Ladies' Trip to Denver

Location:

If you have never been to Denver and you’re flying in, try to become familiar with the airport before you land. If you don’t have too much luggage and your destination is located near a station along the rail line, I would recommend taking the train because it is very convenient. It runs from the airport straight to Union Station downtown.

The Hotel:

The staff at the Limelight was incredibly helpful throughout our entire stay. They knew we were celebrating our birthday on this trip and right after our check-in, we received a delivery to our room that included some red wine and locally produced products like Kettle Head Popcorn and Hammond’s chocolate (I got to eat all the chocolate because she doesn’t like chocolate — I was okay with that).

One of the amenities the hotel offers is a complimentary car service within one mile of the hotel. We only used this service once, after a day of walking had us very sore, and it was very much appreciated. And although their usual car was out of service, they booked a Lyft for us.

Any time we had questions about directions, late check-out, holding our bags or even where to find utensils to eat leftovers we brought back from dinner, the front desk staff were always friendly and helpful.

What We Ate:

We are both foodies and wanted to focus part of our trip on local restaurants in Denver. There are so many restaurants within walking distance from the Limelight. Many right inside Union Station itself! Our first night in Denver, we thought we’d stick to small plates and try out the Spanish/Tapas restaurant Ultreia, which features a James Beard Award winning chef! Make reservations. Try the bacon wrapped dates. The service there was amazing. They not only brought us complimentary custard tarts, but the staff all signed a birthday card for us as well!

The Limelight is also very close to the 16th Street Mall, a 2-mile stretch of shopping, entertainment and of course, FOOD! Unfortunately the main pedestrian area was under construction while we were there, so it was not as easy as usual to cross from one side to the other, but another restaurant we chose was Bistro Le Roux, which also had wonderful servers, wonderful food, and they treated us for our birthday with sparkling wine and a choice of dessert.

The Spa Day:

Our big gift was getting treated to a spa treatment at the historic Brown Palace Hotel & Spa. We both chose the 80-Minute CBD Relief Wrap and now I wish to have that treatment once a week. Unfortunately, that wish has not been granted. But I still think about it. Highly recommend.

I also recommend the Afternoon Tea Service at the Brown Palace. It’s a beautiful setting in the Atrium of the hotel and you get to feel fancy, before or after you’ve been pampered in the spa. (Yes, the spa does provide showers if you were wondering!) I also recommend making a reservation for the Afternoon Tea at least a month or so in advance. But we were there a week before Thanksgiving.

If you don’t mind a stroll, the Brown Palace is on the opposite end of the 16th Street Mall as the Limelight Hotel. But Uber is also very quick in Denver!

There is a lot to do in and around Denver. I would highly recommend having a plan in mind before going, especially if you will only be there for a week or less. The Downtown area is super walkable, but if you need to get somewhere more quickly, rideshares are plentiful as well. Let me know where you want to go and I can help you plan the perfect birthday getaway too!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Denver. In need of further inspiration? Check out Mackenzie Hunter’s guide, Denver's Fall Magic: Leaf-Peeping Hikes Within 75-Minutes.