The newly renovated Union Station in downtown Denver is a gem. When you arrive you are greeted by a shimmering white terminal with large arching windows, chandeliers and quaint wooden benches that are reminiscent of a time long past. There’s no question that the place has got character. People grab a drink at the terminal bar or admire the flowers on the local stand while they await the arrival of their train, but there’s even more luxury on the floors above—The Crawford Hotel.
A friendly attendant at the front desk handed me our room key and directed my family to the elevators which would take us up to our room. The elevators only work for those who have room keys, which is a big plus when it comes to security—ideal for families that travel. When we arrived on the third floor, my son sauntered down the hall to our room and upon entering, stood in the entryway staring. The high ceilings made the room look even more spacious than it was and the finishes in the room gave it an upscale feel.
We found some water bottles and chocolates waiting for us on the desk—a delicious welcome gift—which we enjoyed before leaving to find some dinner. Although Union Station has several stellar dining options, we went for a walk down the street to Wynkoop Brewery, one of my family’s favorite eateries. The Crawford’s location in downtown Denver makes it a perfect home base for family travelers—a short and easy walk to many places of interest.
Not only is the location perfect for local travel, but the Crawford’s spot on top of Union Station—a stop on the Amtrak’s California Zephyr line—makes it a great place to stay for families who plan to do even more exploring in the western U.S.
When we arrived back at the hotel, I placed the baby in the pack and play that the staff left out for us and we took turns showering. The bathroom was stocked with a C.O. Bigelow, which made my hubby happy, and my five-year-old son spent at least half an hour under the rain shower head because it was “like it was raining inside!” He then retreated to his very own bed and proceeded to play PBSkids.org on the in-room iPad until it was time for bed.
The iPad was equipped with the “Crawford App” which allows guests to submit requests to guest services, set wake up calls and access the internet via the complimentary Wi-Fi—something that is necessary for all of our devices when we travel as a family. Although the hotel’s setup doesn’t allow for room service, guests can order from one of the restaurants in the hotel and use the iPad to request that guest services deliver the food upstairs to their room. What could be better than food from The Kitchen Next Door delivered straight to your room? Even the kiddos enjoy breakfast in bed on vacation!
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