I'm back

You've all been so helpful with ideas, now that we're narrowing down, I'm hoping for a little more help. We're looking at downtown Denver condos/houses to base ourselves out of for our week, and so far have found two possibilities that might work for us. One is at 17th and Larimer (condo), the other is in Capitol Hill neighborhood on Pearl St (house).

Any thoughts as to safety, walking distance convenience to lots of stuff, etc.? We don't mind some walking, but we also don't want to be tired by time we arrive to destinations.

The downside to the Pearl St. one is we'd have to move to somewhere else for our last night, would just do a priceline hotel in that case. But if folks thought it's a much better location, we're ok with that (not sure yet if friends would be, but we'd ask!)

I might be back with other neighborhood questions, hope you don't mind. I'm trying to finalize plans this weekend.

Of the two, I would chose the condo. It is downtown 1 block from the 16th Street Mall (which has a free shuttle bus along its length), two blocks from Larimer Square (with its restaurants and shops), very close to Lodo with its restaurants and Coors field. There would be easy access to I- 25 and then to the Boulder Turnpike if you still want to go to Boulder or to I-70 if you want to go west into the mountains. Walking in the area around the condo should be quite safe.

What block on Pearl is the house? It could be very close to some restauants or not depending on its exact location.

I think the Larimer location is more "in the middle of things"

If you want a "Downtown" experience - than definitely the Larimer condo. If you want more of a neighborhood feel, then Pearl St. Will you have a car? If so, you can easily get around to all the spots you would want to see - from either location. Without a car, more mass transit from the downtown location. Both areas would be fine to walk around - as long as you are not alone. You will see some panhandling in the Denver downtown area - not so much in the Pearl St. area. Capital Hill is a groovy area. You can't go wrong...

Thanks. We're waiting to hear back from the Larimer one. Based on your responses and the fact that we'd have to move somewhere else on our last night, we're not going to go with the Pearl St. one.

Anything you could tell me about either "Golden Triangle" neighborhood, "Lower Highlands," "Cherry Creek" or Castle Pines North? Sound like some if not all are driving rather than walking distance from downtown - on days we wanted to do downtown things, are traffic and/or parking big problems?

Thanks again for all the help. I'll be sure to do a good trip report!

Where are you getting those areas and why? Castle Pines North is 25 south of the city along I-25 almost to Castle Rock. Absolutely nothing there except suburbs. Cherry Creek is along Cherry Creek about 6 miles SE of downtown Denver. Site of the first shopping center west of the Mississippi and now home to the Cherry Creek mall which is viewed by most as an up scale shopping center. Also is the number one tourist attraction in the state. Hard to believe. But that area would be serviced by buses to downtown Denver. Also home to a number of good restaurants and some folks think it is a great area. The Golden Triangle is a redevelopment on the SW side of Denver. It is OK but still has a ways to go. Have never heard of lower Highlands but assume it refers to the Highlands which is north across I-25 from LoDo or Lower Downtown Denver. It is connect to LODO by foot bridges over I-25 to the Roverfront area and then LODO. It is more of up and coming neighborhood than Golden Triangle with more restaurants.

Denver is like any large city with traffic congestion and expensive parking. Of course, if from New York or Chicago, parking is cheap and the congestion is nothing. The downtown area is well serviced by the light rail system so if you are staying out of the downtown area ask how close your are to a light rail station. And Denver has an excellent bus system for getting around.


Third we have the first bike share program in the US which is very convenient for getting around the downtown area and out as far as Cherry Creek and the Highlands. You will have to buy a membership card but one day cards are available -- I think for $5.

Yes, I agree with the other folks that the downtown condo, rather than Pearl Street, would be more central and convenient. Because of public transportation and the bike share program, perhaps you could rent a car for just the days you want to leave downtown - not sure what the price difference would be. However, from LoDo you could walk to so many great areas, restaurants, etc. If you take the 16th street shuttle to Union Station (end of the line), walk over the bridge(s), you'll find great cafes near 29th & Boulder - great walking area, active, fun. And, if you take the 16th Street shuttle the other way to Civic Center (also end of the line), you'll be near the Capital. Have fun!!

A friend of mine whose children and grands live in Denver as do ours went to visit one time and decided she and the children would take a taxi everywhere they wanted to visit. Of course it was GREAT fun for the then smallish ones, and she said the price was really not bad at all. Just a thought. Denver does have the good transit as others have said also, and does have really good walking areas.
The Highlands area mentioned has some very cute shops and restaurants and the BEST cheese shop on the planet!!

Thanks for all the info! fmpden, the areas are coming from what we're seeing thru searching vrbo.com for an affordable rental for the week, where two of us will pay more than the other two, since we'll be there on our own 3 of the nights. We'd love to stay in the heart of downtown, but so far haven't found a place where both bedrooms have queen beds and there are 2 bathrooms(required for us), that's in the vicinity of $1600. If anyone knows of anything, holler!

We have no interest whatsoever in a shopping mall, but it's nice to know that there's good light rail, buses and even cabs are an option.

Besides two bath and two queen beds exactly what are your priorities? Are you willing to stay out of the downtown area which I assume would be cheaper? Are you seeing anything for Englewood, Littleton, Denver Tech Center? There areas are along the light rail lines going south and SE from Denver. You can get one day passes for the light rail which would solve parking and driving problems for things downtown.

Cherry Creek is more than a shopping mall. It is a very nice upscale area. Good restaurants and boutiques. It is a great central location with a lot of character. The nearby Country Club area is very nice, as is the Botanic Gardens neighborhood. Good luck in your search.

Did your Larimer place fall through? You mentioned wanting to stay in the heart of downtown, but couldn't find a place with 2 queens. If you are thinking that the place at 17th and Larimer isn't in the heart of downtown - think again! It's really in the best part of downtown if you ask me!

Thanks. We hadn't heard back from the Larimer one, so I was still exploring alternatives. Now we have, and it looks like that might work out. I'm waiting to see some more pictures tho' as there weren't many on the site - none that showed bedrooms at all - which when choosing from afar, makes me a little concerned. Otoh, from cross referencing online it looks like this condo must be The Windsor (that's the only condo I saw in Denver at that address) and they look pretty upscale, so I'm hopeful. It sure sounds like a fabulous location, from what you all say!

The Windsor is a fab location. It was built around 1981, so I would ask them when the condo was updated since then.

I think when choosing a vacation condo you should always remember the first rule of real estate: Location, location, location. And 17th and Larimer is just about as good as it gets downtown. Seriously. Cabs are very plentiful and easy to either hail or order in Denver (with very easy-to-remember phone numbers like 303-333-3333 or 303-777-7777.) If the bedrooms are not all they're cracked up to be, then just think of it as motivation to get out and enjoy our wonderful city.

We got the Larimer location!! Thanks for all the advice.

Yes, location is critically important. I think what I realized is, I started getting a little fixated on various things about the condo, because I may have over-compromised
a little on this vacation - I'm the only one who would have liked some of the time to be non-urban. Once having realized that, I decided it just means another, less urban vacation for me sometime very soon, either alone or with female friend!

And of course, we'll be doing day trips to RMNP, Red Rock, etc. so I'll certainly get my share of visiting the less urban even if not dwelling right in it. It'll be great!

Okay, now that you will be there, you have the best pizza available in Denver very near. Marco's Coal Fired Pizza--I think on Larimer near 22nd. It is FAR more than a pizzeria--Wonderful antipasto platter, limoncello marinated wings, brick oven pizzas out of sight good. Don't miss it!!

For pizza, I also recommend The Wazee, at 15th and Wazee. It is a low-key place that has been there for ages. Nothing fancy like limoncello, but a great 'supper club'.

Just don't mistake Marco's for "fancy". Just excellent pizza. The coal fired oven is in the basement for the wings. The brick oven wood fired is the main floor.

I haven't tried the limoncello wings, but I'm also a big fan of the pizza at Marco's. Definitely not a fancy place.