Denver A-to-Z: Eight Spots to Awaken Creativity

Thursday, August 2, 2018

By Tera Greenwood

It’s August, and you know what that means. ILEA Live is just around the corner! In two short weeks, events professionals from around the world will gather in Denver to hone their craft, get inspired and discover strategies to help run their businesses. Over the past few months, I’ve been sharing some of the best spots and activities in the city. Today, I’m presenting you with a final eight. Of course, the biggest Denver attraction 16-18 August is ILEA Live.

Read the first three installments of Denver A-to-Z here, here and here.

S – Spa day at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa

The Brown Palace Hotel was built in 1892, but it has all the luxuries of the 21st century. Relax and rejuvenate at the hotel spa, which “seamlessly blends Victorian elegance with the best of the postmodern West.”

Discover all the amenities.

T – Taste the magic of Mexico at Casa Bonita

Imagine Disney World. Now imagine Disney World as a Mexican restaurant. That’s Casa Bonita. There’s a 30-foot waterfall, cliff divers, a pirate cave, people juggling fire and more than I could begin to explain here. It’s a restaurant, it’s a show, it’s an experience.

Learn more.

U – Ursula Brewery

Although it’s only been around since 2014, Ursula Brewery already has earned the title of pouring some of Denver’s most unique and award-winning beers. The city is one of the biggest beer towns in the country; it’d be a shame to miss out!

Check out Ursula and other Denver breweries on this list.

V – Voodoo Doughnut Mile High

If you have any interest in sweet treats at all, you’ve likely heard of Voodoo Doughnuts. It started in Portland but has since grown to other cities, including Denver. Voodoo is known for its eccentric doughnuts and interesting décor. If you’re craving sugar, stop in and grab a bacon-maple bar. 

W – Williams & Graham

A few years ago, Williams & Graham was named one of the top 50 bars in the world. The LoHi bar is styled like a speakeasy and offers specialty cocktails in a cozy, warm environment. Go ahead, pretend you’re in the Prohibition era for a couple hours one night.

X – X marks the spot

After you’ve gone to the spa and filled up on beer, cocktails and doughnuts, you might consider something a bit more active. And what’s better than a city-based scavenger hunt? The Urban Adventure Quest essentially turns Denver into a game with the added bonus of getting a tour of the city.

Learn more.

Y – Yeti @ Illinois Creek Trail

The Breckenridge International Festival of Arts is going on the same time as ILEA Live. “Yeti” is a featured environmental sculpture that’s part of the festival. According to the website, it’s a “free-standing sculpture covered with living grass with a hole in place of the face.” It sounds odd, but it’s free and it’s in the beautiful woods of Breckenridge.

Z – Zoo

You knew “Z” was going to be zoo. Luckily, Denver has one of the best ones in the country. See cheetahs, orangutans, grizzly bears, giraffes, hippos … actually just view the whole list of animals.

Sadly, this is the last in the Denver A-to-Z series, but the good news is that means ILEA Live is almost here. You still have a chance to register if you’ve somehow forgotten. I’ll see you there!

Tera Greenwood is the national director of catering sales for SSA, an award winning visitor amenities company, where she supports $25MM in catering sales throughout 39 units across the U.S. In addition to this role, she is the 2018 ILEA Live Conference Chair. From 2015-2017, Tera served as the Western Regional Vice President to ILEA where she supported 10 chapters. Tera has been in the event industry, with a focus on catering, for 15 years and a member of ILEA for 10 years.

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