Heritage School of Interior Design is proud to announce the second location in Denver, Colorado! This “Mile High City” offers a vibe similar to Portland, Oregon. Denver has excellent restaurants, shopping, a growing arts scene and daily activities catered to families and hipsters.
In the city center is the 16th Street Mall, a mile long outdoor mall that offers shopping, cozy cafes and the best location for people-watching! It might be easy to forget when you’re in this modern gathering space that you are in the ‘Old West’ but the gray and pink granite pathway that outlines the pedestrian mall, designed by architect I.M. Pei, resembles the pattern of a diamondback rattlesnake. Another element of the ‘Old West’ is the horse-drawn carriages that clack through the mall once the sun sets, or you could catch the public and free bus that makes a stop at every corner.
Union Station is another spot for shopping and dining. Not only does it serve as a ground transportation center but in recent years it has become a ‘foodie’ destination. Where else can you order an appetizer and cocktail from an old ticket window?
Other attractions include the Denver Arts Districts, like Santa Fe Drive which hosts the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado. On the first Friday of each month the galleries host Art Walks and there’s a free guided shuttle to transfer you around the Art District! Or skip the crowds and have more intimate conversations with artists and gallery owners every third Friday for the Collector Preview Event. Additional first Friday events take place in The Golden Triangle (home to most of Denver’s museums), the diverse creative scenes at RiNo, Tennyson Street and Block 7 Arts, and cultural and local galleries at Navajo Street, South Pearl Street and 40 West Arts. Specific to Interior Design is the Denver Design District. There are 40 showrooms that display national and international manufacturers. It is open to the public, no appointment is necessary!
Concert venues are abundant but the one at the top of the list is the world renowned, Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It is a natural open-air amphitheatre carved out of the red rock hill side. With the natural acoustics and incredible views it is truly a unique and spectacular experience!
There is plenty of opportunity to enjoy nature too. Parks, like City Park has lakes, mountain views and jogging trails. Additionally, the Denver Botanic Gardens is one of the nation’s top 10 conservatories! It has 24 gardens, including a Japanese Garden and a tropical garden.
If sunshine is something you crave, not only does Colorado have 300 days of it but Denver has several outstanding rooftop patios open year-round with distant mountain vistas, as well as numerous indoor/outdoor bars and breweries pouring local pints. “Lodo” or Denver’s Historic District offers 90 brewpubs, bars and restaurants in converted warehouses. It is another hub for dining and you can enjoy the sunny and vibrant days- 300 days out of the year, even in Winter!
Speaking of Winter, Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, and Winter Park ski resorts are a couple hours drive outside the city, so when the Winter storms blow through and the snow dumps (and there are many powder days) you can enjoy the Rocky Mountain “champagne powder”.
Just 30 miles outside Denver is the city of Boulder, Colorado that offers an abundance of outdoor recreation like climbing, hiking and mountain biking. Or 71 miles away is Rocky Mountain National Park, the heart of the Rocky Mountain Range. You can camp and hike, or cruise Trail Ridge Road the “highway to the sky” for panoramic views and the opportunity to see wildlife like bighorn sheep and moose!
No doubt, there are attractions and entertainment for all, the “Mile High City” has a lot to offer and this is just a taste! Heritage School is excited for the new location and to explore all that Denver and the surrounding area have to offer. If you’re curious about the city or would like more information please visit www.denver.org.