The Denver area has no shortage of tourist attractions, bars to hit up and restaurants to give a try, but what about those off-the-beaten-path spots that have a quaint charm and unique draw all on their own?
That's the theme behind a new list created Extra Space Storage blogger Bailey Hemphill, who rounded up 34 local gems that even most Denver natives don't know about.
"I knew the best way to connect with Denver was to figure out what makes the culture and communities unique from other cities," Hemphill said. "That’s why I really wanted to focus on the small businesses and local spots."
The list includes everything from vintage boutiques, to hole-in-the-wall bars, to theaters, to museums and more — places like Green Russell's bar, The Buckhorn Exchange and Glazed & Confuzed Donuts, as well as the Gothic Theater and The Wizard's Chest, to name a few.
"They’re all experiences that you can’t find in other cities or that are tucked away from the general public — the 'hidden gems,' if you will," Hemphill said.
- SLIDESHOW: Click the image to view the 36 "local gems" in metro Denver.
To compile the list, Hemphill said she scoured review sites like Yelp, as well as newspapers, other lists and forums to find the top-rated, locally-owned spots in metro Denver.
"It’s fascinating what you can find in those places because you’ll see comments from locals like 'I can’t believe people don’t know about this place!' or 'I accidentally stumbled upon this business and love it!'" Hemphill said.
"We're targeting local residents — people who love their city, who want to share what makes it so great, who want to discover new things about their home," she added.
Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR) is a Salt Lake City-based operator of self storage in the U.S.
