As a state, Colorado is filled to the brim with wonderful places to go and wonderful things to do. But with so many varied and great attractions, some eventually fall through the cracks. Here’s a list of hidden gems located off the beaten path for you to explore in Denver and the rest of the state.
Denver’s food scene has been growing exponentially for some time now and has brought into the city great modern dining and drinking. However, the longstanding greats should not be ignored and the Welton Street Cafe is one of them. Located in Denver’s historically African-American Five Points neighborhood, the cafe is one of the most authentic soul-food joints in the city. The food is impeccable, hearty and served in heaping amounts. The location, right next to the passing light rail, gives a great urban feel and the staff are friendly and comical. Fried chicken—the restaurant’s signature dish—is made to order and takes 20 long, agonizing minutes to make, but is very, very worth it.
The Welton Street Cafe is located at 2736 Welton St. and is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
2. La Calle Taqueria y Carnitas
Long considered the best tacos in Denver for those in the know, La Calle serves up amazing and unapologetically authentic street tacos. There’s no Crunch Wraps here and ordering can be a lesson in elementary Spanish, but that’s what makes the space so special. The tacos are not only authentic in their preparation but in their content as well, with meats such as Tripa (tripe i.e. cow stomach), Al Pastor (Gyro style pork), Carnitas, Carne Asada and Lengua (beef tongue). You get five street tacos for around $7 and an insane amount of options for customization, with tons of toppings and salsas.
La Calle is located at 1565 W. Alameda Ave. and is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is closed Sunday.
Compared to the well-known Elitches Gardens theme park, Lakeside can look a little sketchy and a lot less “amusing.” The amusement park, which sits on the edge of Lake Rhoda, is in fact one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States and a wonderful source of nostalgia and good times. The place is a bit antiquated, but has a great “county fair”-esque feel to it. The rides are not as thrilling as those at Elitch’s, but are every bit as fun and way, way cheaper. In fact, one of the greatest aspects of Lakeside is the cost of it: $3 to get into the park and 50 cents a ticket for a ride (they are individual from one another). One can also pay $14.50 on weekdays or $22.50 on weekends for an unlimited rides armband. The food and games inside the park are also a much better value than the more expensive Elitch’s. Make sure to go at night, when the lights are on—it’s a great, retro experience.
Lakeside is located at 4601 Sheridan Blvd. and is open sporadically at 1 p.m. on most days with the rides opening at 6 p.m. on others. The park does not have a set closing time, but usually closes between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Located about 40 minutes away from DU, Castlewood Canyon might be known to some of the native students, but the sprawling caprock canyon is still a rarely visited gem of natural beauty. The 2,621 acre state park is full of hiking trails, wildlife and small pools and waterfalls to cool off in. The park also features a multitude of bouldering and rock climbing opportunities. The hiking isn’t that strenuous and is mostly easy going. Castlewood makes a great day trip and is easy to get to with a car.
Castlewood Canyon is located at 2989 Colorado 83, off of Highway 83 south of Denver and past the town of Franktown. Its hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
