Nothing Beats a Denver Holiday

From luxury hotels to craft beer spas and ping pong battles, here’s how to escape the everyday—without leaving the city.

Author

What's Happenin' Denver
July 28, 2025

🧖‍♀️🍹 Check Into Chill Mode: Staycation Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Book

Hey Denver adventurers! 🧩🎉

Who says you need to leave town to feel like you’re on vacation? This is your official excuse to pause the laundry, ignore the inbox, and play tourist in your own town. Denver’s got staycation style—complete with rooftop pools, beer spas, and even a Beatles suite (yep, that Beatles).

🌼 Looking for more things to do in Denver? Dive into Things to Do in Colorado, Kid-Friendly Hikes, or discover our favorite Colorado Day Trips.

🌆  Mile High Poll Time!

Which brewery opened in 1988 as Colorado’s first brewpub—started by four friends in a century-old building on what was then Denver’s Skid Row?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🏨 Hotels That Make You Go “Ooooh”

From the old-school glam of Urban Cowboy Denver to the futuristic vibes of the Populus Hotel, you can choose your adventure: Victorian bathtub or spaceship windows. Looking for views and booze? Kimpton Claret’s rooftop bar is a must, and Populus isn’t just cool-looking—it’s Colorado’s first carbon-positive hotel.

And let’s talk Michelin keys. Three of Denver’s finest earned this prestigious nod:

Want something iconic? Book the Beatles Suite at Brown Palace, where the Fab Four once stayed in 1964. You’ll be sleeping in music history.

💆‍♀️ Spas Worth Soaking In

Sure, you could book a massage… but have you ever bathed in beer?

At The Oakwell Beer Spa, you’ll soak in bubbly brews infused with hops, barley, and herbs while sipping a cold one from the tap. Or hit The Oxford Hotel Spa for more traditional pampering, from hot stone massages to facials that’ll make your skin say “thanks.”

🧠 Tours & Tidbits You Didn’t Know You Needed

Think you know Denver? Bet you didn’t know it’s home to the world’s oldest cheeseburger patent. Or that you can spot black-footed ferrets at the zoo.

Dive into our city’s quirks on a Denver Graffiti Tour, sip your way through a Wynkoop or Great Divide brewery tour, or step into the world of small-batch spirits at Mile High Spirits and The Family Jones.

🎯 Play Like a Pro (Or at Least Try)

Looking for bragging rights? Hit up:

  • Lucky Strike for bowling lanes and cocktails

  • EscapeWorks Denver or Escapology for themed escape rooms (plus bar!)

  • Holey Moley mini golf, where glowing LED courses and retro vibes rule

  • Ace Eat Serve, where you can crush bao buns and your friends in ping pong

  • Wynkoop Brewing, home to Denver’s biggest pool hall

🌆 Mile High Happenings

Monday, July 28

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Bowlero And Cars📍 Bowlero | ⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Monday)

🧵 Family Matters📍 Shoot Indoors Central Park | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Kids) (Recurring Monday)

🧵 Smarty Party Trivia📍 Avanti F&B | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Monday)

💵 Ticketed Events

🎷 Denver Metro Jazz Big Band📍 Dazzle | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | 🎟️ $20–$35

🎶 Disney Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour📍 Ball Arena | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ TBA

🎤 Killer Queen📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $60+

🌿 Jacob Collier – Summer Concert Series📍 Denver Botanic Gardens | ⏰ TBA | 🎟️ $105

Tuesday, July 29

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Trivia Night @ Spirit Hound📍 Spirit Hound Distillers – Denver | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Tuesday)

🧵 Bingo Night!📍 Waldschänke Ciders | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Tuesday)

🧵 Geeks Who Drink📍 Fuel & Iron Bar | ⏰ 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Tuesday)

🍺 Trivia Night at FlyteCo – Weekly brewery trivia with prizes and beer📍 FlyteCo Brewing, 7 PM (Recurring Tuesdays)

🚚 Cook Park Neighborhood Nights & Food Truck Rally📍 7100 Cherry Creek S. Drive | ⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring monthly on the 4th Tuesday)

💵 Ticketed Events

🎸 MR. MAJESTYK’S B-TRACK – Beats on the Creek📍 coohills. | ⏰ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM | 🎟️ $10 Bridge Fee

🎶 Fitz and The Tantrums – Summer Concert Series📍 Denver Botanic Gardens | ⏰ TBA | 🎟️ $103

🎤 The Rose: Once Upon A WRLD📍 Bellco Theatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ TBA

Where are you heading this week? Tag us in your adventures! 🚀

🍽 Not sure where to eat tonight?

Our Restaurant Finder takes the guesswork out of dining by showing you the best local restaurants based on real reviews and vibes, not just ratings. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a date-night spot, we’ve got you. No endless scrolling, no decision fatigue...just solid recs.

🧠 Need a brain break?

Play trivia, crosswords, and word searches built just for locals. These games aren’t just fun...they’ll test how well you actually know your city. Great for killing time, learning something new, or proving you’re the true local legend.

🌮 Who’s Got the Best Tacos in Denver?

We’re on a mission to crown Denver’s top taco spot—from OG taquerías to bold fusion joints. Vote for your favorite and help settle the salsa-fueled debate once and for all. 🌶️

✨ Give Yourself the Gift of a Getaway (Without the TSA Line)

Whether you’re craving a rooftop soak, a culinary splurge, or just an excuse to sleep somewhere with blackout curtains, Denver’s got everything you need for a perfect staycation. So go ahead—book that hotel, try something new, and fall in love with the city all over again. You deserve it.

👉 Answer: B) Wynkoop Brewing

Fun Fact: Wynkoop Brewing was co-founded by future Colorado governor John Hickenlooper! It wasn’t just the city’s first brewpub—it helped kickstart the entire LoDo revival. Oh, and yes, you can still play pool upstairs.

— The What’s Happenin’ Denver Team 🏞️✨

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