The Mile High City welcomes all comers with open arms. Denver is a unique city, not just because it is located exactly one mile above sea level. No, Denver is special because of the amount of fun it contains in one neighborhood. Meet Denver’s Lower Downtown, colloquially referred to as LoDo.

LoDo is the most popular neighborhood in Denver, thanks to its incredible location. A stay in LoDo puts you within easy walking distance of Denver’s Contemporary Museum of Art, the historic Larimer Square, and the always impressive Coors Field. We don’t feel any pressure to sell you on this because LoDo Denver speaks for itself. However, we want to point you in the right direction when it comes to picking a place to stay in LoDo, as that is a much less discussed point. There are a nearly infinite number of areas for you to stay in, but today we’re going to compare and contrast two of the most popular venues: hotels and vacation rentals. Let’s begin, shall we?

Travel Apartments in Denver

Travel apartments are vacation rentals that don’t have to be used by people on vacation. Travel apartments let people visiting a new city stay in their private residences. Rather than sharing space with in-laws or strangers, you can stay in travel apartments, which give you your freedom while in LoDo. Each travel apartment comes with a private washer and dryer and a fully functional kitchen. Let’s examine some of the other benefits.

Pros

• Privacy. As mentioned, your travel apartment will be yours and yours alone. There is no housekeeping to worry about, and no noisy neighbors; this is your home during your stay in LoDo.
• Amenities. And even more amenities. In addition to your private kitchen and laundry room, you get a spacious, well-lit, upscale apartment to live in. Take your pick from any travel apartments in Denver linked above because each will have a sleek design and comfortable layout. There are more small amenities than we have room to enumerate, so we’ll let you discover those for yourself.
• Location. Every travel apartment is located in the ideal spot for vacationers in a new city. Pick any one of the LoDo travel apartments, and you’ll be within walking distance of the best attractions, restaurants, and bars serving grapefruit and orangeade St. Germain cocktails in the Mile High City.

Now let’s look at some of the disadvantages.

Cons

• You’ll need to book in advance. If just reading this article has convinced you to book a stay in Denver right now, it’s possible there won’t be a traveling apartment available for you. Make sure to reserve your spot in advance.
• You’ll have a specified leave date. Like the first issue, you can’t just purchase another week’s stay at the end of your trip because someone else may have reserved the space. Be sure to book yourself a long enough stay the first time!
• You’re unlikely to get that native influence. Privacy is great, but talking to Denver natives gives you a fresh perspective on the city. You’ll need to make a point of going out and meeting some locals during your downtime!

Hotels In Denver

You know what a hotel is, right? Okay, cool. Here are the pros and cons of hotel living in LoDo Denver.

Pros

• Availability. Hotels are everywhere, with a vast range of pricing options. No matter what corner of Denver you wanted to stay in, you could find a hotel there. Moreover, it’s easy to find one that fits your budget with that many options.
• Helpers. You have someone to clean your sheets and a concierge to answer questions any time of the night or day. If there’s a place to stay where you can order food straight to your room besides hotels, we haven’t found it.

Cons

• Noise. Hotels are loud. Nothing to be done about it. When you’ve got people living above, below, and to the left and right, things are bound to get a little noisy. All you can do is hope that the kids don’t start crying…
• Unreliable advertising. Hotels all seem eager to advertise their tranquil oasis of a pool area. They are sorting out which pools will fry your hair with hyper-chlorination.
• No privacy. Between housekeeping, your four sets of neighbors, and that one guy from the next room over drunkenly swiping his crucial card at your door, it can be hard to find space that’s yours and yours alone.

So, what’s the right way to stay in LoDo Denver? Hotel or travel apartment? Ultimately, the choice is yours and yours alone. Of course, if you hate being indoors, maybe glamping in Denver would be more your speed. No matter what you choose, you’ll have the time of your life flying high in LoDo Denver.

With a green focus and an animal-loving attitude, a superb collection of pet-friendly hotels, and many fantastic pooch-welcoming bars and restaurants, Portland is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the USA. Check out our top dog-friendly attractions…

1 Sellwood Riverfront Park

With a 1.5-acre off-leash area that extends to the river, this is a great place to bring your dog, especially if yours loves to run and play with other dogs. You’ll need to put your dog back on the leash to use the connecting paths that take you through the forest, parks, and neighborhood areas, but there are plenty of places to enjoy sniffing around. Make sure you bring your poop bags and drinking water for your dog. The park provides picnic tables where you can rest after your walk.

Funny Jack Russell Terrier Dog Walks Down Street On A Leash. Dog Looks Directly Into Camera—wide Angel Lens Shot.

2 Wildwood Trail, Forest Park

This wilderness area is situated at NW Germantown Road for serious hikers and canines of a high fitness level. Its 30-mile hike takes a couple of days to get around comfortably. It would help if you considered getting a map of Forest Park to find the best way to get around the trails, as some are more challenging than others. You’ll need to keep your dog on a leash the whole time, and you’ll have to bring your water and poop bags as these are not provided.

3 Portland Saturday Market

If you and your pup are the socializing kinds, then the open-air arts and crafts Saturday Market and Farmers Market at 2 SW Naito Parkway is the place to be. You’ll have to keep your dog on the leash while browsing for delicious baked goods, meats, and cheeses, but dogs are made welcome with plenty of drinking water stations and lots of shady spots when the weather gets too hot.

4 Portland International Raceway Dog Park

If you’re looking for somewhere you can let your canine stretch their legs, the fenced-off dog park has the best place to go. This is a very well maintained area where the grass is kept short and neat, and garbage is constantly cleared away, so take poop bags with you. Portland International Raceway is the home of drag racing, auto racing, motorcycle racing, and motocross, as well as Cruise-in specials, and all of these are held at various times throughout the year, so why not make a weekend of it and enjoy plenty of thrills, excitement, music, and great food and drink. Remember, though, that your pet must be adequately supervised, on a leash at all times, and must be cleaned up after. Some events do not allow pets, so check before you book.

group of dogs in the park walking with a professional dog walker

5 Plum Hill Vineyards

How about this for something a little different? Plum Hill Vineyards, situated between Forest Grove and Gaston, this family-owned concern brews its wines, and not for nothing do they say it’s ‘your dog’s favorite winery’! It has to be one of the very few places where you can enjoy the company of your canine friend and, at the same time sample, some of the delicious wines the Plum Hill Vineyard has to offer. This place is genuinely dog-friendly as well-behaved dogs (and their humans) are allowed into the tasting room and onto the outside patio area. A large fenced dog run right next to the Vineyard where you and your dog can play. Poop bags, water, and treats are thoughtfully provided for you.

6 International Rose Test Garden

If you love to walk around well-tended gardens full to the brim with the sweet aroma of more than 10,000 beautiful roses, other plants, and attractions, then this is well worth a visit. The International Rose Test Garden, the oldest public garden in the US, is pet-friendly and extremely easy to get around on paved paths. You can take one of the free public tours or stroll around at your own pace to enjoy the fountain, statue, and gardens. Why not bring a picnic lunch and sit a while to enjoy the superb view, provided it is a clear day, over the city and Mt Hood in the distance. The garden is open all year round, but you should visit in June to see the roses at their best. There is free admission and a gift shop on-site as well.

Four funny, cute dogs ex abandoned homeless, adopted by good people and having fun on the pillows in the pet shop enjoying a new life selective focus

7 Sandy River Delta, Thousand Acres Park

Although known to locals as simply Thousand Acres, and located just off I-84, 20 minutes from downtown Portland, this is 1,400 acres of doggy paradise. Consisting of open fields, wetlands, hiking trails, two rivers (the Sandy River and Columbia River), and numerous blackberry bushes, you and your pup can enjoy as much off-leash fun as possible. If your dog loves to swim, run, or just take a stroll at your side, you should come here to appreciate all that the Thousand Acres has to offer. It isn’t solely for dog walkers either – the Park is popular with birders, waterfowl hunters, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. There is one part of the park that you won’t be allowed into; however, as one-third of it is an off-limits wildlife habitat, so be aware of this. The park is open all year round from dawn until dusk, and there is car parking on site. The US Forest Service is responsible for the upkeep and development of the Park and for maintaining the off-leash regulations for doggy visitors. These state that dogs should be kept on a leash in the parking lot and within 100 feet of the Confluence Trail.

8 Hotel Monaco

Canine and human visitors to Portland will need a dog-friendly place to stay, and the Hotel Monaco is one of the best. The hotel welcomes all dogs, whether large or small, pure-breed or mutt. On arrival, you and your pup are greeted by the hotel’s canine, a Golden Retriever, to make you all feel at home. You can order a dog bed, food and water bowls, and mats if you don’t want to take your own. The hotel’s nightly wine reception welcomes guests and their pups, and you’ll be glad to know there are many dog-friendly restaurants nearby.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty is easily one of the most popular activities among the 60 million travelers who make their way to New York City annually. 4.5 million tourists per year make their way through Upper New York Harbor to this iconic, towering statue that stands on Liberty Island. That’s more than most other tourist stops in NYC and the USA.

But why is seeing the Statue of Liberty up close and personal so popular?

Five reasons to visit the Statue of Liberty?

1. The Ferry Ride

When you go on the Liberty Cruise to Liberty Island, you will find that the incredible views you catch of the NYC skyline and the gentle breeze off the bay on the way over are an experience in their own right. Just hop on the ferry for free at Battery Park at the tail end of Manhattan, and you’ll be over to Miss Liberty in a matter of minutes: but they are genuinely scenic minutes that you’ll remember for years to come.

2. It’s a Great Deal

Yes, you heard that right. You can take a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty 100%. And you can often set up your tickets while you buy NYC bus tour tickets online. The bus can drop you off at Battery Park, and the boat can take it from there. You will have to pay a small fee to get inside the statue and a little more, plus a months-ahead reservation to get a view from the crown. That can all be done with foresight and a modest expense, but just going to see the statue is free (and the rest is a great deal.)

3. A History Lesson

Learning about the Statue of Liberty’s history is worthwhile for history buffs and everyone else with an ounce of curiosity about the history and the significance of a 151-foot tall piece of copper standing on an equally tall pedestal. On Liberty Island, you can go on an audio or personally guided tour of all things related to the origin and history of this iconic symbol of New York City and American Liberty.

4. The Rest of the Island

Besides the statue herself, Liberty Island also offers a sculpture garden, the Statue of Liberty Museum Store, the Crown Cafe (not located in the crown), and an impressive view of old glory at Flagpole Plaza. The photo-ops abound, and there is enough to keep you occupied for hours on this island of freedom.

5. The Island Next Door

It’s easy to get over from Liberty Island to Ellis Island, which is very close by. You ride there directly and on the same ferry, still for free. The immigration museum on Ellis Island tells how many decades of immigrants flooded into the US through the Ellis Island immigration station. Sometimes that history is a cause for pride. Other times there was discrimination, but anyone interested in how we became this “melting pot” should take the time to visit Ellis, along with Miss Liberty.