So my first trip in nearly two years is to Denver, Colorado, USA. It’s not a destination I ever particularly cared about exploring, but one I’ve anticipated visiting for a while now as a good friend of mine moved here not too long ago. And for the last 18 months, I’ve been planning to visit Denver this July for her wedding, which was held (it just happened this past weekend) up in the mountains. Of course within that time, Covid-19 happened and borders closed, making me question whether I’d be able to attend. At first I was certain I’d make it, then around early 2021 and into the spring, I began to doubt whether it was possible. At the end of April/early May I told her not to expect me, despite me being a bridesmaid. Things just seemed too impossible and Canada’s vaccination rates were still relatively slow. Plus, there was no way I was going to pay to stay in a quarantine hotel before locking myself up for nearly two weeks at home as Toronto finally reopens.

However, by early June things had turned around and suddenly there was a chance I could go. I got my second vaccine and Canada announced they would be lifting the mandatory hotel stay followed by the full two week quarantine for fully vaccinated citizens. But even that announcement produced no guarantees, as they hadn’t given a date. Finally mid-to-late June, it was announced that starting July 5th, the quarantine would be lifted if all criteria was met. I booked my flight, rushed ordered my bridesmaid dress, and went full steam ahead for trip planning, with only three weeks to the big day.

Now, booking accommodation in Denver was no easy feat. First there was uncertainty about where in the city to stay. Many sites recommend being near downtown but locals told me to avoid it. My friend said it wouldn’t be a great option for a female staying alone, and encouraged me to look at the Cherry Creek neighbourhood. Then I had to consider cost. I have no idea whether Denver is always an expensive city to stay, but for the dates I was looking at, the hotel costs seemed astronomical. Thankfully, over a year of unused credit card points helped cover my hotel costs.

The first night I stayed in the Halcyon Hotel in Cherry Creek, a posher suburb/neighbourhood. You’ll be able to find my full thoughts on the hotel under my reviews within the coming days, but to summarize - it was an excellent hotel and I can almost understand paying it’s high costs. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are delightfully comfortable and spacious, the service was great, and there was a lot included for the cost, such as free tea or coffee at all hours from the reception desk (which looks more like a cool barista stand, where you can order fancy oat milk lattes and have a full selection of teas). You’d also find mugs and tea on each floor - a little station with newspapers, tea, hot water, and mugs. Throughout the hotel there was sanitization stations, with hand sanitizers and tissues, another welcome touch in this pandemic world. And then the hotel has happy hour from 3-6pm with free wine and beer for guests. I could go on in detail but the point is, the hotel was quite the luxury and I imagine worth it’s normal price if one can afford it.

Now, for Denver itself….

The airport was a trip, and not in a good way. Aside from getting that immediate feeling that I was in America, I wasn’t thrilled with the airports layout or organization. Having to take a train to the terminal where you get your luggage seems unnecessary and the result of poor urban/architectural planning. And they couldn’t even manage to get the carousel information right. So as a passenger arriving in Denver’s International Airport, I wasn’t impressed, nor was I fully thrilled by the crowds. Minus the masks, you’d never know Covid was still a thing.

Getting from Denver to the city can be long and costly, so it’s best to take the train from the airport. It’s rather easy and costs approximately US $10. However, unless you’re going to the downtown core of the city, you better expect to switch to a bus to get where you need to go, or be prepared to order an Uber. I quickly discovered that Denver is not the most walkable city. There are neighbourhoods to explore that are easy to walk, but the city as a whole is vastly spread out and you better be up for a long and not always pretty walk. I personally took the train to ‘38th-Blake’ and got an Uber from there to my hotel in Cherry Creek. My driver was super friendly and we had a pleasant - and masked - chat in the car.

Aside from taking an Uber, I have found that masks are a thing of the past in Denver. I know the vaccination rates are high, but coming from Toronto, I expected to see more masks. Apparently, the citizens are ready to forget Covid and move on, something I’m still adjusting too. Back in Toronto, indoor dining is still not an option, movie theatres soon reopening (but not yet), and gathering numbers limited. In Denver, most of the rules are fully out the window. So I got to eat inside a restaurant for the first time in over a year… what a wild life I live, huh?

Unfortunately for me, contending with culture shock, navigating a new city, and prepping for a wedding were the least of my concerns. The day before my flight I babysat my cousin’s child and what neither of us realized was that he had a cold in the works. Needless to say, and given my propensity for getting sick on trips, I caught said cold. While on the plane, the sniffles started and by the end of the first night, I knew I was screwed. Sadly, I didn’t have the luxury to spend the next day recouping in bed, and instead had to get my act together and be the bridesmaid I flew out to be. So perhaps my first day and a half was a little jaded because of the oncoming cold.

However, I did enjoy my first day over all despite the sniffles and the stifling heat (37 degrees Celsius). The maid of honour for the wedding was a friend from undergrad so we were happy to spend the day catching up while the bride ran errands and spent time with family. Together, we went for lunch at a local hot-spot in Cherry Creek called True Food Kitchen. It was nice, the meal was good, but it had a very clear vibe and crowd. From the Lululemon wearing yogalates ladies, to the the young-trying to be hip and wealthy, to the suits doing a working lunch … it was a clearly a cool spot to go that just happened to be convenient for us with a fresh sounding menu. The menu was okay, as was the food, but to be honest, it felt over hyped. I don’t care who sees me eating out in Denver, but this felt like the type of place where people want to be seen frequenting.

Caught in the act of taking a food picture

Tomato Soup at True Food Kitchen

Happy Hour Bubbly at Halcyon Hotel

From there, we walked around the Cherry Creek area and explored the large mall that received good reviews and came recommended by every guide I looked at. Truthfully, it felt like every other nice American mall, if not disappointing. The stores were a bit smaller and the selection limited. So while clearly a haute destination for Denver shopping, it wasn’t anything special. Another mall to enjoy or hide out in when looking for AC or a shield from rain. That said, if you’re looking to stock up on some American brands, find some nice clothes, or want some typically American treats (Frozen yogurt, edible cookie dough, etc.), this isn’t a bad choice. Personally, I was just happy to see Aritzia there - a point of Canadian pride; the so-called elite of Denver shop in Cherry Creek North and at the Cherry Creek Mall, so seeing Aritzia included as an option for them made me proud. Of course, the crowd in this particular neighbourhood seem more into Lululemon leggings than an Aritzia blazer… oh well, style is subjective.

The rest of our afternoon was spent enjoying happy hour at the hotel and catching up, followed by chatting with an elderly couple who gave us great tips for Denver and regaled us with stories. We then freshened up before heading out to North Italia, a popular Italian restaurant in Cherry Creek, where we were meeting the bride and groom.

North Italia is definitely worth the trip to the Cherry Creek neighbourhood - a delicious Italian bistro that somehow manages to be both family friendly and a hip after-work spot. Looking around the restaurant, I found families dining in their pressed pants and shirts tucked, couples enjoying date night out, and coworkers throwing back drinks with Italian appetizers. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal and dessert, and the service was both friendly and attentive. However, as we sat down for a later dinner, I was exhausted by the end of the meal and had to turn in and try and sleep off the cold that was hitting full force.

In the morning, I was disappointed to find that my cold was infinitely worse - my nose a never ending faucet and constantly plugged to the point breathing became difficult. Nothing an obscene amount of cold medication couldn’t help with, enough for me to get a Starbucks Iced Tea and to hit up the local Whole Foods in Cherry Creek so I could grab breakfast. I could’ve grabbed breakfast at the hotel but the options weren’t doing it for me, so I chose to dine in the neighbourhood. However, Cherry Creek may be great for lunch and dinner options but its rather limited when it comes to a quick morning bite. So Whole Foods has become my morning go-to; a great option where I can get something quick and light or could hit up the breakfast hot bar. Because yes, here in Denver the concept of a buffet or hot bar is not taboo. Again, how in this Covid world do they have self-serve buffets, I’ll never know.

Post breakfast, I met up with the bride, maid of honour, and mother of the bride for a manicure and pedicure. My first since November 2020, so I was thrilled. The place was cute and clearly very trendy, the type of venue the wealthy casually frequent. However, while pricey, the service was friendly and attentive and they did a good job. My only complaint is that you have to scan a QR code to see all the gel colours on your phone. That’s just a personal pet-peeve … I want to see the colours in person. From nails, we went to the bride’s house to pack up and get everything together before we headed out to the mountains.

My overall first impression of Denver was that it had some charm but by no means was I overwhelmed.