Part Western commerce center, part culture capital, Denver exemplifies the art of relaxed urbanity. It’s sophisticated but not pretentious: small-town friendly but not provincial.
Beyond hightailing it to the mountains via Denver International Airport, it had been years since I’d visited the Mile High City. But a recent pre-ski city break revealed a hip, oft-overlooked and glitzy inner-city scene that’s channeling that Western charm into new restaurants, upscale boutiques and art galleries.
Winter scenic. Photo by Matthew_Roberts via flickr common license
The latest star in Denver’s upscale vibe is the city’s most exclusive address - the Ritz-Carlton Denver. Just two blocks from the city’s fashionable heart and mile-long café-filled pedestrian promenade, the 16th Street Mall, the luxury hotel is an ideal base for travelers seeking to add a little Town to an up-Country visit.
Hotel entry. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton Denver
Listed below are a few of my favorite discoveries and reason enough to add a Denver City Break to your next Colorado vacation.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Layovers wouldn’t be so bad if they all included massages, Sharp flat screen TVs and French delicacies. This is exactly what passengers will find in the Air France lounge in Terminals 2D and 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
Clarins and Air France have teamed up to provide complimentary massage services and travel-sized products to lounge guests. The Clarins Amma Massage is a ten-minute head and neck treatment that stimulates blood circulation and induces a profound sense of relaxation and well-being.
After your massage, sit back and enjoy the beverage of your choice, a light meal and the complimentary wifi - a highly pleasurable interlude for maximum travelling pleasure.
Pampered Passenger Tip: Not in First Class? Indulge in a little in-flight pampering with the Clarins Forget Me Not travel kit. You can now find this great find and more travel beauty kits in the new Pampered Passenger section of The Travel Store at EllenBarone.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".