When HOW Design Live kicks off on Sept. 23, we’ll be reconvening a mile high—in Denver, Colorado!
Now, we can promise that there will be so many amazing sessions, keynotes, workshops and creative connections on-site that you won’t have to leave the conference venue. But come on. Denver is an incredible city—so you kind of have to.
To that end, we’ve pulled together a list of some of our 303-land faves to get you started. Whether you’re into museums, mountain views or Denver’s only design studio that is both manufactory and multifaceted bookstore, we’ve got you covered.
Keep an eye on our website—because you just might find yourself at an official HOW offsite at one of these fabulous places, as well 😉
The Art Museums!
There’s the Denver Art Museum—stocked with a breathtaking collection of American Indian art, as well as pieces by Monet and Pissarro. The David Adjaye-designed Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, with its perpetually rotating exhibits. The American Museum of Western Art. The Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art. Hit them all up, get overloaded on stunning displays of creativity, and then head to …
The Regular Museums!
Across more than 700,000 square feet and a million-plus objects (and Easter Eggs to boot!), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a remarkable treasure-trove of history—as is the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center and the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
Nature’s Museum
While we’ve been known to find inspiration by surrounding ourselves with artistic masterpieces and historic artifacts, we’ve also found inner peace at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Across 23 acres (!), you’ll discover a breathtaking conservatory and multiple themed gardens—and in all likelihood, a fair amount of Zen, too.
MATTER
You’ve seen Rick Griffith on the HOW Design Live keynote stage before—and since the show is in his home of Denver this year, you have to stop by his creative laboratory, MATTER. At MATTER, partners Griffith and Debra Johnson preside over a working design and letterpress studio, and a brilliant shop and event space just a couple doors down. It’s an essential stop for books, patches, posters, pins, home goods, creativity and community.
R. Meininger Co.
At HOW Design Live, we can indeed equip you with ample inspiration and insight—but you still need the tools of the trade to get down to work. So get them at the 7,000-square-foot legendary art supply hub that has been going strong since 1881. Dubbed “the largest art supply store West of the Mississippi,” H. R. Meininger Co. is stocked with more than 80,000 items—but some of the most interesting are the vintage art supplies on display.
Mile High Comics Megastore
Comics fans: Welcome to heaven. All 45,000 square feet of it, with rows and rows and rows (and rows) of classic and contemporary comics and collectibles. Never has a “megastore” so completely and incredibly lived up to its name.
The Art District on Santa Fe
Located in the La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood, this vibrant district boasts more than two dozen galleries, as well as restaurants, boutiques and more. A sellar stroll for the creative soul, stay tuned to the Events page here to see what will be going on when HOW is in town.
Meow Wolf Convergence Station
It’s next-to-impossible to describe the Meow Wolf Convergence Station. So we’ll let them try to do it: “Commute via the Quantum Department of Transportation to the Convergence, a bustling city created by a rare cosmic event that joined four alien worlds. When you’re not trading memories as a form of currency, you and your fellow interdimensional travelers can venture out into four floors of surreality featuring Meow Wolf’s most epic immersive art to date. If you’ve ever wanted to wax heroic at the crossroads of a real life sci-fi neutopia, this is the space-time for you.” Whether you go simply to get lost in the insane, incredible art or you’re there to decode the narrative story behind it all, the Convergence Station is a worthy destination by the country’s most eccentric curator of immersive experiences. A bit on the pricier side, but mind-blowing all the same.
Coors Field
Need a break from all the art and design? You’re in the Rockies, so go see the Rockies. During HOW Design Live, the Colorado Rockies will be in town and playing the St. Louis Cardinals from Sept. 24–26, and the Los Angeles Dodgers from Sept. 27–29.
Get Outside
Need a break from everything—sports included? Luckily you’re in Colorado, and nature awaits at every turn. From scenic drives to breathtaking hikes and mountain vistas at large, it’s all there for the taking (and mostly free). Our advice: Download the AllTrails app on your phone, where you can browse user-ranked trails and select the one that best matches your abilities. Pro tip: Network your way to the hiking HOWie with a car, and hop along for the ride. (Just don’t forget to be back in time for the next keynote!)