Gay Denver Weekends: Museums, Hikes and Parks – 2TravelDads

Gay Denver Weekends: Museums, Hikes and Parks - 2TravelDads

We have ended up in Denver for work many times, and we’re always sure to have great weekend plans for Denver or going up to the Rocky Mountains. It’s easy to add a few days to a work trip or plan a quick getaway to the Denver area, as there are lots of ways to explore the city or the unique nature and small towns on a weekend trip. These weekend plans for Denver and the nearby mountain towns are just what you need for a fun, easy trip!

With some really interesting museums, plenty of kid-friendly activities and unmatched outdoor experiences, extra days around Denver are a must, so grab our weekend plans and enjoy! Take a look at our top picks to make the most of staying through the weekend or going beyond the Mile High City to the mountains.

Gay Denver Weekends – Hikes With Kids

Because so many of our trips to Denver are for work, we look for the simple to get to outdoor spots that will pack the most fun without a long drive, and because weekend plans are usually what we need we’re very careful to use our time wisely. We’ve got two must-do hikes that are great for kids or adults… and they’re just outside of downtown! For more hiking, check out the options for Rocky Mountain National Park and Breckenridge.

Full Story at 2TravelDass

Denver Gay Travel Resources

Queer Denver With Kids – 2TravelDads

Queer Colorado With Kids

We love time in the Rocky Mountains, but it’s rare that we get to enjoy it in Colorado. We’re exploring Denver and beyond this week and it’s started with a bang! Planning for the family to visit Colorado was as simple as Googling “Denver + hiking + kids + science”. OMG. Let’s just say that it’s given us the perfect Denver area itinerary for the week.

We’ve partnered up with Visit Colorado, Visit Denver and Visit Estes Park to make sure that we can experience and share our most interesting and totally Colorado sites. If you have some ideas for places for us to visit or any insider tips, please share!

Starting in Denver: Lunch at Steuben’s

We landed in Denver to blue skies and no traffic. Score! After picking up our car and heading into the city, we immediately sought out lunch (even if it was a bit earlier than normal). We headed right to Steuben’s Uptown on the recommendation of a friend and it was ideal for the family. Straight out of the 60s, it was a great taste of Denver with healthy options as a standard for kids and craft beer at the ready for the dads. With roasted chicken, Philly cheese and edamame with cucumbers, we were set. And driving around the neighborhood we saw many more cool foodie spots that we MUST come back to. Just another reason to Visit Colorado more often.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Denver Gay Travel Resources

Gay Denver Hot Spots

Gay Denver

As the largest city in a 600-mile radius, LGBTI men and women from all over the West have flocked to gay Denver.

Take a trip with Eli as he finds out why people love being LGBTI in gay Denver, Colorado and showcases some of the top gay hotspots.

The 30-something local, who works as a creative director in pharmaceuticals, knows the Mile High City’s gay scene inside out, and will also be introducing readers to some of his hot friends. To find out more about the scene, visit the LGBTI portal on the Visit Denver website.

By David Calderon – Full Story at Gay Star News

Denver Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Red Rocks AmphitheatreWhen we were in Denver last month we visited the fabulous Red Rocks Amphitheatre which is just about 10 miles west of Denver and located in the Red Rock Park.. The outdoor venue is remarkable as it is nestled right into the red rocks.

It hosts over 9,500 attendees per concert. The stage is at the bottom and the people look down at them and can also see the skyline of Denver 10 miles away. There is a 100 foot difference between the top row of seats and the stage below. The altitude is 6,400 feet so be careful, An estimated 750,000 non-concertgoers visit Red Rocks every year.

Red Rocks AmphitheatreThey have been having musical concerts there for over 100 years. In 2016 they had 73 concerts. Artists perform on a stage nestled in the perfect acoustical surroundings of Red Rocks.

They are booked up year round and some of the entertainers who have performed at Red Rocks are the Beatles, opera singer Mary Garden, Jimmy Hendrix, Vanilla Fudge and Soft Machine. Others includes Jethro Tull, John Denver, Sonny and Cher, Seals & Crofts, Carole King, U2, Ray Charles and Peter, Paul & Mary. The Grateful Dead Widespread Panic holds the record for the most sold-out performances and has performed there 51 times! The beloved Dolly Parton performed to a sold out audience and the crowd roared and roared simply because she is such a FABULOUS ENTERTAINER!

The Amphitheatre is located in Red Rocks Park and free to everyone. At the Amphitheatre they have a Visitor’s Center which is also free and features interactive educational displays, a short film on it’s geologic and musical history and a “Performer Hall of Fame”.

In the park they have a Trading Post which has been open since the 1930’s. In front of the Trading Post they have a larger than life-size bronze of singer John Denver. This is a place where you can spend a few hours or all day. Take a picnic lunch with you and dine “al fresco”. Except for the concerts, everything is free at Red Rocks. Check out http://redrocksonline.com/ before you arrive in Denver. This is certainly one of the ‘wonders of the country”.

Denver Hamburger Mary'sWhile in Denver one needs to dine at the MILE HIGH HAMBURGER MARYS. It is a great place to go for casual dining. They have Hamburger Mary restaurants in several cities around the country however this is one of the best ones. Located just a few blocks east of downtown Denver at 1336 East 17th Avenue. Call 303.993.5812 for reservations.

Denver Hamburger Mary'sThey are open 7 days a week and their Sunday brunches are to die for! This is a FUN place and always plenty of action going on. They have a large selection on their menu. We dined there twice and both times the service was great and so was the meals. They also have a full service bar.

This is always a great place to meet old friends and make new friends. Before going to Denver be sure and check out their website: http://www.hamburgermarys.com/denver/ and you can keep up with all their specials and daily activities that they have at
https://www.facebook.com/MarysDenver/ They have new owners who know how to run a restaurant and we know that they will be around for a long time because they take good care of all of their guests. Service and food is what it is all about in the restaurant business and MILE HIGH HAMBURGR MARYS has them both. We wish them the very best of success. They certainly deserve it!

We want to say a VERY SPECIAL thanks to Tony Smith in Denver for assisting us on finding interesting and fun things to do and see while visiting Denver.

Don and Ray

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Colorado Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

When we were recently in Denver we visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science which is a remarkable museum for everyone to visit. It is one of the finest such museums in the country. The Museum has been there since 1908.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceAmong the many wonderful things to see at the museum are the world famous wildlife dioramas. They have specimens from six continents. The dioramas have re-created the habitats using paneled backgrounds, special lights and carefully crafted reproductions of plants and flowers . The Museum has 89 wildlife dioramas.

Among the dozens of different things that the museum has are a Planetarium, IMAX Theatre as well as exhibits on everything concerning nature and science including space. Needless to say, this is a VERY LARGE museum full of thousands of things to see. While we were there, they had a very special exhibit, VIKINGS: Beyond the Legend that included a very large collection of items and the visitor’s stood in long lines to get a glimpse of the exhibit.

It was VERY popular for young and old alike. The exhibition takes you back to Scandinavia in 750 to 1100 CE. The exhibits includes examples of the work of highly skilled craftspeople who used textiles, wood, metal, bone, leather, glass and ceramics to create pieces for domestic life, ornamentation as well as what they used in battle. It will take you several hours to visit the museum so be sure and give yourself enough time. They also have a cafe and gift shop.

The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Boulevard just east of downtown and you can visit their website, http://www.dmns.org.which will give you full details about their exhibits. The museum is open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. Their phone number is 303 . 370 . 6000 and a very special THANK YOU to Maura O’Neal in the Press Department at the Museum.

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceAfter you spend your day at the Museum you will be ready for a very delightful dining experience and we can not think of anyplace better than RACINES RESTAURANT which is located just southeast of downtown and a few blocks northwest of the Cherry Creek shopping district of Denver.  Their address is 650 Sherman Street and call 303 . 595 . 0418 to make reservations. Check out their website at www.racinesrestaurant.com.

This is a fine upscale restaurant and has been welcoming guests since 1983. They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. You can dine at the bar or a booth, however we prefer dining at a table and their dining room has a great  warm atmosphere.  They also have an outdoor patio which is always packed on nice days. They have free parking in their garage next door with valet parking. They are open Monday thru Thursday from 7 AM to 10 PM, Friday hours are from 7 AM to 11 PM, Saturday hours are 8 AM to 11 PM and Sunday hours are 8 AM to 10 PM.

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceThey offer a complete menu to please any guest. We started off with their French Onion soup which was prepared perfect followed by a salad and then for our entree we had the lamb shank which was prepared perfectly. For dessert we had a banana cream pie and key lime pie. Table service was impeccable! Our server, Sam knew exactly how to take care of patrons and she was an extremely professional server. The restaurant was packed with patrons who were all enjoying their dining experience.

In our travels from coast to coast we dine at a lot of different restaurants.

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceJust because a building has four walls, some tables and chairs and a freezer/refrigerator full of food, does not make a great restaurant.  To have a great restaurant it is all about the people involved in the restaurant… the owners, the manager, the chefs, cooks, servers, host and bartenders. Racines has it all!

The manager, Ms. Baker has been with the restaurant for years and years and she knows the proper way to run a restaurant as does the owners. It is such a joy to have a wonderful dining experience and Racines knows exactly what to do to make their guests happy. They have a huge following that dines with them all the time.  Thanks Racines and thanks to the owners and to Ms. Baker and staff for having such a great restaurant! This is certainly a MUST DINE AT restaurant in Denver. This is THE place to be and to be seen and to mingle with other guests.

Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Colorado Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: The Denver LGBT Center

Denver LGBT Center In our travels from coast to coast we usually contact and visit the LGBT Centers in each city where we stop. Last week we were in Denver, Colorado and toured the Denver LGBT Center. In all of our travels it is one of the finest in the country. Denver LGBT Center“THE CENTER-Advancing LGBT Colorado” offers something for everyone. From teenagers to senior citizens their center has a huge staff of volunteers to help and assist everyone. They have different exhibits during the year and while we were there we got to see ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business: LGBT Influence on the Harlem Renaissance’ portrait exhibit featuring African Americans who were in the arts and entertainment in the 1920 and 1930’s. The Denver LGBT Center first opened in 1976 and currently operates on an annual budget of $2..2 Million and employs 19 staff members and has over 520 community volunteers to serve more than 46,000 people a year! Among the many services that the Center offers are General Support Groups including Counseling services, HIV/ST1 testing, Alcoholics Anonymous, Wellness screening and free cyber center. They have safe and low-cost activities for LGBT Families. They have free referrals to LGBT-friendly attorneys for help with legal questions as well as free monthly legal clinics. SAGE of the Rockies provides support and information for LGBT people over 50 years of age. They offer free weekly activities including coffee groups, wellness clinics, Yoga classes and more. We got to meet and talk with Reynaldo Mireles, the Program Manager. Other programs includes the Capitol Hill Care Link which helps elders over 60 to continue living independently and with assistance with access to a variety of senior services. They have special support groups for the Transgender community. Actually the Center is a place for ALL of the LGBT community. In the Denver LGBT Center is the Terry Mangan Memorial Library which is the home of over 3,000 volumes of LGBT texts. They also have a wonderful Oral Histories department, photo archive and research center where you can view articles, news clippings and correspondence related to the LGBT history not only in Colorado but in the United States. Denver LGBT Center pride paradeIn June they have the Denver Pridefest where over 380,000 people celebrated and over 120,000 attended the parade last year. This years festivities and parade will be June 17 and 18. It is one of the largest LGBT Pridefests in the country. We want to thank Rex Fuller, Vice President of Communications and Corporate Giving who gave us a complete tour of the Center. Also a very special thanks to Tony Smith of Denver. We first met him and his husband Jim when we visited Denver a few years ago.. Both of these gentlemen are great ambassadors for Denver. Visit their website at: www.glbtcolorado.org.  Their phone number is 303 733.7743 and their address is 1301 East Colfax just a few blocks east of downtown. The Center is open Monday thru Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM. The LGBT community in Denver certainly has something to be very proud of. Thank you to all the staff, volunteers and all the people who have made this a crown jewel for the LGBT community. Other cities in the country need to visit the Center and go back home and strive to make their Centers like the one in Denver.

Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Denver Gay Travel Resources
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Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast – Denver, Colorado

Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast - Denver, Colorado Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Discover Denver. “A Journey through Architecture” on “Millionaries Row”. Located in the heart of the Museum district, downtown Denver. A gorgeous, romantic Denver Bed and Breakfast nestled in the quaint Capitol Hill Neighborhood in downtown Denver, this national and state historical-registered inn is a short walk to the State Capitol, gourmet restaurants, theaters, museums, shopping and more. Eight elegantly appointed rooms and suites offer turn-of-the-century opulence with modern day flair at the Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast. Some rooms feature private balconies, gas fireplaces, and whirlpool tubs. All rooms feature private baths, beautiful antique furnishings, fresh cut flowers, high speed wireless internet, cable TV, writing desks, modem ready phones, in-room refrigerators, irons and ironing boards, and air conditioning. Enjoy a full gourmet breakfast each morning as well as wine service each evening featuring Colorado wines.

See the Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in AREA

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