Denver, Colorado, or the Mile High City, is known far and wide for its expansive and rocky terrain, diverse food scene, and breweries galore. While this city is comfortably spread out, you can get a fairly full experience in just 24 hours.

Check out the highlights of my one-day trip to Denver, Colorado!

Grab Brunch at Jelly

To make the most of your day in Denver, hit brunch early and get your sugar rush going at Jelly. Whichever location you choose–Caphill or DU–you’ll be greeted by the enticing aromas of sweet syrup, crispy bacon, and freshly brewed coffee, setting the perfect tone for the day ahead.

A quick look at the menu promises a delightful experience, with all the brunch classics at Jelly featuring their own special house twist. From cinnamon roll pancakes and Molly Hot Brown French toast to Haco chili biscuits with gravy and Chiliquiles, a chili-topped version of the Mexican staple chilaquiles, you’re bound to find the perfect brunch.

While everything on the menu is sure to satiate your appetite, they aren’t called Jelly for nothin’. Their claim to fame is their Made-to-Order Donut bites stuffed to the brink with your choice of housemade jams and jellies, including:

• International delights like Mexican chocolate and Thai peanut.
• Classic confectionaries like lemon filling and crème anglaise.
• The best of both worlds like salted caramel and bacon maple.

Hike at Red Rocks Park

You may not have time to catch a show, but you certainly have a few hours to explore beyond the renowned rocky amphitheatre that makes this area famous worldwide.

The highlights of the Red Rocks area can be seen from the short 1.5-ish-mile hike directly off the main Red Rocks Park complex. With that done in under an hour, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the amphitheater itself and visit the Red Rocks Trading Post to grab a water and a souvenir.

Looking for something a little more immersive? Opt for the 6-mile loop instead. Rated as moderate on AllTrails, this trail takes about 3.5 hours to complete if you’re movin’ and groovin’. Make sure you’re either keeping pace or an eye on your watch, and don’t forget to bring plenty of water.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to check the Red Rocks Amphitheatre website before your visit, especially if you plan to be there during their Summer Concert Season from April to October. If no shows are booked when you plan to go, free self-guided tours are permitted from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Lunch & A Beer in Golden

Just a short eight-mile drive from Red Rocks is one of the most famous breweries in the entire world: Coors Brewing Company. 

As one of the oldest operating breweries in the United States, Coors Brewing Company has their process down pat. With nearly 150 years of operation, they offer an extensive range of brews, including newer selections like Blue Moon Belgian White, classics like Coors Light, and Colorado exclusives such as Colorado Native Amber.

But why am I telling you all of this when you can take the tour yourself for just $20 including three samples of your choice? Reserve tickets online ahead of time.

After a hike in the sun and a few beers, you’re bound to be hungry. Walk just two blocks north on Ford Street to The Golden Mill for some grub. Snag a table on their large patio or rooftop where you’ll be surrounded by scenic mountains on almost all sides as you chow down on made-to-order eats and sip on over 40 varieties of beers, wines, house-made cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks.

This eclectic eatery has everything from house-rolled sushi to tender birria tacos that take ten hours to reach their high standards. Be sure to save room for a scoop or two from Happy Cones!

Lots of Options for Afternoon Shopping

What’s a trip without spending a little money? As the American hub for the outdooring industry, you’ll find all kinds of great gear spots in Denver including a flagship REI location. Not only will you have four stories of gear to explore, you’ll also find equipment rentals available and the Pinnacle climbing wall to take advantage of.

If you’re in the market for more trinket-y kind of things, check out:

You’ve also got Larimer Square which is just off of Downtown Denver. This area is slightly more upscale with boutique clothing stores, wine bars, and a Cotopaxi shop. 

Dinner & Drinks on Larimer

Known as the hippest block in town, Larimer Square is the place to be for happy hour. Sprinkled in between hip clothing spots and jewelry stores, you’ll find bars with vibes all across the board. 

If you want to kill two birds with one stone, be sure to stop by Garage Sale. A delightful mix of sophistication and grunge, Garage Sale doubles as a vintage clothing store and full-service bar. Grab a cocktail while you browse two stories of one-of-a-kind vintage finds. If you spend more than $100 in the store, you’ll even get a free shot from the bar!

Mile High Nightlife

To cap off your day in Denver, dive into the Mile High City’s vibrant nightlife scene once the sun sets.

Pop across downtown via Uber or scooter rental (my preferred method of transportation in Denver) to the trendy River North neighborhood, locally referred to as RiNo.

Don’t worry–there’s no cause for alarm here. In fact, they encourage it! You can buy your very own ice shot glass (filled with your preferred liquor) and take your turn hurling it at the bell.

One block down Larimer Street, you’ll find Ratio Beerworks, the microbrew capital of Denver. The punk-band-gone-brewers behind the scene envisioned a German craft beer hall with a punk-rock twist. Today, that vision has expanded to include live punk and indie performances, food trucks, and a 20-barrel brewing system so there’s plenty of beer to go around on the weekends.

Or, wine down with a glass or two at Attimo Wine, a relaxing lounge on the closer end to Downtown. 

Get Mile High

No matter what you decide to do in Denver, it’ll be set against a backdrop of some of the most majestic peaks in the country which is plenty enough reason to visit (at least for me).