Aurora Creative Collective Member Spotlight: @fancyinthefoothills

Join us as we chat with our Aurora Creative Collective Members for insider tips on arts, culture, culinary fun, day trips, and outdoor adventures.

Meet Chloe | @fancyinthefoothills

Fancy in the Foothills is an outlet that shares lifestyle, travel, & fashion inspiration while living in the Foothills of Colorado. Our efforts are dedicated to everyone who loves dressing up & dining out.

What are your top recommendations or 'must-visit' spots in Aurora for travelers looking to experience the essence of the city?

If you only have 24 hours in Aurora and ask a local where to visit, the answer is Stanley Marketplace. You can think of Stanley as an indoor mall that's perfectly sized with the perfect amount of buzz. Stanley will show you authentic cuisine, offer unique shopping, and always have curated events that you can attend, including craft nights, classes, and exhibits. The best part is that after dining at any of their restaurants and ordering a cocktail, you can finish sipping while shopping at the mall. Their common consumption law allows visitors to leisurely drink their beverage of choice while window shopping. No more downing your cocktail before paying the bill! Let's go!

Can you share your ideal day-trip itinerary for someone visiting Aurora for the first time? What are the must-see attractions and hidden gems you would recommend?

Copy/paste this itinerary, and thank me later!

You’ll first want to grab a churro and horchata for breakfast at Churreria de Madrid and walk the halls of Stanley Marketplace. This former aviation manufacturing plant was reimagined as the metro area’s leading urban food hall, marketplace, and small business collective with 50+ independently owned boutiques, restaurants, and shops. Make sure to stop at Zero Market to find genius zero-waste household products. This store always inspires me to live a life that prevents and diverts as much trash from landfills as possible. I promise you’ll find helpful products here!

After working up an appetite from your shopping, you’ll want to head to Parkside Eatery for lunch. This eatery offers a unique food and beverage experience by housing multiple restaurants AND one centralized bar under one roof. For those of you with vegan/GF dietary preferences, they’ve got you covered with a vegan and gluten-free bakery/cafe at Gina's Kitchen.

Next, you’ll take a short 45-minute drive to The Wild Animal Sanctuary. You can’t visit Colorado’s eastern plains and not see this animal refuge. You’ll spot lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and other large carnivores that have been rescued while walking on the world’s longest elevated footbridge. This 1.5-mile-long footbridge offers visitors a chance to see the animals without putting undue pressure on them like zoos and other ground-based displays do. I can guarantee you’ll be impressed with this experience.

Lastly, you’ll return to your hotel for dinner and drinks at one of The Inverness Denver’s restaurants. If you fancy a local Colorado beer, choose Breckenridge Brewery, an indoor/outdoor beer garden that overlooks the golf course. Or, if you prefer a relaxing, ambient atmosphere, you can find mouth-watering entrees at Fireside Bar & Grill. Their menu always seems to have delicious fish options, so don’t forget to ask the bartender to whip up a fun cocktail to help you unwind.

Aurora is home to a thriving culinary scene. When dining out in Aurora, what are some of your favorite restaurants or eateries that you would recommend to visitors looking to experience the local cuisine?

Comida offers delicious, hand-crafted Mexican Soul Food - street tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and more. Feel free to take your cocktail to-go, as you are welcome to shop and sip at Stanley Marketplace due to their common consumption law.

Shopping is often a highlight of travel experiences. Where are some of your favorite spots to shop for unique, locally-made goods or one-of-a-kind finds in Aurora?

Aktiv offers Scandinavian-curated collections for the trail to the coffee house, featuring the very best clothing and gear for women and men, both sustainable and responsible. True is a women's boutique that centers on the whole person to create a unique shopping experience. From comfortable clothing, stunning jewelry, and accessories to apothecaries and books on wellness, there's something for every woman who wants to adorn herself from the outside and nourish herself from the inside out.

Aurora is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. Do you have a favorite outdoor activity or park in Aurora that you would recommend to travelers seeking outdoor adventures?

Add Cherry Creek State Park to your activity list! Outdoor adventures include biking, birding, boating, camping, fishing, horseback riding, paddle boarding, picnicking, sailing, snowshoeing, and swimming! This one is a scenic oasis, and finding such a wide variety of water and land activities makes it a no-brainer!