Millennials, it is said that you love Denver. It makes sense. Like you, the city is youthful, ecological and has a technological pulse.
According to a survey by Abodo, an apartment search website, millennials ranked Denver number 8 on their list of “perfect cities.” Denver ranked higher than San Diego and Boston on the top 10 list, but lagged behind major metropolises like New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. (Two cities in Washington, Seattle and Portland, also made the top 10 list.)
Defined, millennials, also known as Generation Y, were born in the years from the early 1980s to around 2000, with no precise dates defining this generation whose members are known for their love of technology, adventure and collaboration. Oh, and another reason Denver could be a draw for this generation. A Pew Research poll found that 84 percent of Millennials favor legalized marijuana and Denver is one of the first cities to legalize marijuana.
Whether you’re looking to move to Denver or just want to come on vacation, we’ve taken the best qualities millennials say they want in a city, according to the survey, and are sharing what Denver has to offer.
A thriving job market
The # 1 quality millennials they want in a city is a friendly job market. Denver was ranked No. 12 in a 2016 study by WalletHub that revealed the best cities to find work. Millennials, turn your attention to the River North (or RiNo) neighborhood, where co-working spaces are a boon to the local economy. The neighborhood has turned old dilapidated factory buildings into modern, new co-working spaces. The Taxi complex, a former Yellow Cab warehouse, for example, is a mixed-use development with residences, retail stores, and businesses, everything from real estate to artists to architects.
Affordable rent
Prepare for heartbreak if you were hoping to move here millennials. You may be better off vacationing in Denver because apartment costs are on the rise and rental vacancies have remained at record lows. As of May 2016, the median rent in Denver is $ 1,580 per month. If you’re visiting, check out some great new hotels, like The Art Hotel, which sits right in the middle of Denver’s vibrant art scene, with art and history museums in every direction. And did we mention there are adult coloring books and huge bathtubs and cool views of the city?
Plus, you can sit on the Fire patio by a fire pit and enjoy handcrafted cocktails, a nearby chocolate bar, and art displays throughout the hotel.
Parks or hiking trails
Check and verify. Denver is home to an epic park system. There are 20,000 acres of urban and mountain parks in the City of Denver inventory. Take part in a game of volleyball during the warm months while in Washington Park, enjoy food truck festivals at Civic Center Park, or take a scooter to Red Rocks, which sells concerts and movie nights, but is also the setting. for weekend training warriors. When it comes to hiking, Colorado is known for its massive fourteen years. But there are plenty of moderate, low-key walks within half an hour from the city.
Local non-chain restaurants
The culinary scene in Denver is phenomenal, hands down. When you land at Denver International Airport, you will be quickly greeted with gourmet local food. Root Down in Terminal C of the airport serves organic and local dishes whenever possible and offers many vegan options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. From farm-to-table cobb salad to chipotle cranberry duck wings, the restaurant takes airport dining to a new level.
Once downtown, fix your gaze on the rooftop of Tamayo, one of celebrity chef Richard Sandoval’s restaurants, and toast to its huge list of tequila and modern Mexican food. Or visit one of Denver’s newest restaurants, The Pig and The Sprout, in the Union Station neighborhood, which is receiving rave reviews for its fun atmosphere and innovative menu. Or head west to the Highlands neighborhood and order ceviche at Lola’s Coastal Mexican, a trendy seaside restaurant with an upbeat vibe.
Quality pizza
You’re a long way from New York, but still, there are some pretty amazing pizzerias tucked away in Denver neighborhoods and off the beaten track. For a slice of New York in Denver, head to Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza for some pepperoni grinders or a “Hell’s Kitchen” pizza with sausage, garlic, cherry peppers and fresh mozzarella. The pizzeria is located across from Regis University, a private Jesuit university. Another great Colorado pizzeria is BeauJo’s, complete with fluffy, doughy crusts served with bottles of honey for your dipping pleasure.
Or, if it’s late at night and you’re partying downtown, stop at Two-Fisted Mario’s, which is a popular spot after the bars are out.
Cinemas
Sure, Denver has some standard movie theaters. But, there are some movie theaters that get five stars (or two thumbs up). Take Film on the Rocks, a concert, comedy and film series that takes place in the summer at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Or, The Alamo Drafthouse that serves you food and cocktails at your seat and occasionally brings older, popular movies for special screenings. For artsy or independent films, visit the Teatro Maya, which also shows classic movies every Wednesday.
Night owl? Head to the Esquire Theater to catch cult classics midnight movies on weekend nights. Another option: Denver’s new drive-in movie theater that has double shows on weekend nights. During the summer, you can also watch movies outdoors at various venues, including Little Man Ice Cream on Friday nights.
Walkability
If you visit Denver, you can easily go without a car. The LightRail will transport you around the city and southern suburbs, and to move between the various neighborhoods of the city, you can hop on a Denver B-Cycle bike. The 16th Street Mall Ride is a free shuttle that goes up and down the 16th Street tourist mall, where you will find shops, restaurants and bars. Denver is always classed as a fit city, so walking from point A to point B is something you’ll see locals do a lot. But in any case, the city is more multimodal (read: walk to a bus station, take public transport, and get around on a shared bike during the day).
GLBTQ-Friendly
Denver has become a popular vacation destination for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. OutTraveler has named Denver one of its top promising destinations and Denver has one of the largest PrideFest celebrations in the country in June and the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association holds a rodeo in July. Denver’s first pride celebration took place in 1973 as a picnic at Cheeseman Park, and the state legalized gay marriage in October 2014.
Farmers markets
Like the produce, Denver and the surrounding burbs have many farmers markets to choose from. The Union Station Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings at 1701 Wynkoop St. is a favorite because not only are local farms present, but Denver chefs host a cooking demonstration from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. & Woodsley on the 2nd. of July; Franco Ruiz, from Fruition on July 9; Kelly Whitaker of Basta and Cart-Driver on July 16; Paul Reilly of Beast + Bottle on July 30.
Malls
Given your taste for local coffee shops and non-chain restaurants, we think you also prefer local stores over large ones. Denver has many shopping malls, from the downtown pavilions on 16th Street to the Cherry Creek Mall in East Denver and the huge Park Meadows Mall in Centennial. But for a fun shopping experience that balances out the big local brands, head to Aspen Grove, 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, which is about 30 minutes south of Denver, is pet-friendly and outdoors. .
You could spend an entire afternoon at Tattered Cover, a local bookstore and a local favorite. Or shop for fancy dresses and jewelry at local boutique Fab’Rik and satisfy your treats at GiGi cupcakes. The mall is also home to retailers such as Gap, Banana Republic, and Pottery Barn.
Local coffee shop
Denver has some top-notch coffee shops scattered throughout the city that have their own personalities. A favorite among millennials? Huckleberry Steakhouses, 2500 Larimer St. in Denver. Follow them on Instagram. They constantly change their sandwich board with funny expressions. The cafe recently partnered with Denver chef Chris Bell to introduce Port Side, a restaurant next door where you’ll find an evolving menu. Current offerings include some crazy breakfast treats like creamy avocado toast, topped with radishes; a kale smoothie that’s packed with a little maple syrup, as well as blueberries, bananas, ginger, and coconut milk and breakfast staples like overnight oatmeal and egg sandwiches.
A nearby beach, river, or lake
We have mountains less than a 30 minute drive from Denver, but we lack beaches and lakes. (Unless you count reservoirs? In that case, head over to Chatfield Reservoir and rent a stand-up paddle board at the gravel quarry.) However, the Platte River runs through downtown. Perched on the river is Confluence Park, which is a perfect picnic spot, a huge REI, as well as places where you can rent kayaks to paddle on the city’s river.
