Hey dreamers, doers, and those just here for the photos – welcome back.
I’d like to introduce you to some day trips around Denver, so buckle up and come along.
Castle Rock sits nestled in a little valley about half an hour south of Denver. You’ll need a car to get there since public transport between Denver and Castle Rock is limited. You can technically take the E Line from Union Station to County Line Station in Lone Tree (a 50-minute ride), but you’ll need to grab an Uber or Lyft from there.
So, why make the trip? First, hiking. You can explore and even climb up the namesake Castle Rock – a butte that stands out prominently in the town’s older part. The hike is short and beginner-friendly, but be aware that climbing is discouraged, and there are no safety measures in place. Make sure you’re sober and in good shape. The view from the top is worth it, offering sweeping sights of the area and, on clear days, the Rockies. The area surrounding castle rock was originally the land of the Arapaho and Cheyenne people but since the area was said to be rich in gold (which turned out to be rhyolite) settlers quickly took over.
The town itself was founded in 1874 and started off with just a couple of streets which still make up the old town center. In the 1930s a star was added on top of castle rock and still remains there as part of the monument. It’s still being lit for the holidays starting around thanksgiving.
After your climb, head to the Outlets at Castle Rock, home to popular brands like Nike, Adidas, and Columbia. The deals can be amazing – I once snagged an Adidas set for just $12. You could easily spend all day shopping. While the food court isn’t spectacular, you can pop across the street to grab food from a variety of fast-food spots or treat yourself to Smoothie King. I recommend the Island Impact with added strawberries, though they also have vegan, low-calorie, and protein-packed options. I loved that place when I lived in Castle rock and I would love it if they had a place in Germany as well! I’m really excited for my next trip through the area because the chain doesn’t have many spots in Denver either.
For lunch or dinner, Castle Rock offers a great range of restaurants. There are plenty of options for any budget, taste and size of your party. Castle Rock is also home to a variety of really good breweries (and I say that as a German). Start with “Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse”, an American-style eatery, right on Wilcox, with a focus on bar foods and brunch. My favorite dish is their baked brie starter – puff pastry topped with peach marmalade. They also serve breakfast until 3 PM, and if you know anything about me it’s that I love brunch and breakfast foods! Their Banana Bread French Toast ist right up my alley. All in all you can get a full meal including a starter, burger and beer for around $39 before tip, So to me it’s a bit on the mid range price point.
If you’re looking for a more chill atmosphere you should check out “Z’Abbracci Pizza, Pasta and Tap House”, also located on Wilcox. It’s a bit on the smaller size but their pizza is really good. I really like their classic style pizza with pepperoni and bacon but their prosciutto arugula is very tasty as well and they’ll even make white pizzas if you can’t have tomato sauce (like me!) But they have something for pretty much every taste and you could even build your own pizza as well. There’s also 18 beers on tap so I’m sure you will find the one you like here! All in all you can get a full meal, again including a starter, main and beer for roughly $38.
Nothing for you yet? I have another brewery for you! “Wild Blue Yonder” has to be my favorite but that might also be because it was the first U.S. restaurant I visited. I got grilled cheese with extra bacon and a side of chips and I remember eating from it for two days just because I was so unused to the portion size. In hindsight it wasnt that big but very good for sure! It’s simpler than some other spots, but the food is delicious, and you can see where they brew their beers!
They offer an ever changing list of Stout, IPA, Porter and others and usually have around 8 – 15 different kinds on tap. They offer burgers, fries and grilled cheese, as well as another favorite of mine, fried cheese curds. The full meal will cost you roughly $28 before tip so this is a bit of a cheaper option if you’re looking for a brewery.
Lastly, I would like to point out two popular and classic Castle Rock places, “B&B cafe” and the “Castle Cafe” both offer a rustic charme and delicious breakfast foods. Castle cafe is famous for their pan-fried wings and B&B makes fantastic french toast stix (they are technically on the kids menu but their french toast is the same amazing thing) and their own frosting which is unmatched for me so far. Your breakfast here should be around $15-25 before tip.
Last time we went to B&B they also had peach cinnamon rolls on their seasonal menu and holy moly they were amazing, juicy, sweet with a load of frosting and delicious fresh peach. But make sure to not order too much since their portions are rather large (at least to the European mind)!The funniest thing though? All of these places are off Wilcox and around the city hall so maybe find yourself a parking spot on one end and just go explore, the old city center is quite cute to look at and maybe you’ll stumble upon one of the unique shops? There’s “The Barn Antiques and Speciality Shops” where you can marvel at the old and unique building while exploring different stalls and supporting local artists or right next door on Perry street “The Emporium” which is offering a similar experience but with a bit more modern touch.
Really close by is also a “Rocket Fizz” location. If you’re from North America you might be familiar with the franchise since they have a bunch of locations in the US and a couple in Canada as well. They offer a variety of sodas with fun, weird and outrageous flavors and a collection of candy from all around the globe. I love the salt water taffy they sell and usually get a bag full everytime im back in town.
Right next door is a cute local ice cream place “Glacier Ice Cream & Gelato” which offers a variety of hand mixed flavours while maintaining locally sourced ingredients and as little artificials as possible. They even won a couple awards such as America’s Best Ice Cream by the Forbes Traveler! They offer a new collection of flavors each week while still maintaining fan favourites like salted caramel oreo or Birthday cake. My personal favourites are Key Lime Pie and Lemon Raspberry gelato! There are also plenty of gluten or dairy free options.
Finish off your trip by getting a drink at “Lost Coffee” where they offer some tasty options with vegan milk alternatives, spicy chais or just your regular cup of joes. It’s a cozy little corner store right there on Perry St and you can also just spend a couple hours there to write on your newest blog post.
To wrap things up you might be wondering why I’m always talking about the “Old Town”. Castle Rock has come a long way from its small-town roots. While the old town retains its charm, newer developments near Meadows Parkway house big-box stores like Lowe’s and TJ Maxx. Whether you’re here for the views, the shopping, or the food, Castle Rock is a gem waiting to be discovered.
At a Glance:
Originally Arapaho and Cheyenne land, Castle Rock was settled for its rhyolite deposits. Founded in 1874, the town’s iconic star atop Castle Rock has been lit for the holidays since the 1930s. Castle Rock is located around 30 min south of Denver, easily accessible by car. Public Transport is very limited. There’s small town things to do, especially noticeable is the hike around Castle Rock, which is very beginner friendly. You can technically climb up the rock but it is not advised by the city. The town houses a large outlet mall with popular brands and good deals and the older part of town has a plethora of great breweries and dining options such as Great Divide Brewery, Z’abbracci Pizza, Wild Blue Yonder, B&B Café and Castle Café. Local shops in this area include The Barn and The Emporium as well as a Rocket Fizz location. For a quick snack you can go to Lost Coffee or get some awesome Ice Cream at Glacier.
