Creekside Park - Denver, CO

In the 1850s, a cry of "gold" rang out as prospectors found this precious metal at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The cry attracted countless risk-takers to the area and kicked off the settlement of Colorado. The gold in Denver soon disappeared, and the city became a supply town for miners on the way to the mountains.

In its early days, Denver and the Creekside Park neighborhood suffered a number of calamities, including an attack by Confederate soldiers from Texas, an 1863 fire destroying the city's business district, a Cherry Creek flood killing 20 people, and a war with the natives of the area.

In spite of early challenges, the area continued to grow and thrive, eventually making Denver into one of the most important towns of the southwest. Linked to Denver's main art scene, Creekside Park also has its own museums such as Mizel Museum.

In Creekside Park, restaurants sit along Colorado Boulevard and Cherry Creek Drive. Silvi's Kitchen exemplifies the food scene in Colorado. Locally owned by Udi Baron, a Colorado mogul of gluten-free bread, this restaurant offers healthy dishes as well as gourmet meat-and-potatoes dishes such as sirloin, fries, and truffle oil. Staying consistent with the healthy and local theme, the beer comes from local breweries, and the cocktails feature fresh juice.

A popular location for beer lovers, the Bull & Bush Brewery makes its own ale, lager, and stout, and many of this brewery's products have won blue ribbons at the Colorado State Fair. Once inside, you feel as if you have stepped into an old English pub thanks to wood paneling and cozy booths, but you can still find burgers and other American fare on the menus. Head to this place in the evening for live jazz bands, or come see a special screening of movies such as Pulp Fiction and munch on some popcorn as you watch.

For an upscale fish dinner, check out Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar. You can order anything from sea bass to crab cakes, or you can sit at the trendy bar, sipping cocktails and downing oysters with hot sauce. In the summer, Jax's patio provides diners with al fresco dining, or stay inside and enjoy the sleek blue interior of this fish house.

During the day, El Potrero Night Club looks like an empty Mexican restaurant, but in the evening, after the dinner guests have finished their empanadas, this restaurant turns into a hot spot. It frequently hosts live music and a full dance floor.

In Creekside Park, drivers have access to ample free parking spots, but some streets restrict parking to permitted cars. Speer Boulevard connects the area to downtown Denver, and in ideal traffic conditions, the journey takes just 15 minutes.

Several RTD buses serve the area, and routes running along Speer Boulevard, South Broadway, and East Colfax link the neighborhood to downtown via public transit. Cabs and Uber cars serve the area. At times, you can hail these cars along major thoroughfares, but for faster service, most riders call in advance.

Cyclists and pedestrians can use the Cherry Creek and Colorado Front Range Trails that run from Creekside Park to downtown.

Four Mile Historic Park gives visitors a look at life during the 1800s. At this park, tour guides in old-fashioned prairie garb lead you through old schools and farm houses, and you even get to see animals in the barn. The family-friendly facility charges an admission fee but offers free admission on the first Friday of the month.

The Cherry Creek Bike Trail, a popular path for individuals who enjoy jogging or riding their bicycles, runs through Pulaski Park and Playground. Stop at this park for a picnic under its shady trees or to play a game of tennis on its courts. The park also has swings and playground equipment.

Dogs can romp freely at the Lowry Dog Park. The fenced-in off-leash area features gravel rather than dirt, and it has a small grassy area as well as benches.

Annual festivals include Colorado Urban Winefest and Colorado Fear Fest.

Living in Creekside Park costs slightly less than living in other parts of the Denver metro area. In Creekside Park, renters pay an average of $978 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, considerably less than Denver's $1,061 average rent.

Creekside Park locals can take public transit into downtown for $3 or less, and they can buy gas for five percent less than the national average at area gas stations. In local bars, pints of beer cost between $3 and $5.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center, the major shopping center in the area, houses 140 shops and offers shoppers an upscale, urban shopping experience. Nearly a quarter of the shops at Cherry Creek are unique to this fashionable center, letting shoppers browse through a range of fashionable locally-owned boutiques.

At Inspyre, a small selection of clothing helps to ensure you don't arrive anywhere wearing the same outfit as anyone else. From fur-trimmed gloves to long cardigan sweaters to geometric-patterned leggings, this boutique stocks them all, and its owners promise not to price anything over $100.

Pink's focuses on fashions sent directly from Los Angeles. The shop only receives small quantities, and it rarely reorders, making it easy for shoppers to create a look all their own. The shop features great customer service, and you can harness one of its employees to work as your fashion consultant or personal shopper.

Chain grocery shops such as King Soopers and Whole Foods serve the area, as do specialty shops such as Pete's Fruits & Vegetables. During the summer, a farmers market takes place at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, or locals can opt to forgo the veggies and head to Glazed and Confuzed, a local doughnut shop using local, organic and seasonal ingredients in its homemade doughnuts.