Known as the Mile High City due to its elevation being exactly one mile above sea level, Denver can also be called a haven for family travelers. From its kid-friendly art museums—the Denver Art Museum offers free access for anyone under the age of 18—to its numerous green spaces and a burgeoning street art scene, Denver literally has something to offer every member of your family…right down to your choice of accommodation!
One of the struggles of traveling with kids in tow is finding appropriate accommodations, and we’ve tried them all. From galavanting around Europe for a few years in an RV to staycations at Disney’s Aulani, our foodie family of four is well-versed in no-frills to high-end accommodations, and what to expect from them.
Our top tip for selecting family-friendly accommodations, not just in Denver, but anywhere in the world, is picking a hotel (or airbnb) that’s centrally located. Why? Kids get tired easily, and finding a place to stay that’s within walking in distance to everything you want to do together as a family is crucial…this is tried and tested information!
You’ll be happy to note that there’s a hotel in the heart of downtown Denver that checks our boxes for a fun, family-friendly stay in Denver: the Curtis.
Click here to check out prices and book your next family-friendly getaway at the Curtis Denver!
Where to Stay in Downtown Denver – the Curtis Hotel
The ambiance of the Curtis hotel in downtown Denver
This quirky boutique hotel, located across the street from the Denver Center for Performing Arts, has 13 uniquely-themed floors with graphic art and installations all designed by local Denver artists. It also just so happens to be a Doubletree by Hilton property, so you can be sure those warm chocolate chip cookies are waiting for you at check-in.
A comic book fan? Then staying on the superhero themed-floor is a must!
While some hotels skip the 13th floor and go straight to 14, the Curtis embraces 13 as the floor of horrors with plenty spooky and macabre horror movie references.
The benefits of staying in downtown Denver
One of the reasons the Curtis is so appealing is its proximity to the various kid-friendly things to do in Denver. Walk out the hotel, take a right and you find yourself at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, a 12-acre complex where you can see everything from an opera to the latest traveling Broadway shows. Take a left and you’ll find yourself two blocks from the 16th street mall, a bustling, one mile long pedestrian-only shopping promenade with a free hop-on hop-off bus system.
And that’s not all, the Denver Art Museum, Union Station, and the Colorado State Capitol are all within a one-mile radius of the hotel.
The hotel room at the Curtis Hotel in Downtown Denver
Our room on the 10th floor aka the floor of champions was contemporary with plenty of pieces of pop-art adorning the walls. It also offered wonderful views of downtown Denver, and on a clear day you can even see the breathtaking Rocky mountains in the distance.
The rooms & suites come with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as minifridges, safes, and tea and coffeemakers. Room service is offered, as are board games—Candyland and Boggle—to keep the lil ones occupied after a day of exploring!
Every floor offers a unique themed suite to match the floor its own. Our favorite, that I wish we stayed in, was the spacious Rolling Stones themed-suite on the mad about music floor. Ah well, there’s always a reason to come back, right?
The Facilities at the Curtis hotel
While the hotel does not have an on-site pool, it does have a 24/7 gym for those fit fans that need to get a daily workout in. And based on my stay, you frankly don’t miss the pool because most of your days will be spent exploring and eating your way through Denver—FYI, you’ll also never go hungry as there are over 40 restaurants within a 5-block radius to choose from.
Need something a tad bit stronger than your in-room coffee? The hotel also has a Starbucks on-site, so rest assure you’ll be properly caffeinated before the family day of fun begins!
The Restaurant and Bar at the Curtis Hotel
In addition to in-room dining—for those late night hunger pangs—the hotel also has its own bar, Martini Bar that serves up…you guessed it, themed cocktails! And you certainly won’t go hungry for breakfast, lunch or dinner at the The Corner Office, the Curtis’ in-house restaurant with a menu of international dishes.
Depending on your room rate, the hotel provides coupons for breakfast at The Corner Office, which we thought was very filling. The menu is diverse, with kid-friendly choices like red velvet waffles, to build your own omelets and hearty breakfast burritos.
Overall thoughts of the Curtis Hotel
If you’re wondering where to stay in Denver, consider this art hotel, the Curtis, located right in the heart of downtown Denver.
With most of Denver’s family-friendly things to do a short walking distance away, and a plethora of dining options to choose from, you can’t go wrong staying on any of the quirky themed and pop-art filled hotel floors (unless horror movies aren’t your favorite genre, then stay away from the 13th floor). Best of all, this still is a DoubleTree by Hilton property, which allows you to stay in a unique boutique hotel while making use of any Hilton Honors points you may have!
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Disclaimer: Our stay at the Curtis hotel was comped during our trip to Denver. However, as always, all opinions expressed on the blog are our own.