Hotels - Essential Denver

The Holidays in Denver

Lisa Shultz — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 18:17:36 +0000

Be sure to see beautiful holiday lights, trees, and decorations in Denver at Christmastime. There are many places to go. Here are a few standouts to get you started!

Botanic Gardens-Make reservations for Blossoms of Light and stroll the grounds for a magical experience.

Brown Palace Hotel-See the eloquently decorated lobby and consider making a reservation for tea.

City and County Building-Look at this beautiful building from Civic Center Park and walk right up to the nativity scene at the entrance to the building. Also enjoy the Mile High Christmas Tree and Christkindlmarket.

Union Station-Check out the main terminal Christmas tree and sip a drink upstairs at the Cooper Lounge.

Also check out the Oxford Hotel-Visit the quaint lobby and have a classic cocktail in the Cruise Room.

Larimer Square-Stroll the festive block, browse in the shops, and refresh yourself at one of the many restaurants and walk to see the lights on the Daniels and Fisher Tower, and perhaps ice-skate on the rink next to the Tower.

Happy Holidays from Essential Denver!

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Capitol Hill Mansion Bed and Breakfast Inn

Lisa Shultz — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 18:00:45 +0000

I had the pleasure of staying in this historic bed and breakfast inn located at 1207 Pennsylvania St, Denver. I love walking amongst old Denver homes that somehow survived demolition in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Staying overnight and imagining the life of the original family who lived there was a special experience.

This beautiful red sandstone mansion is located on Denver’s Millionaires Row and is a block away from the Molly Brown House Museum. The former Keating House was built in 1891 just before the silver crash of 1893 by Jeffery and Mary Keating. The mansion has a rich and interesting history. It remained a family mansion until 1923, and then it became the Buena Vista Hotel. Over the years, it went through numerous transformations of uses. In 1994 it became an inn. Carl S. Schmidt II bought the mansion in 2001. As owner and chef, he continues to preserve and maintain this National Landmark.

There are eight guestrooms in this inn, each named for a Colorado wildflower. I stayed in the Shooting Star Room, which was delightful. Breakfast was served from 7:30-9:30am. I enjoyed fresh fruit and yogurt as I sipped my coffee from a French Press. The main menu changes daily. On the morning of my stay, the main course was an egg soufflé with bacon and a croissant. It was delicious.

I highly recommend this inn for a staycation or visit to Denver. Carl Schmidt and his daughter Bailey are wonderful hosts. I suggest getting acquainted with the history of this mansion and surrounding Capitol Hill by staying a night or two. Take in the Molly Brown House Museum, walk around the neighborhood, and enjoy a dinner at a nearby restaurant while you are there. Save room for the fabulous breakfast they offer and linger in the living room to take in the ambiance. Learn more at capitolhillmansion.com

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Brown Palace Hotel Tour

Lisa Shultz — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 04:35:39 +0000

I have enjoyed walking around the Brown Palace Hotel on my own several times a year since I was a kid. My mom always took me there to see the holiday decorations in my youth. My dad loved the Ship Tavern restaurant, and we often had lunch there through the years. I particularly like visiting the elegant lobby during the holiday season.

Recently, I decided to take an official tour of the hotel. Located downtown at 321 17^th Street, this historic hotel opened in 1892. Public tours for the general public are $20 and available every Wednesday and Saturday at 1:00pm. Reservations are encouraged by calling the Concierge desk 303-297-3111, ext. 3313. The fee is paid in the Brown Palace Coffee Shop. Private tours are also available upon request.

The tour is given by delightful historian Debra Faulkner. She leads the group through the lobby and the Palace Arms restaurant as well as a quick look at Churchill Bar, an iconic smoking lounge. Faulkner then takes the group up the grand staircase for views of afternoon tea and points out various elements of the historic structure. Her knowledge of the hotel’s history is excellent. She recounts stories throughout the tour that enrich the experience. Furthermore, she shares with candor the changes the hotel has gone through over the ages such as changing the main entrance location and remodeling to modernize the hotel.

Allow 90-minutes for the tour and self-exploration before and afterwards. I suggest lunch at Ship Tavern before the tour. Ideally make your reservations during the holidays or through the Stock Show’s closing January 22 since the Christmas decorations remain on display.

For more information, visit BrownPalace.com or call 303-297-3111.

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