Solid as a Rock

For this week’s Monday Night Football matchup, your 2-1 Bengals look to get back on track against the 1-2 Denver Broncos after a tough loss versus the Vikings. If you’re heading out to the game, great choice as Denver is one of the most scenic sports towns in the whole country. So, once you’ve made it to the Rocky Mountains and shaken off that altitude sickness, here are some plans to keep your spirits Mile High all weekend long no matter what Monday’s game may bring.

Diehard Fan

If you are still yelling “Who Dey” loud as ever despite the result of last game, you might just be a die hard. In that case, you want to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown West as it is the closest hotel to Mile High Stadium you can possibly book. Seriously, it’s one minute away. This gives you plenty of time before the game to walk around the parking lot tailgates in your Bengals gear and get booed by the hordes of Broncos fans!

If you’re looking for allies though, head over to the Ballpark District and visit MST Denver, an official Bengals bar. Here you can grab drinks and feel close to home with their house-made Grippo’s-inspired dry rub wings (and maybe also find someone to commiserate with about last Sunday). While you’re in the area, consider a tour of Coors Field, home of the Rockies. The tour is rated by many online as one of the best stadium tours in pro sports, lasts 70-80 minutes and runs at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Tickets can be purchased here, although we understand if you don’t want to see any more purple at the moment.

On the Bandwagon:

Bought these tickets pre-Burrow injury and are now feeling a little fair-weather? Don’t worry as there is still so much to see in Denver! SpringHill Suites by Mariott Denver Downtown will put you at the heart of it all with direct access to downtown, the stadium and the Union Station light rail to get around town. One of your first stops could be over at the Denver Botanic Gardens as the city’s scenic appeal is not just limited to the surrounding mountains. It’s ranked as one of the top five botanic gardens in the country and provides a 24-acre oasis in the city. Besides, what’s a trip out west without a little nature?

Much like Cincinnati, Denver is a renowned brewery city. If all that walking in the gardens made you thirsty and/or hungry, head over to Cerebral Brewing’s Congress Park taproom to enjoy an extensive variety of beers and a meal from local food trucks. Or if you’d prefer to grab something closer to the hotel, look into Little Machine for high-quality drinks in a high-quality environment.

Along for the ride:

Ordered a vacation with a side of a Bengals game? Check in to the Catbird Hotel to get yourself situated in the quirky RiNo neighborhood, short for River North Art District. Here you can find visual artists, furniture makers, craft distillers and brewers, coffee roasters and some of the best restaurants in the city. Hop Alley fits that last category as it has been a RiNo staple for over ten years, serving modern adaptations of Chinese classics in a unique hip-hop inspired environment.

While Denver is a great city, one of the best things you can do while there is get out. Specifically, get out of downtown and immerse yourself in the surrounding nature. An easy way to do this is to visit the iconic Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. The amphitheatre is fully open to visitors until 2:30 p.m. on event days so you can experience a bit of music history as you’re taking in the beautiful scenery. While it is best known as one of the most legendary concert venues in the world, Red Rocks also doubles as a mountain park with several hiking and biking trails to explore. Just make sure you’re back before kickoff.

Now all that’s left to do is root for the Bengals! May the best orange team win! 

– Meredith Ruhland