How to Plan a Denver Paleo Diet Tour

The concept of a “Paleo Diet Tour” may sound unusual at first—after all, the Paleolithic era predates modern tourism by tens of thousands of years. But in today’s health-conscious world, a Denver Paleo Diet Tour is a powerful fusion of ancestral nutrition, local food culture, and intentional travel. It’s not just about eating meat and vegetables; it’s about immersing yourself in a city that embraces whole-foods living, sustainable sourcing, and mindful eating—all while exploring the natural beauty and vibrant culinary scene of Denver, Colorado.

Denver, nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, has become a national hub for wellness, outdoor fitness, and clean eating. With over 200 farmers markets, a thriving farm-to-table movement, and more than 150 restaurants offering dedicated paleo-friendly menus, the city is uniquely positioned to host a curated dietary journey. Planning a Denver Paleo Diet Tour means designing a travel experience that aligns with ancestral dietary principles—eliminating processed foods, grains, legumes, and refined sugars—while maximizing nutrient density, local ingredients, and culinary discovery.

This guide will walk you through every step of creating a personalized, sustainable, and deeply satisfying Paleo Diet Tour in Denver. Whether you’re a long-time paleo follower looking to deepen your practice, a wellness enthusiast planning a retreat, or a curious traveler seeking a healthier way to explore a new city, this tutorial provides actionable insights, real-world examples, and essential tools to make your journey not just possible—but exceptional.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Define Your Paleo Diet Tour Goals

Before booking a single flight or restaurant reservation, clarify your purpose. Are you seeking weight loss? Improved energy? Gut healing? Or simply a culinary adventure rooted in ancestral nutrition? Your goals will shape every decision—from accommodation choices to meal planning.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want a solo retreat or a group experience?
• Am I focused on dining out, cooking classes, or farm visits?
• Do I need accommodations with kitchen access to prepare my own meals?
• How many days can I realistically dedicate to this tour?

For most travelers, a 5–7 day itinerary offers the ideal balance. This allows time to explore multiple neighborhoods, attend a paleo cooking workshop, visit a local farm, and enjoy leisurely meals without burnout.

Step 2: Research Denver’s Paleo-Friendly Ecosystem

Denver’s food scene is uniquely aligned with paleo principles. Start by identifying key areas and establishments known for their commitment to clean eating:

• LoDo (Lower Downtown): Home to high-end paleo restaurants like True Food Kitchen and Root Down, which offer customizable paleo bowls, grass-fed meats, and organic produce.
• Golden Triangle: A cultural district with The Kitchen, which sources 95% of ingredients within 150 miles and has a dedicated paleo menu.
• Colfax Avenue: Known for its food truck culture, including Grass Fed Grill, a mobile eatery specializing in bison, elk, and pasture-raised eggs.
• Wheat Ridge and Lakewood: Suburban hubs with paleo-friendly grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and Co-op Natural Foods.

Use apps like HappyCow and Yelp filtered for “paleo,” “gluten-free,” and “grass-fed” to build a preliminary list. Prioritize restaurants that explicitly state their sourcing practices—look for keywords like “pasture-raised,” “wild-caught,” “organic,” and “no added sugar.”

Step 3: Book Accommodations With Paleo-Friendly Amenities

Where you stay matters. Choose lodging that supports your dietary needs:

• Apartment-style rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo): Opt for units with full kitchens. This allows you to prepare breakfasts of scrambled eggs with spinach, avocado, and wild salmon, or batch-cook roasted vegetables and grass-fed beef for quick meals.
• Wellness resorts: Consider properties like The Ritz-Carlton, Denver or Hotel Monaco, which offer in-room organic fruit baskets, paleo breakfast options upon request, and partnerships with local farms.
• Hostels with kitchens: For budget travelers, Denver Hostel has a communal kitchen and allows guests to bring their own paleo staples.

When booking, message the host or front desk to confirm they can accommodate paleo needs. Request no bread, no dairy butter, and no processed oils. Many Denver hosts are accustomed to dietary requests and will gladly stock almond milk, coconut oil, or grass-fed bacon upon arrival.

Step 4: Plan Daily Meal Itineraries

Structure your days around meals that align with paleo principles while maximizing local flavor. Here’s a sample 5-day template:

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome Meal

Arrive in the afternoon. Check into your accommodation. Head to Root Down for a welcome dinner: grilled bison tenderloin, roasted beets with pistachio pesto, and sautéed kale with lemon garlic. Skip the grain-based sides. Ask for extra avocado.

Day 2: Farmers Market Day

Start at the Denver Union Station Farmers Market (Saturdays, 8 AM–2 PM). Sample grass-fed beef jerky, organic berries, raw honey, and pasture-raised eggs. Talk to vendors about their farming practices. Buy ingredients for a DIY paleo lunch: grilled chicken salad with hemp seeds, olive oil, and balsamic reduction.

Day 3: Cooking Class & Farm Visit

Book a session with Denver Paleo Kitchen, a local culinary school offering hands-on paleo cooking classes. Learn to make coconut flour pancakes, bone broth, and fermented vegetables. Afterward, visit Red Fox Farm in Golden, a certified organic farm that raises heritage pigs and free-range chickens. Tour the property and purchase meat directly from the farmer.

Day 4: Outdoor Adventure & Picnic

Take a hike in Red Rocks Park or Mount Falcon. Pack a paleo picnic: sliced turkey breast, cucumber rounds, olives, almonds, and dark chocolate (85% cacao or higher). Use reusable containers. Many Denver trails have picnic tables—perfect for refueling with nutrient-dense foods.

Day 5: Culinary Farewell

End your tour at The Kitchen for a final meal: roasted duck breast with roasted carrots and rosemary, followed by a paleo-friendly dessert of chia pudding made with coconut milk and blueberries. Reflect on your journey and note down favorite vendors for future trips.

Step 5: Prepare for On-the-Go Eating

Even in a paleo-friendly city, unexpected delays happen. Pack a small “paleo emergency kit”:

• Grass-fed beef or turkey jerky (check for no added sugar)
• Almond butter packets
• Raw nuts (walnuts, macadamias)
• Hard-boiled eggs (pre-peeled and stored in a cooler bag)
• Dark chocolate (at least 85% cacao)
• Coconut water or electrolyte powder (no added sugars)

Denver’s public transit (RTD) and bike-share programs (B-cycle) are reliable. Carry your kit in a small insulated pouch. Many cafes and juice bars offer “paleo bowls” or “protein plates”—just ask for no grains, legumes, or dairy.

Step 6: Engage With the Local Paleo Community

Denver has an active wellness community. Connect with others to enhance your experience:

• Join the Denver Paleo Meetup Group on Facebook. Members often host potlucks, farm tours, and hiking excursions.
• Attend a Paleo Happy Hour at Barolo Wine Bar, which offers paleo charcuterie boards and natural wines.
• Subscribe to Denver Wellness Weekly, a local newsletter featuring paleo restaurant updates and upcoming events.

Engaging with locals not only expands your food options but also deepens your understanding of how paleo living integrates into Denver’s culture of sustainability and outdoor activity.

Step 7: Track and Reflect

Keep a simple journal during your tour:

• What meals made you feel energized?
• Which vendors impressed you with transparency?
• Did you notice changes in sleep, digestion, or mood?

After your trip, review your notes. Did you discover new favorite ingredients? Did you find a restaurant you’ll return to? This reflection turns your tour from a one-time experience into a lasting lifestyle shift.

Best Practices

1. Prioritize Quality Over Convenience

It’s easy to fall back on “paleo-friendly” packaged snacks that are technically compliant but highly processed. Avoid products with additives, maltodextrin, or “natural flavors.” Stick to whole, recognizable ingredients. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.

2. Communicate Clearly With Restaurants

Don’t assume a restaurant knows what “paleo” means. Say: “I follow a paleo diet—no grains, legumes, dairy, or refined sugars. Can you modify your menu items to accommodate this?” Most Denver chefs are happy to adapt. Request substitutions like sweet potato instead of rice, or cauliflower mash instead of potatoes.

3. Embrace Seasonality

Denver’s climate means food availability shifts with the seasons. In summer, prioritize berries, zucchini, and tomatoes. In winter, focus on root vegetables, squash, and preserved meats. Ask farmers at markets what’s in peak season. Eating seasonally enhances flavor and nutrient density.

4. Stay Hydrated and Mindful of Electrolytes

Paleo diets can be low in sodium if you’re avoiding processed foods. Denver’s high altitude (5,280 feet) increases dehydration risk. Drink plenty of water. Add a pinch of Himalayan salt to your meals or sip bone broth. Coconut water is excellent, but verify it’s unsweetened.

5. Balance Activity With Nutrition

Denver is a city of hikers, bikers, and climbers. If you’re active, ensure you’re consuming enough calories and healthy fats. Add extra avocado, olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish to your meals. Don’t fear fat—healthy fats are essential for hormone balance and energy.

6. Avoid “Paleo Trap” Foods

Many restaurants and stores market “paleo” cookies, granola, or ice cream. These are often loaded with dates, almond flour, and coconut sugar—high in fructose and can spike blood sugar. Stick to whole foods. If you crave dessert, opt for fresh fruit with whipped coconut cream.

7. Respect Local Culture and Ethics

Denver’s paleo community values sustainability and animal welfare. Choose vendors who practice regenerative agriculture and humane livestock handling. Support businesses that pay fair wages and minimize packaging. Your dietary choices extend beyond your plate—they impact the environment and community.

Tools and Resources

1. Mobile Apps

• HappyCow: The most reliable app for finding vegan, vegetarian, and paleo-friendly restaurants worldwide. Filters by dietary restrictions and user reviews.
• Yelp: Search “paleo” or “gluten-free” and sort by top-rated. Read recent reviews for accuracy.
• Farmstand: Locates nearby farmers markets in Colorado with real-time vendor listings and hours.
• Label Insight: Scan barcodes to check for hidden sugars, grains, or additives in packaged foods.

2. Online Directories

• Denver Food Rescue: Connects food donors with nonprofits—sometimes offers surplus paleo-friendly produce for free.
• Colorado Organic Farmers Association: Lists certified organic farms open to visitors.
• Paleo Denver (paleodenver.com): A community-curated directory of paleo-friendly eateries, grocery stores, and wellness services.

3. Local Resources

• Co-op Natural Foods (multiple locations): A locally owned co-op with bulk bins of nuts, seeds, and spices, plus a deli with paleo salads and wraps.
• Whole Foods Market (Denver locations): Offers a wide selection of grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, and organic produce. Their prepared foods section often has paleo options.
• Denver Paleo Kitchen (denverpaleokitchen.com): Offers weekly cooking classes, meal prep services, and private consultations.
• Rocky Mountain Natural Foods: A wholesale distributor that supplies many Denver restaurants. Offers public tours and bulk purchasing for visitors.

4. Books and Podcasts

• “The Paleo Solution” by Robb Wolf: Foundational text on ancestral eating principles.
• “The 21-Day Sugar Detox” by Diane Sanfilippo: Helps transition away from hidden sugars in “paleo” products.
• Podcast: “The Paleo View” by Chris Kresser: Episodes on gut health, ancestral nutrition, and regional food systems—including Colorado’s.

5. Printable Checklist

Before departure, print or save this checklist:

• Confirmed paleo-friendly accommodations
• List of 10+ paleo restaurants with addresses
• Upcoming farmers market dates
• Reservations for cooking class or farm tour
• Paleo emergency snack kit packed
• Reusable water bottle and insulated food containers
• Local paleo meetup group contact info
• Journal or notes app ready for reflection

Real Examples

Example 1: Sarah’s 5-Day Paleo Retreat

Sarah, a 34-year-old marketing professional from Chicago, planned a solo Denver Paleo Diet Tour after experiencing chronic fatigue. She booked a week-long Airbnb in Capitol Hill with a full kitchen. Her itinerary included:

• Day 1: Dinner at Root Down—bison, roasted root vegetables, kale salad with apple cider vinaigrette.
• Day 2: Morning at Denver Union Station Farmers Market—bought pasture-raised eggs, organic spinach, and raw honey.
• Day 3: Cooking class at Denver Paleo Kitchen—learned to make bone broth and fermented sauerkraut.
• Day 4: Hiked Mount Falcon with a picnic of turkey slices, almonds, and dark chocolate.
• Day 5: Brunch at The Kitchen—chicken hash with sweet potatoes and avocado.

By the end of her trip, Sarah reported improved sleep, reduced bloating, and a newfound appreciation for seasonal eating. She now visits Denver annually and has started a blog documenting her paleo travels.

Example 2: The Johnson Family’s Paleo Road Trip

The Johnsons—a family of four from Texas—planned a 7-day Denver tour during summer break. They prioritized family-friendly paleo options:

• Stayed at a vacation home with a kitchen to prepare breakfasts.
• Visited Red Fox Farm—kids fed goats and picked strawberries.
• Dined at Grass Fed Grill food truck—kids loved the bison burgers (no bun).
• Attended a Family Paleo Picnic hosted by a local meetup group.
• Each child chose one new paleo food to try—kale chips, coconut yogurt, and beef jerky.

The family returned home with a cooler full of local grass-fed beef and a renewed commitment to eliminating processed snacks. Their 10-year-old now asks for “paleo snacks” at home.

Example 3: Mark’s Business Travel + Paleo

Mark, a consultant who travels monthly, turned his Denver business trip into a paleo-focused getaway. He scheduled meetings in the morning and reserved afternoons for food exploration:

• Used HappyCow to find a paleo lunch spot near his office.
• Ordered a grass-fed steak at a hotel restaurant and asked to substitute mashed cauliflower for potatoes.
• Stopped at Co-op Natural Foods to buy almond butter and walnuts for his next flight.
• Joined a weekend paleo yoga class at Denver Yoga Collective.

Mark now books all his business trips around paleo-friendly destinations. He says, “I don’t have to sacrifice my health for my career. Denver taught me that.”

FAQs

Can I follow a paleo diet in Denver if I’m vegetarian?

Strict paleo excludes legumes and grains, which are staples in many vegetarian diets. However, Denver offers excellent plant-based paleo options: eggs, dairy-free fermented foods, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats. You can create satisfying meals with avocado, olive oil, mushrooms, and wild-caught fish (if pescatarian). Some vegetarians adopt a “paleo-inspired” approach, focusing on whole, unprocessed plants.

Is alcohol allowed on a Denver Paleo Diet Tour?

Traditional paleo excludes alcohol, but many travelers make exceptions for dry wines, sparkling wines, or pure spirits (vodka, gin, tequila) without mixers. Avoid beer, sugary cocktails, and sweet wines. Denver has several natural wine bars like Barolo and Cherry Creek Wine Co. that offer low-sugar, organic options.

Are there paleo-friendly grocery stores in Denver?

Yes. Co-op Natural Foods, Whole Foods Market, and King Soopers (organic section) carry a wide variety of paleo staples. Look for grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, organic produce, and nut butters without added sugar. Bulk bins are great for nuts and seeds.

Can I do a paleo diet tour on a budget?

Absolutely. Focus on farmers markets for fresh produce, buy meat in bulk from local farms (Red Fox Farm sells by the pound), cook your own meals, and choose affordable paleo eateries like Grass Fed Grill or Wanderlust. Avoid high-end restaurants daily. A budget of $75–$100 per day is feasible.

What if I have food allergies (e.g., nuts)?

Denver is highly accommodating. Many restaurants offer nut-free paleo options. Always inform staff of allergies. Avoid coconut-based products if allergic to tree nuts. Stick to meats, vegetables, fruits, seeds (like pumpkin or sunflower), and olive oil.

How do I handle social pressure while on a paleo tour?

Be polite but firm. Say, “I’m following a specific eating plan for my health, and I’m really enjoying the local options.” Most people respect dietary choices when explained calmly. Denver’s culture is open-minded—you’ll find support, not judgment.

Can I extend my tour to other Colorado cities?

Yes. Consider adding Boulder (home to Whole Foods and Plant Based), Aspen (luxury paleo resorts), or Telluride (farm-to-table dining). Each city offers unique paleo experiences and stunning mountain scenery.

Is the Denver Paleo Diet Tour suitable for children?

Yes. Kids thrive on whole foods. Focus on meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Avoid processed “paleo snacks.” Many restaurants offer kid-sized portions. Involve children in farm visits or cooking classes—they’ll be more likely to eat what they help prepare.

How long should I plan for a meaningful paleo tour?

Minimum 3 days to get a taste. Five to seven days is ideal for immersion. Two weeks allows for deep exploration—farm visits, cooking classes, and multiple outdoor activities.

Do I need to be an expert in paleo to plan this tour?

No. This tour is designed for all levels—from beginners to seasoned practitioners. The goal is exploration, not perfection. Learn as you go. Denver’s food scene is welcoming and educational.

Conclusion

Planning a Denver Paleo Diet Tour is more than a culinary excursion—it’s a reconnection with food as nature intended. In a world saturated with processed alternatives and misleading labels, Denver offers a rare opportunity to eat with intention, support ethical producers, and experience the joy of real food in a breathtaking environment.

By following the steps outlined in this guide—from setting clear goals and choosing the right accommodations, to engaging with local farmers and reflecting on your experience—you transform a simple trip into a transformative journey. You’re not just visiting a city; you’re adopting a lifestyle that honors your body, your health, and the land that sustains you.

Denver doesn’t just accommodate paleo living—it celebrates it. From the crisp mountain air to the rich flavors of grass-fed bison and wild-harvested berries, every element of this city invites you to slow down, savor, and nourish. Whether you’re traveling solo, with family, or as part of a wellness group, a Denver Paleo Diet Tour is an investment in your long-term vitality.

Start planning. Pack your reusable containers. Bring your curiosity. And let the Rockies be your backdrop as you rediscover what it means to eat—and live—well.