4 days in denver

Just four days is all you need to really experience the city. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Denver!

DAY ONE

Dispensaries! Cannabis is legal in Colorado. Take a trip through one of the many dispensaries (we are really close to Green Dragon Cannabis). Just remember: discretion is the golden rule. You wouldn’t walk down the street with an open beer, so follow that same logic with cannabis consumption.

Buzzed or not, a walk through Capitol Hill will make you swoon for Denver’s architecture and history. You can view the historic Molly Brown House (the unsinkable Molly from the legendary Titanic moved to Denver later in life and became a popular philanthropist and socialite), walk down Poet’s Row (a cluster of modern deco buildings named for famous writers), and pass the old stomping grounds for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows featuring Annie Oakley. The Capitol Hill neighborhood is a canopy of trees, with gregarious architecture and awesome local businesses.

If you want to do Capitol Hill like a local, make your way to the infamous 13th Street. Home to some of Denver’s best home-bred restaurants, book stores, record shops, pizza by the slice, and coffee houses. Some of our faves: City, O’ City, Wax Trax Records, Kilgore Books & Comics, Hudson Hill Cafe, and Queen City General Store.

Well now your feet are tired, so head back to the hostel for a soak in our 12 person spa jacuzzi. Order a late dinner from Cosmo’s Pizza. Roast some s’mores by the fire with other awesome Ember guests. Rest up in your privacy pod.

DAY TWO

Grab breakfast at Jelly - they make their own donut holes and they are delicious!

Get yourself to Red Rocks - 25 minute drive, grab a few friends and take a $30 Lyft. Walk the amphitheater stairs to grab a view of the Denver skyline. Take photos of you on the main stage, like the rockstar you are. Choose your own adventure: 1. walk the moderate Scenic Outlook trail and learn some Red Rocks history or 2. walk down the hill one mile to the quaint hippy town of Morrison for beers at Red Rocks Beer Garden (or plan your trip to be at Ember on a Thursday and join our shuttled adventure to Red Rocks for $20)

After returning to Ember, soak your hiking bones in the jacuzzi and meet fellow travelers.

Dinner time! Want to walk somewhere: we suggest eating at Wild Taco, a local taco-eatery with enough options for everyone, and then sample the best Colorado brews at Out of the Barrel Brewery (ask front desk about our exclusive deals!). Up for a drive: take an uber to Avanti F& B for a whole new dining experience!

Chill out at Avanti soaking in their patio views and craft cocktails. Or walk to Little Man Ice Cream for a special treat!

Want to walk those new calories off: head down to the South Platte River walk and Confluence Park. Enjoy the sunset. Then grab the Zero bus from Union Station for a quick 15 minute trip back to the hostel. (Or grab an Uber.)

DAY THREE

By this point, you are probably in need of caffeine (if not inserted directly into your veins). Take a walking coffee tour and be sure to visit these local cafes: Hudson Hill, Thump, and the infamous Roostercat (ask front desk about our exclusive deals).

Take a tour of the State Capitol Building. Tours are free and provide access to the top of the dome which yields bird’s eye views of the Rocky Mountains.

Take a tour: Aspire Tours (ask front desk about promo codes!) or Colorado Sightseeing to Foothills or Rocky Mountain National Park. Most tours provide lunch and beverages.

You know what’s next: soak in the jacuzzi!

Or buck up and take in some nightlife on South Broadway. We suggest: Hi Dive, Three Kings, and Skylark.

DAY FOUR

Have you been enjoying the day trips: why not try out Boulder?! It’s a cool college town nestled by the glorious Flat Irons. There are plenty of places to eat, drink and hike in Boulder. You can easily get there by public transit.

Or stay in town and walk through 16th St Mall, and end up at Union Station “Denver’s Living Room”. You’ve really rounded out your Denver sightseeing and should enjoy Union Station for all its food, drinks, shuffle boards and instantly instagrammable photo ops.

Spend the rest of the night dancing your face off at Church Bar or Milk Bar. These music clubs offer several rooms with different themes and music, so you can hop around until you find the perfect vibe. Both clubs are within walking distance, so you can safely stumble your way home. Maybe you’re more into the awesome live music scene: check out Your Mom’s House (for raw local music, use your Ember key card for 20% off your bar tab),

DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:

Professional Sport Teams: take in a Rockies (spring-summer), Nuggets (winter-spring), Avalanche (fall-spring), Mammoth (fall-winter) or Broncos (fall-winter) game.