Red Rocks, Morrison, CO, USA
“the nearest faraway place”
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Can we take a moment to eek out at the fact that you are going to a Red Rocks concert? Whether you’re a local who's been there your fair share of times, or a visitor coming in for your first concert, I’m excited for you! No, it’s not overrated. Yes, it’s worth it. Maybe, this post will help you in your Red Rocks adventure weekend! Let’s get into it!
Getting There and Staying There
If you’re arriving by plane, DIA will be your best bet for flying in. Close enough to the area and will most likely be your cheapest option.
If you’re driving in - follow your maps. It’ll know better than me :)
Where to stay is not as straightforward. There are so many places to stay around the area. If you are looking for a city experience, stay closer to Denver for access to more restaurants, night life etc. If you are hoping for a more quiet or “mountain vibe” experience, consider staying further West in towns such as Evergreen or Idaho Springs.
Day 1: Arrival, Botanical Gardens and Idaho Springs
So you’ve made it to the area and are ready to get this Red Rocks weekend rolling! If you are flying in from sea-level, drink your water and make sure you are staying hydrated! Don’t forget that Denver is the “mile high city” and altitude sickness is real…and never fun. Whether you flew into Denver or made the drive up, you may be looking for some movement and fresh air. I love finding a park, market or place to walk after traveling for a while and The Denver Botanic Gardens were a perfect place to do just that! I honestly wasn’t really sure what to expect out of these botanic gardens, but I was completely blown away! I can’t speak to other seasons at the gardens, but the flowers in May were absolutely stunning. Let me tell you, I LOVE flowers and everything about gardens and plants…BUT those who know me can tell you, and to my mother’s shagrin, I don’t have the greenest thumb (R.I.P. Javi the Joya)…so whenever I see plants and flowers in full thrive mode it just makes me so happy! Depending on when you arrive in Denver will obviously determine how much time you will be able to spend at the gardens. We were able to give a few hours there, and that felt like enough time considering we were simply exploring the different areas and stopped for a bite to eat at one of the cafes.
Take a Moment to Wonder
Not only were the flowers beautiful in their Spring glory, but sitting at the cafe by the pond and having a sweet conversation with my mom made it even more special. Whether you are traveling alone and happen to meet a kind stranger, or on a trip with your favorite person, I hope you find the wonder in meaningful conversations that bring life and joy.
Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado, USA
After exploring the gardens you may consider going for pre-dinner drinks (remember, altitude makes those drinks a little stronger, ha!), checking out your lodging situation or going straight to dinner. We were feeling hungry, so we decided to go straight to dinner. We had a spot in mind in Idaho Springs, and it’s one that I definitely recommend if you like ciders! Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery has a great vibe and the food and drinks are so good. The flight and sandwiches we ordered were the perfect end to a great first day! (Note: We can attest that their reuben is definitely worth it!) I can’t mention dinner in Idaho Springs without noting that the town itself has tons of character. It is a really cute mountain town that has several food options and shops! Take your time walking around the town and exploring or even grabbing post-dinner drinks if you have the time and energy! From there, we headed toward our Airbnb to call it a night.
The Airbnb we chose for this trip was a hidden gem! It was in Evergreen, CO, which is about a 20 minute drive from Red Rocks. It was an easy drive and we loved everything about our stay! There are so many places that you can stay in the surrounding area if you are going to a concert. Some folks stay in Denver, but I personally think that it’s fun to stay further West and out of the city a bit. With that said, if you are looking for more of a city experience with restaurants and nightlife, Denver may be your spot. Either way, find an accommodation that fits your needs and I am sure that your time will turn out great!
Day 2: Maxwell Falls and Red Rocks!
My bet is that it’s a beautiful sunny morning in Colorado! Enjoy those blue skies! You know what comes next - coffee! Or whatever morning beverage you prefer. We opted for Java Groove in Evergreen. Their slogan is “Coffee, Kindness, Community,” and that’s something I can get behind! It was delicious coffee and they had great pre-adventure breakfast bites! Also, we met a baby Irish Cream Retriever and our morning was made. Do puppies get any cuter?!
Ok, now that you’ve got your caffeine and hopefully something delicious to fill you up, the time you spend before the concert is up to you! If you’ve been reading long enough, you know that I want your travel plans to be what is most enjoyable to you. If that means instead of a hike you go shopping or instead of a museum you go on a food tour - GREAT. But since I can’t speak to all of those things, I just share what I enjoyed and hope it sparks some ideas for you. With that said, we wanted to be in nature and enjoy some beautiful scenery, so we decided to hike Maxwell Falls. How did we decide on Maxwell Falls? This is probably a common answer, but I love using the All Trails app. It’s a trusty resource for finding hiking trails and is overall fairly accurate as far as rating difficulty and distance. Maxwell Falls was a manageable hike for an afternoon and was perfect for my mom who was still acclimating to altitude. The trail does have some elevation gain and is narrow in some sections, but the trail is well-marked and popular, so you will likely see other folks out enjoying it.
Take a Moment to Wonder
Rushing rivers, cool rock formations, the smell of pines and mountain air. Just WOW. Sitting on some rocks looking over the flowing river was so peaceful, and after a good hike up it was fun to take a moment and enjoy the views. It always strikes me how powerful the rivers are in Colorado - knowing that it’s all coming down from the mountains losing their snow-capped peaks to the Spring sunshine. It’s so beautiful.
Maxwell Falls, Colorado, USA
Depending on what your pre-concert activities were, do what you need to do to get ready for the concert! It’s happening!!! We went back to the Airbnb to freshen up and then made our way to dinner before heading down to Red Rocks. Take Note: Traffic is always a beast before concerts, so plan accordingly! Once you get into Red Rocks itself, the staff have parking well-organized, but the traffic getting in always takes a while unless you are just wicked early. For dinner, we chose to go back to Idaho Springs to one of my favorite pizza spots! BeauJo’s is seriously delicious. If you are a pizza lover, I think you’ll like this spot! They are known for “Colorado-style mountain pies” and serving honey for the crust! I’m getting hungry thinking about it. It’s consistently yummy and the restaurant has that delightful mountain feel. From there we drove over to Red Rocks and our sweet tooths (sweet teeth? Ha!) made the spontaneous decision to hit up The Cow, a delicious eatery that has classic soft-serve ice cream. Yes please. Once you park at Red Rocks, follow the crowds to the entrances (there are a couple of different places to get in). If you’re unsure, just ask and the staff are *generally very kind and willing to help you out! We waited on the stairs a little while before they opened the doors and from there we found our seats. Another Note: If you are going to Red Rocks and didn’t know that there are an excessive amount of stairs, now you know. Be aware that it varies depending on where your seats are, but definitely be prepared to do a fair amount of walking and stair stepping. You can read more here about planning your visit to Red Rocks and their policies etc.
Now for the moment we have been waiting for! Enjoy your concert! Take in the beauty of Red Rocks and enjoy that sunset over the amphitheater. That in and of itself is a Moment of Wonder that leaves me in awe whenever I see it. Have fun, be safe, and be alert when leaving the venue - it’s just as busy on the way out as it was arriving.
Day 3: Departure
There are so many options for your final day in the Red Rocks area! You might be taking the morning to recover from an epic night of good music or hopping out of bed to catch an early morning flight - either way, stay hydrated! My mom’s flight left a bit earlier in the day so we got up and headed to DIA and got coffee along the way. We tried out a place called Bean Fosters because it is craft coffee in a book-filled environment and who doesn’t want to sip coffee in a cute library-esque setting?? They had some delicious breakfast burritos and great coffee so we enjoyed our morning there before dropping my mom off. Whether you are flying back or driving home I hope your last little bit of time in the “mile high city” is wonder-full!
What an awesome few days. Wonderful food, great music and spending time with one of my favorite people - doesn’t get much better than that! Now, go and wonder!
:) Clara