A rock star's weekend guide to Denver

Wesley Schultz, half of the rock duo The Lumineers, knows all the best places to go in Denver. Here are his local favourites, from concerts at Red Rocks to wine at Sunday Vinyl.

Denver, Colorado is known for its laid-back lifestyle, its easy access to hiking and biking and a myriad of cultural and culinary attractions. 

With the Rocky Mountains as its backdrop, the Mile High City's glittering skyscrapers and artsy vibe belie its Wild West roots.

Wesley Schultz, who along with Jeremiah Fraites is part of the internationally renowned folk-rock band The Lumineers, has called Denver home since 2009. Though the band formed in 2005, it was their move from New Jersey to Denver that rocketed them to stardom. Schultz credits the relocation with giving them the space as creators to define their signature energetic folk-rock style and to write the songs that have brought them their fame. 

"We just kind of took a chance, and when we got here, it was beautiful," says Schultz. "There are a lot of transplants here; the weather is gorgeous and the people are super-friendly. I love it here."

Denver is also a short drive from one of the world's most unique and remarkable music venues – Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre; a venue built into and surrounded by orange-red sandstone rock formations that create a natural theatre. A bucket-list destination for performers and concert-goers alike, the stage has welcomed musical acts like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, U2, Bob Dylan and Widespread Panic.

"You get a relatively intimate concert with some of the best acts in the world, who are bringing their A-game when they play there," says Schultz. "The artist is in awe of what they're seeing just as much as the audience is. You're in awe of the natural beauty and it's the best venue of any I've ever played as far as sound and lighting… It's amazing that it's right in our backyard."

Whether you're in town for a show at Red Rocks or otherwise, here's how Schultz recommends spending a weekend in Denver.

One of Schultz's favourite things to do with his family is bring them to the Children's Museum of Denver; a venue that encourages dynamic play. "You're kind of surprised that you don't have to sign more waivers – in a good way," he says.

Intrepid youngsters can don helmets and climb to the top of a towering structure; use recycled materials to make their own creations from tools like saws, hammers and screwdrivers; play pretend at a "supermarket" or immerse themselves in a myriad of activities involving bubbles.

The museum also hosts numerous special events for children and their accompanying adults. Grown-ups sip local craft beers while watching kids roam free in the museum's outdoor park, which features climbing, digging and water exhibits, plus a zipline. For families like Schultz's who have young ones, the Children's Museum is a place where kids get to be themselves, explore and have fun. "It's great for new families," he says. "We love to bring our kids to the Children's Museum."

Website: https://www.mychildsmuseum.org

Address: 2121 Children’s Museum Drive, Denver, CO 80211

Phone: 303-433-7444

Instagram: @childrensmuseumdenver

Denver's culinary scene ranges from upscale Michelin-starred restaurants to places like Old West-style saloons. One of the most legendary eateries is El Taco de Mexico, an unassuming yellow stucco restaurant on 7th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive. 

"It's a place Stealth [Ulvang, who plays keyboards for The Lumineers] took me to because he was a local and showed me the local wisdom," says Schultz. "All the musicians know about this spot. Once I was there and met the guitarist from Cheap Trick – he was in town to play Red Rocks that night."

Opened in 1985 by Mexico City native MaLuisa Zanabria with the help of her mother, the restaurant brought hungry Denverites a taste of Mexico City's street food. At this counter service-only eatery, patrons order off an illuminated letter board menu featuring authentic tacos, burritos, enchiladas, sopes, chiles rellenos and tamales, often smothered in its legendary green chilli. The modest restaurant has a cult following and was the recipient of a James Beard American Classics Award in 2020.

"They used to be cash-only and only women work there," says Schultz. "They cook using real lard, they have beef tongue and kind of exotic stuff on the menu. I always order the chile relleno burrito smothered [with green chilli] and it's life-changing." 

Website: http://www.eltacodemexico5280.com

Address: 714 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204

Phone: 303-623-3926

Instagram: @eltacodemexicodenver

To enjoy the great outdoors without having to drive for hours, Schultz recommends Golden Gate Canyon State Park; less than an hour's drive from downtown Denver.

The park offers 56 kms of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, with a variety of ecosystems including mountain meadows full of flowers, lush alpine streams and lakes, rocky peaks and areas densely populated with evergreen trees. It's also home to wildlife like moose, deer and bobcats and offers stunning panoramic views of the Continental Divide. 

"I've been hiking at Golden Gate Canyon State Park – it's a really pretty hike and you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, but it's not far from Denver at all," says Schultz.

For those who want to make their outdoor adventure into an overnight excursion, the park has campgrounds with full hookups, backcountry campsites, cabins and yurts.

Website: https://cpw.state.co.us/state-parks/golden-gate-canyon-state-park

Address: 92 Crawford Gulch Road, Golden, CO 80403

Phone: 303-582-3707

Instagram: @goldengatecanyoncpw

For a live musical experience that's slightly more low-key than Red Rocks, Schultz recommends the classic Denver watering hole, PS Lounge.

"The PS Lounge is really fun. The owner used to serve Tang shots to all the ladies," says Schultz. "There's a free pool table, which was great when we were poor musicians. It's a friendly, interesting, quirky place. I love it. It's right by the Bluebird [Theater] and by Lost Lake Lounge."

Walking through the doors at PS Lounge is like going through a portal to a mid-1980s dive bar. Its octogenarian owner, Pete Siahamis, has helmed the bar for decades, serving every woman who comes in a single rose and a sugary Alabama Slammer shot. The lounge still has a jukebox, is still cash only and its walls are plastered with snapshots of its guests over the years mingled with Greek tchotchkes like a statue of the Venus de Milo tucked between bottles behind the bar, in homage to Siahamis’ Greek roots.  

Address: 3416 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80206

Phone: 303-320-1200

Instagram: @ps.lounge.denver

RiNo, or Denver's River North neighbourhood, is an arts district known for its colourful murals, hip cocktail lounges, retail shops, galleries and upscale restaurants. Once an industrial area occupied primarily by warehouses, factories and railyards, the area began transforming a decade ago. Some of the existing buildings have remained and have new tenants, but in other cases, empty lots have been developed with new builds.

"The RiNo area is a place where you can walk along Larimer Street all the way to the baseball stadium," says Schultz. "Once you're there, that whole area, there's stuff all around. When I first moved to Denver, there was nothing there – it was a lonesome stretch. Now it's one of the most desirable places. I really love to take friends there and just walking along there."

RiNo offers easy access to the downtown and lively LoDo neighbourhoods by foot or on a bike. The city has both scooter and bike share scheme. 

"The city is super walkable," says Schultz. "They're making Denver more and more bike friendly, too. If you can take advantage of that, it’s beautiful.”

Website: https://rinoartdistrict.org/

Address: 1320 27th Street, Ste. G, Denver

Instagram: @rinoartdistrict

"A very special place for drinks [like] cocktails but especially for wine, is Sunday Vinyl," says Schultz.

Found just behind Union Station, the Mediterranean tapas bar Sunday Vinyl is helmed by local restauranteur and music lover Bobby Stuckey; inspired by the success of his weekly Instagram posts where he chronicled himself pairing a record with a bottle of wine.

They do these theme nights, where they pick a record and pair that with a drink," says Schultz. "It's a whole vibe. They spent something like a half million dollars on the sound system and they just spin vinyl, that's all they do. Even for my friends that are really into music, it's cool to remember just how special it is to be around music and seeing the cover of an album, and holding a record, it's just really tangible."

Website: https://www.sundayvinyl.com/

Address: 1803 16th Street, Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303-738-1803

Instagram: @sundayvinyldenver  

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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