A night at the Halcyon in Denver: Real vinyl, a gear garage and fresh muffins

I stayed a night at the hip Halcyon Hotel in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver. Photo courtesy Halcyon Hotel

I wanted to spend a night at a hip hotel last week, and wound up at the highly recommended Halycon in the trendy Cherrywood neighborhood of Denver.

All my Colorado friends knew about the Halcyon, which is famous for its “gear garage,” where you can borrow cool equipment like a snow sled, a cruiser bike, snow shoes or an old-fashioned game board.

Guests can borrow snow shoes, a sled, bikes or other sports equipment from the gear garage at the Halcyon. Photo courtesy The Halcyon Hotel

I stayed in a luxurious suite – not normally my way of travel, but the occasional pampering feels good.

A doormat outside each room has a saying on it, like “Charmed I’m sure” or “Go West” (appropriate, since I’ll be joining an expedition led by a paddler named West Hansen this summer.)

Rooms are equipped with a record player and vinyl records. Photo courtesy Halcyon Hotel

I opened my door to a sleek, mostly white, modern room and a cheese tray that I immediately wolfed down while I waited to meet friends with whom I’d been roaming the halls of the Outdoor Retailer Snow Sports show.

That night, I slept on a cushy king bed, chilled out in a lovely sitting room, and soaked in a bathtub in the sprawling bathroom. Best of all, I fired up a vinyl album by Janis Joplin on the record player, a modern version of the old classic. Something about the crackle of a real record makes we swoon.

Other favorite amenities? A small notebook, suitable for jotting notes from interviews, set aside for my use. It came in handy as I met with adventurers and companies that might want their gear tested in the Arctic this summer. The location, around the corner from restaurants and boutique shops. The attentive staff. And the fresh-baked cinnamon muffins and bowl of crispy red apples in the lobby when I checked out.

I’ll be back. Other than the guest room at my sister’s house, I don’t know of a better place to stay in Denver.

The lobby of the Halcyon Hotel is sleek and modern. Photo courtesy Halcyon Hotel