Denver/Boulder travel?

[Deleted]

We just booked flights to Denver for my fall break. I am kind of overwhelmed with the planning and don't know where to stay, etc. H's two requests are visiting Left Hand Brewery and the Mint. I want to do some moderate hiking, not the Fourteeners or anything.

We are going the weekend of the Great American Beer Festival (just how the weekend fell). Hopefully this won't make the entire city a shitshow? Where are the best parts of town to stay? I bought a Frommers travel guide, but I'm feeling overwhelmed and just want someone to tell me what to do. We will have a rental car.

[iheartbanjos]

We have 8 friends flying in for GABF. The breweries all the way to Ft. Collins are going to be insane, but you'll still be able to do tastings. You won't be able to do tours at most places at those have probably been booked for at least a year. The bars downtown will also be pretty crazy, especially Falling Rock.

I'd recommend a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and a trip to Oskar Blues brewery (they make Dale's Pale Ale among other things). You can do Left Hand brewery in that same day as well. (We take people to Avery brewery when we do RMNP and Oskar Blues.)

[ijack]

Would you rather stay in Denver or Boulder? Boulder is between left hand (longmont) and the mint (denver - also check on when they're doing tours I know it isn't all the time). There is great (easy) hiking in Boulder, pretty much just pick a spot and I can give you restaurant recommendations in either place. I would probably rather stay in Boulder just because it's a little more interesting than Denver IMO, and it will be a little less crazy with the beer fest.

[egishere]

I would look at staying in Boulder and go going to downtown Denver for the day so you can see the Mint, etc and in Boulder you aren't too far from RMNP.

[Deleted]

Sept 18, 2012 10:44:48 GMT -5 ijack said:

Would you rather stay in Denver or Boulder? Boulder is between left hand (longmont) and the mint (denver - also check on when they're doing tours I know it isn't all the time). There is great (easy) hiking in Boulder, pretty much just pick a spot and I can give you restaurant recommendations in either place. I would probably rather stay in Boulder just because it's a little more interesting than Denver IMO, and it will be a little less crazy with the beer fest.

I'm not sure. I've been to both cities very briefly when I was in town for a wedding. I loved the vibe of Boulder and recently read that it was named a great food town, so that's a big RBP-attractant. So Boulder does sound like a good place to stay!

Re: brewery tours, we will be there all day Monday too, so hopefully we can schedule a tour when they're less crowded?

Thanks for all your input!

[ijack]

I'd stay in Boulder, near pearl street if you can, it's more fun than staying in downtown denver if you aren't doing denver specific things.