Morning: Sunrise at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

There is no better way to spend the early morning hours in Denver than to catch the sunrise at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Glancing over the eastern plains with the backdrop of Denver from a distance is something that you will remember. It’s almost too taboo to do this out here, but it’s a must for anyone visiting the city.

You will find plenty of people doing all sorts of exercises in this amphitheatre from running steps to yoga. You will get a feel for the people of Denver, they are some of the most fit individuals in this country. When you watch the sun slowly overtake the theatre as it warms you at altitude; you are well on your way to that “Rocky Mountain High” John Denver was talking about. Technically Red Rocks is located in Morrison, but it’s a quick twenty minute drive from Denver. While you are here, spend some time strolling the quaint mountain town of Morrison which has it’s own unique charm, filled with small breweries, ice-cream parlors, and family owned restaurants. 

Red Rocks has some decent hiking trails that border the venue such as:

• Red Rocks Trading Post Trail (1.6 miles)
• Mount Vernon Creek Trail (2.3 miles)
• Geological OVerlook Trail (.8 miles)

You can’t really escape hiking and being active when visiting Denver. The options are almost endless, so the short hikes mentioned above won’t have you all bent out of shape before breakfast. Speaking of food, let’s cover breakfast next!

Breakfast at Rosenberg’s Bagels in Five Points

This is definitely the east coaster in me when I say get breakfast at Rosenberg’s Delicatessan. There really isn’t a better place that I’m aware of to grab a New York style bagel and some coffee in Denver. This place fills up pretty quickly in the morning and it’s not uncommon to have every transplant from the east coast pack this place in on the weekends with lines streching out the door. 

I recommend the “Don’t Tell Your Mother,” which is ham, melted swiss, mayo, honey mustard on a poppy bagel. Another favorite is the “L.E.O,” which is lox, scrambed eggs, onions, plain cream cheese. Parking can be somewhat limiting in this area, but I’ve found luck parking nextdoor at Birdcall.

Getting Around Denver

Denver is somewhat spread out but totally bikeable. Bike and Scooter are the best ways to get around the downtown area. Make sure you have accounts with either Lime or Uber so you can easily access the numerous scooters around town to get from place to place with little hassle. I prefer getting around town with my bike and keeping my lock with me at all times. The city has lots of places to lock your bike at whle you explore an area.  

For longer commutes within the city and into the suburbs you are going to want to drive. Getting to Red Rocks requires this from downtown Denver. Parking in this city isn’t an easy task as the infrastructure is old and lacking accomidations for the number of people who are moving here.

Go For a Walk in City park: One Day in Denver Itinerary

Denver is home to many parks and green open spaces, making city living tolerable. City Park has an amazing backdrop of the city with the mountains in the background. When the weather is warm this is where people hang out. The park has tennis courts, boche ball, and a large lake with an old boating house that is now used for weddings and special occoasions.  

In this park you will find joggers, bikers, walkers, people fishing, etc. There are benches near the lake where you can sit and stare at the city and mountains facing westward. This park is very close to The Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature & Science, which are also great venues to explore while you are in the area.

Lunch at The Dairy Block

The Dairy Block is a local favorite. Located on Wazee Street in the heart of Denver, this place has everything you could possibly want. You can find tacos, pizza, pasta, crepes, deli sandwiches, coffee, pastries and more at this place. I recommend getting some pasta here from Mano Pastaria.

Some of the best coffee in the city is also located here, stop by Huckleberry Roasters for a fresh cup of coffee or espresso. These are local roasters who have stores throughout Denver. This is where I buy my coffee to grind at home.

Hike Mt. Galbraith in Golden

The perfect one day in Denver itinerary would not be complete without a nice hike. This one will take you slightly out of the Denver city limits into the great town of Golden, Colorado. The Mt. Galbraith trail is a relatively short four mile hike with mild terrain and great views overlooking the city of Denver, Golden, and The Coors Factory. 

I love this hike because it’s not too strenuous and the terrain changes making it not too boring. The views are great both clockwise and counter clockwise. Follow the Cedar Gulch signs to properly find the main loop.

Dinner at Quality Italian in Cherry Creek

The Denver food scene is a work in progress. While this city is not known for it’s food for now, things are really changing in this area. I’m a sucker for a good Italian meal and Quality Italian delivers every time. The pizza, pasta amatriana, and steak are all fantastic options. If you are a wine lover this place is also for you. 

Quality Italian is not a cheap place to eat at, but the price is well worth it. I recommend making a reservation here if you are coming with more than two people. This is definitely a locals spot. My personal favorites are the Paccheri Amatriciana and Spicy Lobster Rigatoni Alla Vodka. Anything you order from Quality Italian is guaranteed to satisfy your pallet.

Brews at Great Divide Brewing Co.

You don’t have to look very hard to find a nice craft beer brewery here in Denver. This city is filled with them in every direction. Great Divide Brewing Co. in Rino is one of the best. You will find tons of local brews here in a nice quiet atmosphere.

I’m not much of a beer drinker so I can’t comment on the different types of craft beer and the differences between them, but there is just something about this brewing company that feels uniquely Denver.

Entertainment at Comedy Works & Mission Ballroom

The nightlife and entertainment scene in Denver is getting better. Unfortunately a lot of places close around 10PM for some odd reason which I have yet to discover. However, there are some places that stay open later and have decent live music and comedic acts. 

Comedy Works downtown in Larimer Square is the place to go to catch some great comedy. This place will require buying tickets in advance as the place usually sells out pretty quickly. This location is great because you are already in Larimer Square, which in itself is another cool area to check out with great restaurants and vintage clothing shops all packed togther in a beautiful square.

If catching a show at Red Rocks is too expensive, think of looking up your favorite band at The Mission Ballroom in RiNo. This is a very spacious and clean venue on the outskirts of the city that won’t dissapoint. This venue will also require tickets prior to visiting as a lot of big acts play here.

Denver has a unique music scene that I had no idea about prior to living here. The city is pretty big with genres like EDM and Jam Bands.

Conclusion: One Day in Denver Itinerary

Denver is just one of those cities that has the best of both worlds: mountain life and big city amenities. It’s rare for a metropolitan city to be this close to some of the highest mountain ranges in the country. Colorado and other western states have plenty of small mountains towns that will take your breath away, but they don’t have the amenities that Denver provides.

The perfect one day in Denver itinerary is hard to narrow down given the plethora of options in the city, but I hope this article will help people visiting the city for the first time. I encourage my readers to leave comments down below and critique any of my suggestions. What was once a cow town twenty years ago is now a developing medium sized metropolitan city that is attracting the attractive and adventurous souls who want it all.