Travel Log: RiNo Art District, Denver, Colorado

You may have seen via Instagram that I recently flew to Denver for a girls' weekend, something I have not done for a couple of years due to the pandemic and it was absolutely wonderful. I am so grateful to have been able to spend quality time with dear friends and spend more time exploring the Mile High City (it has been five years since I last visited in 2017). It was great to see restaurants, bars, and shops all open and thriving, and indoor mask mandates were lifted in the area the weekend prior to my visit. The lifting of the mask mandate took a minute to get used to, as Seattle has been very conservative regarding masks and physical distancing, but it was refreshing to see people so happy to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. One of the areas I was excited to visit was the RiNo Art District, short for the "River North Art District." The RiNo Art District is an area of historic warehouses and factories that are being revived by new bars, breweries, galleries, restaurants, and more. The RiNo Mural Program works with local artists to facilitate monthly art installations in the area, so each time you visit you are likely to see something new. Please continue scrolling for more photos and tips on how to spend a morning or an afternoon exploring this vibrant area of Denver.

Coat: newer versions here or here (I'm wearing an Extra Small)

Coatigan: exact here with petite sizes here (I'm wearing a Petite Small)

Crop Tank: exact here (I'm wearing a small)

Jeans: exact style here or here

Suede Booties: newer versions here

Bag: exact style here or here

Necklaces: exact here and here with this charm

We started the morning at Denver Central Market, by grabbing coffee at Bodega Crema and a kouign amann from Izzio Bakery and Cafe. The Denver Central Market on Larimer Street is a great place to start your day with coffee and breakfast, then you can start with the murals in the parking lot adjacent to the market including this "Talk Denver to Me" artwork. It is a good idea to arrive early, as this is a public parking lot and you'll want to arrive before it is filled with cars. From here, you can explore the murals on Larimer Street and on 26th between Larimer and Walnut before heading into the alley entrance between Larimer and Walnut streets, 26th and 27th streets.

Coatigan: exact here with petite sizes here (I'm wearing a Petite Small)

Crop Tank: exact here (I'm wearing a small)

Jeans: exact style here or here

Suede Booties: newer versions here

Bag: exact style here or here

Necklaces: exact here and here with this charm

Hat: exact here

The alley behind Denver Central Market, between 26th and 27th streets, is full of beautiful and colorful artwork, pieces that we noticed were inspired by the local businesses that shared the exterior walls. I love the thought that was put into each piece. You may also notice that I took off my wool coat and added a rancher hat, as it warmed up considerably over a couple of morning hours. Changing weather is something to keep in mind when you visit Denver, as during my February visit I saw snow and freezing temperatures one day, then sunshine and 55 degrees the next. Layers are definitely a good idea during the spring season!

When you exit the alley on 27th Street, you can turn right and get back on Larimer to see more beautiful murals. Head away from the Denver Central Market and walk slowly, taking in all of the artwork for the next couple of blocks. This area is continually changing as more artwork is added or updated. Below are my favorites from this particular visit, but there are so many more to see and the area continues to evolve. When you finish up your tour of the Rhino Art District, there are a bunch of great places you can head for lunch. We enjoyed pizza and salads at Cart Driver and I would absolutely return for more.

Have you visited the Rhino Art District in Denver? If so, be sure to leave me a comment below to let me know when you visited and what your favorite mural was that you saw. Thank you for visiting my blog today, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week!