Arrive in Denver, CO, for a three-night stay at an area hotel.  Tonight, enjoy a free evening at Larimer Square.  Denver’s urban shopping and dining district is also the city’s oldest and most historic block.  Complete with glittering lights strung over the entire block, Larimer Square is charming and elegant with a nightlife that defines hip urban renewal.  Victorian buildings house specialty boutiques and unique chef-driven restaurants.  Shop one-of-a-kind stores with distinctive fashion and exclusive offerings, and enjoy special events and a vibrant atmosphere year-round, located on Larimer Street between 14th and 15th streets.

This morning, meet your local guide for a Historic Denver Tour.  The historic 23-square block of Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo) boasts the largest concentration of Victorian and early 20th-century buildings in the United States.  Anchored by Union Station and Coors Field, this is one of Denver’s top nightlife and eating neighborhoods filled with hip restaurants, sports bars, rooftop cafes and brew pubs.  Your guide will explain the history and interested facts of the Mile-High City.

After a break for lunch on own, the afternoon features a visit to the Denver Art Museum.  The museum has an extensive collection of works by Western masters such as George Catlin, Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, John Mix Stanley, Alfred Jacob Miller, and others.  The crown jewel in the institute’s collection is Charles Deas’s Long Jakes, The Rocky Mountain Man, the single most influential image in Rocky Mountain iconography.  There is also a famous collection of Native American art to explore.

Then visit Rockmount Ranch Wear Co. for a tour and shopping time.  Tour the historic building and store.  This store is unique and considered a Western icon.  This is where the snap shirt was born.  The restored building was built in 1909 and features heavy timbering, high tin ceiling, brick and hardwood.  Rockmount is worn by celebrities including Elvis, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Robert Redford and many more.

End the day at Wynkoop Brewing Co.  Start with a tour of the Brewery, which has been a pioneer on the American beer landscape since opening in 1988.  Wynkoop was the first brewpub in historic downtown Denver since Prohibition.  The Brewery makes hand craft porters, meads and cask-conditioned beers (they were cask when cask wasn’t cool) and other current craft beer fixtures that beer lovers had never tasted before.  Now is your chance to see behind the scenes and sample Wynkoop beers along the way!  Following the tour, enjoy a hearty dinner at the Brewery. (B,D)

Today, enjoy a full day on the Lariat Loop.  A 40-mile stretch in the foothills west of Denver, Colorado, the Lariat Loop connects the communities of Golden, Morrison, Lookout Mountain and Evergreen, and features some of the area’s best historical and cultural attractions, not to mention spectacular mountain views and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Starting in Golden, CO, the first stop is Lookout Mountain with incredible views of the natural beauty of the Great Plains and the Rockies.  Located at the top of Lookout Mountain is the Buffalo Bill Grave & Museum.  This is a fascinating tribute to a true Old West icon, you’ll see exhibits containing items used by Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild West show posters, Native American artifacts and antique firearms.  Controversy surrounds his burial site, with multiple states laying claim to this famous frontiersman’s remains.  But having died in Colorado, it is here where his final resting place is located.

Next stop is Genesee Mountain Park and the buffalo overlook.  Here it’s possible to see Denver’s herd of 40 buffalo with a snowcapped mountain panorama in the background.  Walk along a new paved trail to get an up-close look at this herd of bison.

Travel continues to Evergreen along Highway 74.  Here, acres upon acres of pine trees stand stoically on lush mountainsides and green valleys near town.  Enjoy free time and lunch on own in downtown Evergreen.

The afternoon features a to visit Hiwan Heritage Park & Museum.  Built in the rustic style, the museum consists of a 17-room log lodge, built between 1880 and 1942, plus three other original buildings.  The restored rooms are furnished from the original residents’ belongings.  The museum also houses a collection of southwestern Indian artifacts.

Then visit the Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, known in older times as Garden of the Angels, Garden of the Titans, and Park of the Red Rocks.  This majestic natural wonder has played host to legendary concerts by the Beatles, U2, the Grateful Dead and countless others.  Dramatic 300-foot-high red sandstone monoliths crafted by Mother Nature over millions and millions of years flank the 9,000-seat amphitheater.  Hike the hills around the amphitheater and explore the visitor center, with the geological history of the spot, as well as a performers’ hall of fame.

End the day with at stop in Morrison, CO for dinner at The Fort Restaurant.  The Fort is a full scale adobe replica of a famous 19th century fur trading fort with scenic views of downtown Denver.  The Fort serves award-winning historical meals and drinks.  Specialties include fine buffalo, elk, quail, beef, salmon, poultry, and vegetarian entrees.  The Fort has been featured in Bon Appetit, National Geographic Traveler and on the Television Food Network.

Return to your Denver hotel after dinner. (B,D)

After breakfast, depart for home. (B)