DO Lace up some skates at Evergreen Lake House (29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen, 720-880-1391, evergreenrecreation.com). Step onto the frozen lake and sail (hopefully) across the ice. Glide until the sun goes down. Between laps, warm up with a cozy cup of hot cocoa. Bonus: Bring a thermos full of chile-infused Hottie Hot Chocolate, inspired by herbalist Shelley Torgove, owner of Artemisia & Rue. Find the recipe at 5280.com/hotchocolate.
SIP Freshen up with a before-dinner cocktail at Genesse’s Hideaway Kitchen + Bar (25948 Genesse Trail Road, Golden, 303-526-0556). The restaurant’s location in a strip plaza may not scream romance, but the warm interior and long wooden bar provide an ideal stop for a spirit. Order the Ojai, which is served in a Champagne flute. This floral twist on the classic French 75 is made with small-batch gin, lavender syrup, fresh lemon, and Cava.
EAT On your way down the hill, stop at Morrison’s Beso de Arte (102 Market St., Morrison, 303-697-3377, besodearte.com) for an early dinner. (You can’t make reservations, so expect a wait.) Inside the warm space, the menu is an ode to sultry Latin food with many dishes ideal for sharing. The house specialty is the saucy and spicy rojo molcajete—slow-cooked pork served in a hot lava-rock bowl—and it’s not to be missed.