Our Two Days in Denver

The delicious daily breakfast buffet at the Courier Kitchen kick started our day in downtown Denver.

After a good night’s sleep, I met up with my family for breakfast in the Courier Kitchen on the lobby level of the Grand Hyatt Denver Hotel. This is a casual hotel restaurant known for its high-quality offerings. Once seated, our server greeted us warmly and provided juice and coffee. We then learned there were no off-the-menu items available, only what was being served on the “must- try” breakfast buffet. But, there were so many selections from which to choose. In addition to any number of Yogurts, Breads and Pastries, there was a chef-manned Omelette Station, along with Scrambled Eggs, Waffles, Pancakes, Bacon, Sausages and Breakfast Potatoes. Set in the historic home of one of Denver’s early newspapers, Courier. Kitchen offered us a “newsroom-inspired” experience that was refined, yet welcoming and familiar.

We got several unique photos that appeared to defy reality while visiting the Museum of Illusions.

With a hearty breakfast under our belts, we walked down to the Museum of Illusions on nearby 16th Street. It’s an an interactive, family-friendly "edutainment" destination featuring over 50 mind-bending, educational exhibits that challenged the senses and our perceptions. Rather than being a traditional museum, this one focused on fun, amusement and stimulating our intellectual curiosity. There were rooms that seemed to defy gravity while being both big and small at the same time. This place was highly interactive. We were encouraged to take photos and videos of the illusions and staff was available to assist in capturing the correct angles for the best shots. Each of the exhibits included explanations of the science, art and psychology behind the illusions, which helped us understand how our brains interpret reality.   

If you're in downtown Denver and craving a pastry, head to Trompeau's Bakery & Café on 16th Street.

Denver in January is cold and the weather on that particular Saturday was no exception. As we exited the museum, we were blasted by the wind. That’s when we noticed the Trompeau Bakery & Café directly across the street and decided to duck in to get out of the cold and grab a quick coffee while planning what we’d do next. The café is a family-owned French bakery known in the Denver area for its "from-scratch" Croissants, Pastries, and Artisanal Breads. While we only spent a short while there, we appreciated the cozy atmosphere in what appeared to be a popular place. I later discovered it’s highly regarded by locals as a "hidden gem," known for its Sourdough Ciabatta Bread and Espresso drinks. 

Their tipis helped the Arapaho thrive in all seasons, with. the "doors" facing east toward the rising sun.

Our next stop was only a ten-minute Uber ride away - the History Colorado Center, a museum dedicated to the history of the state. The center holds over 15 million items, including a vast collection of maps, photographs, and manuscripts, making it not only a hub for research, but a premiere destination showcasing Colorado’s history from its geological roots to the modern era. A special exhibit was offered on the Ground Level featuring two, full-scale replicas of Arapaho Tipis. For generations, this native tribe moved their “homes” with the seasons between Colorado’s mountains and the plains, following the bison herds and other animals that were the backbone of their economies. We also enjoyed the silver mine shaft simulation and the detailed diorama that showed what downtown Denver looked like in the early 19th Century. Another noteworthy exhibit was one that explored Colorado’s long road to statehood. I never knew it took five tries and more than 15 years for the 38th star to join the flag when the state was admitted to the union in 1876. Now I know why Colorado is “the Centennial State.” The center was a big hit and since it was mid afternoon by the time we’d finished, we braved the cold again and walked over to nearby Torchy’s Tacos for a few Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Guacamole and Chile con Queso. 

The food was good, but the star of the show was the aesthetic and functional copper beer piping.

Upon our return to the Grand Hyatt, and after a few hours of relaxation, we had pre-dinner drinks downstairs at the Courier Bar while deciding where to have dinner. We selected the Former Saint Craft Kitchen and Taps Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which was less than a ten-minute walk. That restaurant was contemporary and casual, with an open-kitchen and a unique four-sided bar with a copper pipe beer tap system connected directly to a keg room. The kitchen focused on approachable, locally-inspired dishes, Our server Scott was very helpful with menu suggestions (although he did forget a wine order). The group settled on several Pasta Dishes and the Colorado Bison Ribeye. This premium, locally-sourced cut is known for its rich flavor and tender texture. The chef highlighted its natural, slightly sweeter, and earthy taste, and cooked it with complementary ingredients like Garlic, Herbs, and Savory Butter. With a busy day behind us and full tummies, it was easy to hit the hay on that evening for a good night’s sleep.

Olive and Finch had a friendly and welcoming vibe while the service was hospitable and very efficient.

Ready for a change of pace on Sunday morning, we decided to have breakfast at Sam’s, one of Denver’s historic and most popular downtown diners. Unfortunately, there was an hour wait. We had forgotten it was game day when the Denver Broncos were scheduled to play the New England Patriots for the AFC Championship and the fans on both sides were everywhere. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm, but it made finding a quick meal rather difficult. We settled on Olive and Finch near the Performing Arts Complex where the wait was considerable shorter. This highly-regarded, casual, counter-service spot offered creative, fresh, and gourmet breakfast dishes and our group tackled several orders of Huevos Rancheros along with some Pancakes. While the restaurant was bustling, we enjoyed the good food and the great service.

Sean Kenney is an award-winning artist who uses thousands of LEGO bricks to create his sculptures.

Our last attraction for the weekend was the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Located in City Park next to the Denver Zoo, the museum contains over 200,00 square feet of exhibit space with more than one million items on display. This 100 year-old institution is renowned for its extensive, interactive, and educational exhibits on Colorado’s natural history as well as prehistoric life and cosmic exploration. We liked the "Space Odyssey" exhibit area featuring Mars rover models and a display about Colorado's aerospace history. The museum is famous for its detailed wildlife dioramas depicting ecosystems and animals from around the world. "Brick Planet" was an amazing temporary exhibition that’s open through May 3. It featured over 1.5 million LEGO bricks used by artist Sean Kenney to create massive, intricate wildlife sculptures and ecosystems. Key highlights included a 130,000-brick polar bear, a family of deer, and larger-than-life insects. Each sculpture included information about the creatures’ habitats and ecological roles and, in a tribute to the creator’s prowess, there were also several cityscapes to marvel at, including New York’s Times Square and Paris’ Eiffel Tower. By late afternoon, the snow started falling. Since the family faced a ride of several hours westward towards the Rocky Mountains, we bade farewell back at the hotel while the temperature plummeted down to 5° Fahrenheit with a wind chill below zero. 

The southeast was blanketed with snow on that Sunday and I was worried I wouldn’t make it home the following day, but was pleasantly surprised when my morning departure for Charlotte took off and landed without a hitch. My connecting flight to Raleigh ended up with a two-hour delay as we were “waiting” for pilots, who both happened to be at the gate but “had not been assigned” American Airlines experienced its largest weather-related operational meltdown in history during that last weekend of January, canceling over 9,000 flights due to Winter Storm Fern. The storm crippled major hubs, like Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte, resulting in thousands of stranded passengers and crew, with the airline estimating a $150–$200 million revenue impact. In retrospect, I was very lucky indeed. 

Until next time…safe travels.