Belcaro - Denver, CO

Lawrence Phipps, a Colorado senator, originally named his mansion Belcaro within this neighborhood, but he dedicated so much time to the renovation of the area that the residents in the area decided to name the whole surrounding area Belcaro in honor of him.

This quickly became a family neighborhood with Washington Park and the Cherry Creek shopping center so close by. Both these areas attract a large amount of families every year, so more homes were built to accommodate the growth and attention. However, there are no museums, art galleries, or annual and cultural events in this neighborhood.

The Belcaro neighborhood has a wide range of family-friendly restaurants to accommodate most of the areas residents.

One of the most beloved places to eat in this area of Denver is at the Bonnie Brae Ice Cream Shop. There is typically a line out the door, but this creamery is definitely worth the wait. They even have vegan choices, so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy an ice cream in the heat of the summer. They have outdoor seating so you can soak in Colorado's 300 days of sunshine a year. Make sure to try the cappuccino crunch with a strong coffee flavor and crunchy nuts.

Stop in the Denver Biscuit Co for some delectable breakfast options. The friendly servers will instantly make you feel relaxed while you fill your belly. Be sure to consider The Franklin, which is a biscuit sandwich filled with buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and a sausage or vegetarian gravy.

If you love wings, you will enjoy a hearty meal at Grillin Wings & Things. If you go during a Broncos game, you will definitely hit some crowds so be sure to head out early. The chicken wings are incredible and are grilled instead of fried, giving them a healthier and fresh-off-the-grill flavor. They even give you extra sauce for finger-lickin' flavor.

Due to the neighborhood being on the suburban side, there is not a huge night scene in the Belcaro blocks, but there are a few bars available for a great time. One of these bars includes Campus Lounge. This dive bar is on the traditional side with TV, pitchers of beers, patio seating, and traditional American food such as hamburgers and sandwiches.

Another option is the 730 South Bar & Grill. Every Monday through Saturday they have a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. with $2.50 draft beers, $2.75 house wines, and a few cocktails at $4.25. They also offer a large variety of appetizers between $4 and $5, a perfect price for anyone looking to have some cheap drinks and food while having a fun time.

University Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard run through the Belcaro neighborhood, giving residents a long list of options when it comes to transportation. RTD Denver provides residents traveling options such as the bus, light rail, skyride and Park-n-Ride. Along with public transportation, Belcaro residents also have the option of various taxi companies as well as Lyft and Uber. There is free parking throughout this neighborhood for residents and visitors. Also along the northern border of the Belcaro neighborhood is the Cherry Creek Trail, which is about 35 miles of paved trails from downtown heading southeast. This speedy trail allows bikers and walkers to go into downtown Denver without the hassle of traffic. Just a quick drive south will get you to Interstate 25, giving you an option of traveling anywhere north or south in the state.

Within the Belcaro neighborhood is the Bonnie Brae Park. This is just a small park mainly for decoration, but just a few blocks to the west and you will find yourself at Washington Park, one of the biggest parks in Denver. Washington Park has volleyball courts, 165 acres of open grass, playgrounds, a lake to rent boats at, and many other things for families. The parks are free all year-round.

Every year, Washington Park hosts the Furry Scurry which is a two-mile walk with or without a canine companion benefiting the Denver Dumb Friends League and other animal shelters in the city.

An average one bedroom apartment in Belarco rents for around $2,000 a month. The cost of living in the neighborhood is higher than the average throughout the Denver Metro area, mostly due to its attractive landscapes, location, and family appeal.

The bus is a simple $2.25 to ride one-way and the average beer is around $2.50, with the gas prices being two percent lower than the national average.

The Belcaro neighborhood has adorable, small boutiques and stores throughout its streets. One of the small boutiques in the area is Pink's, a women's clothing and accessory store. The staff there is accommodating and will help you find anything you could possibly need to complete an outfit for a night out in the city.

Second Spin, a music, DVD, and video game rental will amaze you with its options. You can sell or trade anything you own for something else so you always have a fresh option of music and DVDs at your disposal. They have many bins of used and old music and movies for people to choose from, giving collectors a long list of options to choose from.

Just a few blocks north is also the Cherry Creek shopping center so residents can shop at the high-end stores this mall provides. The mall also contains many of the famous high-end designer stores.

Cherry Creek also has one of Denver's biggest farmers markets and quite a few grocery stores. Also all along Colorado Boulevard are many grocery stores such as King Soopers, Whole Foods, and Safeway.