LBloom

DD2 and I will be visiting Denver this week to see DD1 who lives near Washington Park. I have been to Denver 6-7 times and have seen most of the sites, but this is first trip for DD1. We will have Thurs and Fri to ourselves as DD2 works and on Sat are planning to do a day trip to the mountains. We are disappointed we could not get reservations to see the US Mint. Any suggestions on places to take DD2?

Was thinking of the Denver Art Musuem, Botanic Gardens (will the weather be nice?), 16th St. Mall area, Cherry Creek, the Science msuuem, Natural History Musuem. Any other thoughts? DD2 is 22, still a college student, into art and creative pursuits.

Any breakfast, lunch or dinner recommendations? DD1 is gluten free, vegetarian and we want some regular food, if you know what I mean, so we are planning to go out, so as not to offend her. Thanks!

Bitter

You've hit many of the highlights. Maybe not for her, but the aquarium is pretty neat, as is there is a airplane museum (new to me): Wings over the Rockies. (Note, if you go, skip the video unles you are a huge Harrison Ford fan).

The REI store near downtown is kind of cool.

Gretchen

The Botanic Gsrdens are quite nice. Art Museum is wonderful and has a very good restaurant--Pallettes.
If you want to do some fun shopping you might go to Pearl Street. There are cute good restaurants there also, and we love Five Green Boxes--they have two stores on the street. Very eclectic and fun shopping.
The other museums are very nice. I think the 16th St. Mall is a lot of kitsch. Better shopping around (not necessarily IN) Cherry Creek.
There ia a WONDERFUL spice shop--Savory Spice Shop. There is one near the REI store (forgot the street) and another one in Old Littleton, which would also be a fun area to shop in--and eat. Cute shops and restaurants.
Another good area for fun shopping and eating is the Highlands (NOT Highlands Ranch). Great cheese shop--St. Killian's, on 32nd ST. I think,.
Also, Little Man's Ice Cream shop!! Cute Cute.

Gretchen

Breakfast--Toast (is that right Denver folks).
Good to excellent Italian dinner would be Barolo Grill or Luce.
Pizza--Marco's Coal Fired Pizza near Larimer and 22nd. the best pizzeria plus lots of other GOOD stuff you will ever have!! They also serve limoncello marinated wings!! Delicious.
This is near Coors Field and it might be fun to take a tour--it is just a beautiful ballpark.
While at the Art Museum, be sure to look at the Denver library near there--really interesting architecture.
There is also tea at the Molly Brown Hotel.

Nelson

Gretchen, I think you meant tea at the Brown Palace hotel. Sitting at the Ship Tavern bar is also enjoyable, if that's your cup of tea, so to speak.

Another good breakfast place is Dozens, a block from the art museum.

Gretchen

Yes, the hotel,not the MOlly Brown House.

HappyTrvlr

Have a meal at the Washington Park Grill, excellent brunch too.
The Denver Art Museum is a must see. Check the Native American exhibits.

BetsyG

Reivers is a neighborhood bar & grill in Wash Park to get burgers, etc. It is on S Gaylord, if parking is a problem go further west on Mississippi to park. Bonnie Brae Ice Cream is also a landmark of the area with great homemade cones. If you like Mexican, the Bluebonnet Cafe is another old favorite not far from Wash Park. It will be busy though so go early/late.

The Art Museum would be a good choice. DD2 may like Cherry Creek North for shops, galleries. I think there are some galleries on South Santa Fe that may interest her.

We are supposed to get a front on Friday with rain so plan your outdoors activity on Thursday.

Gretchen

The Bonnie Brae area is really fun--our kids used to live on Gaylord, and indeed the ice cream parlor is darling. Blue Bonnet--the Mexican restaurant on maybe Lincoln?
A very reasonable and good French restaurant is Le Centrale. A real dining experience is Domo==country Japanese in a judo academy. Delicious beautiful food.

Bitter

Consider Pints Pub for lunch (near the DAM). If you want a bit of cheesiness, there is Casa Bonita with its divers. (Haven't been since the kids were a bit younger; I assume it's still around).

Gretchen

Please don't go to Casa Bonita unless you have a child under 10!! There are so many fun cute adult places to go!! (From a grandmother who hopes we have aged out!!)

wtm003

I had a delicious schnitzel lunch at Palette's at the DAM about a year ago. Request a seat next to the window for people watching.

www.ktrg.net/palettes/

I love the small plates at Panzano at The Hotel Monaco during happy hour. So many choices and a good way to sample a variety of items.

www.panzano-denver.com/lounge_thelounge.php

wtm003

I don't think The Tattered Cover book store at 16th & Wynkoop has been included above.

http://www.tatteredcover.com/lower-d...-historic-lodo

Gretchen

Oh a "to do"--maybe Sunday afternoon?

LBloom

Last night we arrived and had dinner @ Washington Park Grille. Very disappointing. 3/4 of us didnt like the food we ordered. I had a $20 pasta dish w/ 3 tiny scallops. Thought it was $$ for what we got.

Today we went to Colorado Springs. DD2 has never been & wanted to see some mountains. We were uncertain about Rockies north because of flooding & washed out roads. We did Garden of the Gods, lunch at the Tavern @ Broadmoor. So glad we did - service was great & food was terrific. Not as expensive as I had thought it would be. DD2 had turkey club. FF reminded us of frites in Paris. I had Shrimp Louis salad. Bread plate was amazing. We all shared a slice of Creme Brulee Cheesecake. Yummy. We got back to DD1 apt close to 8 pm & picked up dinner from Whole Foods. We were too tired to go out.

We did the Pikes Peak climb after lunch. There is already snow @ the summit. We stopped at the Castle Rock outlet mall & DD2 got jacket @ North Face store.

Gretchen

Please go "west" to see the mountains.