Cherry Creek

When I moved to Colorado back in 95' and first started exploring Denver (I have always lived in Boulder), the first and most famous neighborhood that I learned about and visited outside of downtown was Cherry Creek. It is relatively close to downtown and to other great neighborhoods I eventually discovered like Washington Park.

Cherry Creek is known for its shopping, there is a big elaborate fancy mall that really is nice and it is not just high end, even though fancy pants can definitely be purchased there! Around the mall there is a cool pedestrian area with lots of specialty shops and restaurants with outdoor seating, doctors offices and parking structures. There is a lot going on around that mall, but really what I like about Cherry Creek is the tree lined streets with beautiful historic homes, gardens and big lawns for the being so close to the city center. And there is the bike paths that run through the neighborhood and the Denver Country Club for those who golf. The Denver Zoo and Natural History museum is close by too.

Cherry Creek is definitely high end and the cost of living I think is the highest in Denver but it is historic and beautiful, if you are privileged enough to be looking for a multi-million dollar property in Denver this would be a grand place to shop around for real estate.

Cherry Creek is one of my favorite places to visit. I especially love going there during the holidays as it's all decked out, especially at the Cherry Creek Mall. While most of the stores are more upscale, you can certainly find deals and bargains if you're willing to take the time to look. If you're just window shopping, there really isn't anywhere better in the metro area. Upscale stores and shops like Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Ralph Lauren, and Burberry are all filled with gorgeous fashions to feast your eyes upon. There are also art galleries and specialty shops along the way.

Although it isn't far from the heart of Denver, it has it's own feel to it. The streets always seem to be clean and the houses and landscaping well kept. People are friendly and the vibe is very hip.

Traffic is an issue, especially during peak times of rush hour, seeing that 1st Avenue goes straight into the heart of Denver. There is street parking throughout the neighborhood, but if you aren't able to find anything the Cherry Creek mall has tons of spots in the parking garage. It may take going up several flights during peak shopping seasons such as Christmas, but you can always find one.

Dining in the Cherry Creek neighborhood is always within walking distance, with ice cream shops, upscale restaurants, coffee & tea shops, and bars and restaurants throughout the area. One of Denver's most famous residents, John Elway, has one of his three 'Elway's" restaurants located here. For those with allergies there is even a "gluten-free" menu at the Italian restaurant Abrusci's. Whatever your taste buds are craving, something worthwhile can be found in this neighborhood.

Even though you're near the heart of the city, it always feels safe. You can stroll the streets at night in the warmer months and feel the buzz of the city around you. This is definitely a neighborhood you should visit if you're new to town, just visiting, or here on business.

The Cherry Creek district is the high-end shopping and business district, with some residential neighborhoods in the mix. If you like designer boutique stores and restaurants owned by famous people, this is the place to be. Cherry Creek mall is popular with locals and tourists, and the streets to the north of the mall are also lined with shops and restaurants. But not all of Cherry Creek shopping is expensive. The Colorado Blvd and 6th Ave borders have more typical retail districts. 6th Avenue in particular has nice little places to shop.
The heart of Cherry Creek itself also has shopping for more average-income people, with mid-priced stores mixed in with the high-end shops and spas. Denver really isn't the kind of place to support an entire district of wildly expensive and glitzy shops, and Cherry Creek reflects this. You can spend a lot to dine here, but you can also find one of Denver's oldest neighborhood bar/restaurants. Duffy's Cherry Cricket has been here for most of the past century, and is an inexpensive, casual place known for some of the best burgers in the country. That's the kind of place that takes the edge off of the upper-crust exclusive feel and makes this a fun neighborhood to hang out in.
There are offices along the southeast section of Cherry Creek drive and Alameda. The northern and eastern ends of the neighborhood have a lot of residential buildings. There are single-family and apartment/condo options. As you might imagine, costs are high.
Traffic is very heavy here, on the busy streets that form Cherry Creek's borders and in the smaller streets in the neighborhood, where it costs money to even pull over and park at a curb.
The Cherry Creek trail is a long path for walking/jogging/cycling and is one of Denver's hundreds of miles of pathways for outdoor exercisers. People who come here might be surprised to see that hard-core fitness enthusiasts run or ride bikes even in the worst of winter weather.

A little word association: mention Cherry Creek to anyone who lives in Denver or the suburbs, and odds are that their response will have nothing to do with the waterway itself or the neighborhood that lies to its north at University Boulevard. They’ll say “shopping.”

The Cherry Creek Mall and the Cherry Creek North retail area, both opened around 1990, were, and still remain, the primary destination for upscale shopping in the metro area. There are plenty of stores for middle-income shoppers (such as Sears, Bed Bath and Beyond, the Gap, etc.), but the mall is anchored by Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, and Cherry Creek North boasts the only Hermes retail store for 800 miles in any direction. The shopping area draws locals from all income levels – some to drop some serious money, others to window-shop or just stroll – especially on the weekends. It can be tricky to find parking in Cherry Creek North, where most parking is on-street and high-end coupes and shiny SUVs crawl as if on parade.

Beyond the mall area and Cherry Creek North, the neighborhood is residential and housing prices are predictably high. There is a mix of new and old single-family homes and new lofts and townhomes. This appeals to high-income single professionals and families who enjoy being able to take a leisurely stroll to Cherry Creek North for a morning cup of coffee, and the neighborhood’s relative closeness to downtown. There are also a few apartment complexes surrounding the mall that appeal to younger, single professionals or to people staying in town for a few months for business. Downtown is about 3 miles away: 15 minutes by car, longer at rush hour. The neighborhood is also convenient to some of Denver’s best bike routes for commuting or recreational biking, including the Cherry Creek bike trail, the lanes along 7th Avenue, and Washington Park.

This neighborhood definitely offers an impressive address, though those looking for peace and quiet or for historic charm may be better off elsewhere. But residents who like being close to a major upscale shopping hub, with a wide range of dining options as well, will really love Cherry Creek. Thousands of Denver residents and tourists alike enjoy visiting the area and, if their wallets can take it, shopping like the locals.