by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

I'm part of a freakish minority: I do not—and never have—owned a car.  I know, it's hard to imagine your life without one. But in San Francisco, I manage to get around just fine (don't get me wrong, Muni buses are not for the faint of heart, but we make it work...) 

Since I'm used to exploring cities on foot, I love finding hotels that anchor me in great walkable neighborhoods.  Which is why the Oxford Hotel in Denver's LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood is such a find!  Aside from cool historical bragging rights (it's the oldest hotel in the city—it opened in 1891 back in Denver's Wild West days), it's in the Mile High City's most walkable 'hood.  And a crisp fall weekend is the perfect time for a cozy car-free city escape.

Photos courtesy of the Oxford Hotel

The Oxford puts you walking distance of the awesome Denver Art Museum, loads of galleries and boutiques, Union Station, the Wynkoop Brewery (I love this place and I don't even love beer), Tattered Cover Bookstore (my idea of heaven), to name a few. And walk no further than the ground floor of the hotel for my favorite cocktail spot in town: the hotel's Cruise Room Bar, modeled after an old cruise ship lounge with killer throwback cocktails.

Book it: rooms from $180, plus they've got all kinds of special offers going on, theoxfordhotel.com, or call 800/ 228-5838.

Plan your trip: click here for tips on exploring the area, and here for tips on eating out in town.

Got a favorite neighborhood hotel? Let us know!