters and musicians as well as featured performers including a tribal circus, ventriloquists, and “washing wenches”. A map of the festival is available here (Adobe Acrobat required), and at the entrance gates to help you get around the festival proper.

Don’t let the Festival pass you by! Head on down to Larkspur and jump into the past! It’s a weekend you won’t soon forget!

[All Photos - SXC - Fairy, Jousting]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Denver is a fantastic town, however- it is also a starting point for many other travel adventures throughout Colorful Colorado. Therefore, we at The Denver Traveler, are launching a new feature entitled: “Detour at Denver” where we will highlight some of the finest destinations a short way away from Denver. For our first installment we present- Estes Park!

A mere hour and a half drive from Denver, right smack dab in the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest is glorious Estes Park, Colorado. Ignore the television and movie pronunciations of “East-Teas” Park and wow the natives by verbalizing “Eh-stus” Park as you tell folks where you are headed. Chances are you will receive smiles and votes of jealousy, for Estes Park is a bit of a natural wonderland.

A cool climate in the summer, a picturesque setting in the winter, makes Estes Park a destination for any time of the year. The mountain scenery will take your breathe away. The wildlife will make your heart skip a beat for joy and find you gasping in surprise. Bear Lake is luminous and Bear Lake Road, chock full of scenic wonders, are worth the trip alone. Estes Park gives you the opportunity to dazzle your friends and family back home by telling them how you hiked over the Continental Divide and stood a few feet away from a wild elk.

Lodging is affordable, believe it or not, at The Y.M.C.A of the Rockies. A gem in the wilderness that helps provide low cost respites. The Estes Park Center of the Y.M.C.A. of the Rockies can accommodate 3,500 people throughout its lodges and family cabins. There are two conference centers as well- perfect for company retreats and family reunions.

You’ve made it to Denver- keep on going, for a day or longer- on up to Estes Park. Keep your eyes open during the drive as many treasures are to be seen along the way: Nature doing what it does best, Farms and Farmhouses, and even a Cathedral!

All of the sights along the way are quaint, full of character and bond to make great memories all on their own. Estes Park will be the icing on the sightseeing cake!

[All Photos - SXC - Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3]

Post from: The Denver Traveler