A Month of Remote Work in Denver: Q&A
We completed our first month of travel remote work!
If you aren’t familiar with our situation, my partner and I lived in San Francisco and are now digital nomads, traveling through a few different cities this summer.
Denver was an awesome place to start. It is a large city, but has a much smaller feel, so we weren’t overwhelmed. Folks were incredibly welcoming and there were so many new places to explore- both in the city and in nature!
Here are a few elaborations on our trip- question and answer style!
How did we rent our unit?
We rented through a company called Blueground. They cater to longer stays and have furnished accommodations that support remote workers with desks and high speed internet. The décor and kitchen supplies of our apartment were a bit stark, but it allowed us to make the space our own, rather than feel like we were staying in someone else’s place.
Where did we stay?
We stayed at the Radiant Apartments in the Five Points neighborhood in Denver. It’s a historically significant neighborhood that now has a mix of new apartment complexes, restaurants, parking lots, tent encampments, and charming historic homes. It is definitely an area that is undergoing a lot of gentrification and/or urban renewal.
This area is extremely walkable to bars and restaurants, City Hall, the 16th Street Mall, and local parks. Plus, there are great car/scooter rental options as well as public transportation.
What did we like the most about our rental unit?
We loved that our unit was located in an apartment complex with a ton of amenities. On sunny days, we could stop by the pool, BBQ on the patio, or journal on the roof deck. The apartment complex also had a workspace that we could use for remote work as well as a cardio and weight room daily workouts.
What restaurants did we like?
Syrup (amazing breakfast)
Uchi (we had the six course tasting after which we died and went to heaven)
El Five (my partner thought the appetizers here were stellar)
Ironton Distillery (amazing cocktails)
Woods Boss Brewing Company (fascinating selection of beers)
Happy Camper (super adorable bar with tons of outdoor seating)
Forest Room 5 (so overgrown that we almost missed it! But very refreshing to have drinks in a forest setting- in the city)
What restaurants didn’t live up to our expectations?
Sweet Action/Retrograde (the ice cream flavors are a bit bizarre for my liking and the speakeasy (although you enter through a wall freezer) didn’t have working air conditioning, plus it was very underwhelming for what it was)
The View House (had huge lines- designated by gender!- which was a bit antiquated, in my opinion)
What tourist sites do we recommend?
16th Street Mall (once it’s renovated)
How did we get around?
Uber and Lyft Cars (+/- $15 within the city)
Lyft and Lime Scooters ($3-10 depending on the length of trip)
Walking! Five Points is extremely walkable
Zipcar for longer day trips ($7 monthly fee, plus $150ish a day to rent a car with insurance and gas included)
Favorite day trip?
Reserve your ticket in advance! We opted for the 5pm ‘day before’ tickets
We hiked the Bear Lake Trailhead and hit Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, and Alberta Falls)
Use the ‘National Parks Trail Guide’ apps for offline trail maps and park information (Apple Store) (Google Play)
Favorite Unexpected Find?
Urban Sanctuary for yoga classes
Urban Sanctuary is Denver’s first black woman-run wellness studio. I loved the studio’s commitment to local service, variety of classes, and excellent teachers. Their yoga classes are held in a gorgeous plant-filled interior as well as a cozy, shaded back patio.
A bonus find- Jeremy Novy’s street art! He is a San Francisco based artist, but I was excited to see some of his koi in Denver!
What would we do if we had more time?
Visit Mercury Café for swing dancing classes and another poetry slam
More yoga classes at Urban Sanctuary
Check out Meow Wolf
Bike along the South Platte River
Hike more!!
Visit the other Denver speakeasies (The Dive Lounge & B&GC)
Try more restaurants!