Denver, "The Mile High City"

Snow capped mountains, skyscrapers that rise majestically into the sky, old West history, and sunsets of pink and orange fire - Denver, Colorado gives a visitor a taste of mountain living mixed with big city amenities. Literally "one mile high" with an elevation of 5,280 ft., Denver rests in a bowl of the South Platte River valley where the Rocky Mountains slope into the high plains of eastern Colorado.

With over 200 parks one would never guess that Denver started out as nothing but a dusty little town in the middle of a grassy plain sporting some straggly willow and cottonwood trees. The City Park alone covers an area of 330 acres and contains The Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and two lakes, Ferril and Duck Lakes. If a day outside the city appeals to residents or visitors, Denver has over 14,000 acres of mountain parks they have built and maintained. Red Rocks Park, home of the well known Red Rocks Amphitheatre (definitely a must for serious concert goers) and the hill where Winter Park Ski Resort operates 67 miles west of Denver are two of these locations. Add 29 recreation centers to Denver's parks and you have a city built for family relaxation and entertainment.

From bicycling and hiking for the more physical and budget minded, Adventure Parks for the whole family, to exorbitant shopping and the sophistication of galleries, museums, nightlife or lazy days at a spa - Denver offers an incredible vacation to people of all ages and natures. As with any city, your pocket book could be heavily depleted if you want, or you can enjoy this amazing city on a budget.

One of the first suggestions I would give to anyone visiting Denver, is to spend first on a rental car if you arrived by air. Even though you may want to also utilize Denver's Light Rail system, Downtown Denver itself is one of the largest downtown areas for a city of approximately 550,000, and the entire metropolitan area is full of wide spaces, not to mention trips into the mountains and surrounding towns like the city of Boulder make the freedom of a vehicle a must. Even with the current price of fuel, car trips will take you into some of the most spectacular areas you will ever see. It is best to rent your vehicle right at the Denver International Airport as it will save you the cost of getting to and from the airport as it is approximately a 23 mile trip by taxi to Downtown Denver. Shuttles do run to most major hotels. The Super Shuttle services passengers from 4:30 a.m. to midnight with door to door trips between the airport and downtown. Cvent's Destination Guide offers extensive information on transportation in the Denver area. Your sightseeing visit begins right at the airport. If you have never been to D.I.A., you are in for an experience. Underground trains move you with breathless speed to your terminals, original artwork murals cover the walls of the "mall like" airport with its shops and restaurants, and the architecture alone is a stunning, controversial oddity. To save your vacation budget right in the beginning, save any shopping at the airport for when you leave. Tip: When leaving from Denver, leave a couple hours in advance to your check in time for your flight. As one of the busiest airports in the country, even during low traffic times the trip will take you close to an hour.

When choosing a hotel for your stay in Denver, it is best to think of being located somewhat centrally to the area's you plan on visiting. The airport hotels are a good choice for your first night and last night (avoiding the worry of leaving the city in time), but relocation closer into the city is always best for the rest of your stay. For those wanting to stay in a downtown location you have choices everywhere from the Holiday Inn to the Hilton or Hyatt. My personal favorite where I stay every time I am in the city is The Burnsley All Suite hotel (burnsley.com) at 1000 Grant Street. Its lovely old world, European charm and the spacious apartment like suites are well worth the cost (The hotel was actually constructed as an apartment building in 1963). As they allow my children to share one suite (and yes, this is considered a business hotel but they welcome children), the cost always comes out to less than even the lower end hotels. The Burnsley is also located on a wonderful quiet street within close walking distance to the Civic Center. HotelGuide.net has a great list with actual reviews on downtown Denver hotels and would be a good idea source.

Sherman Street or "Poets Row" as it is called is a lovely street to walk on your way to the downtown area from the Burnsley. Within minutes you can be at the Denver Art Museum. The Art Museum offers 8 curatorial departments and is famous world wide for it's collection of American Indian art. As a member of the Denver Art Museum I encourage any lover of art and their children to visit. You will want to plan hours if not a day around this. When I first moved to L.A., California years ago, I was anxious to see their Art Museum until I did and found I had been horribly spoiled by the bounty of Denver's. As you continue on your discovery of Denver, the 16^th Street Mall is a top on the list for tourists and locals alike. The 16^th Street Mall is a mile long walk mall winding through the heart of downtown. Lined with an abundance of trees the mall has galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and sidewalk cafes. If you have teenagers, more than likely it will be one of the first places they ask to go. If you spend too much time here you may come close to the danger of blowing your budget! The 16^th Street Trolley is one of the free attractions you can enjoy while in Denver.

Located near by is the beautiful State Capital building, constructed of Colorado white granite, with its gold (yes real gold!) dome, the Denver Mint, another free attraction, and the Colorado History Museum. Various music events are held during the summer months at the Greek amphitheatre in Civic Center and the park hosts the Peoples Fair in June.

The Denver Botanical Gardens have been a favorite spot for visitors for over five decades. Not only beautiful to see but also an educational adventure the gardens are relatively well priced for your budget at $6.00 for youths and $10.50 for adults. The Botanical Gardens is home to Denver's first "green roof", roofs that double as a habitat for local birds and animals.

For younger children, one of my children's favorite places was the Children's Museum located on Bannock street near the Denver Aquarium in downtown Denver. The museum offers interactive entertainment for children up to about 8 years old. The Aquarium is unique first because there is no large body of water anywhere nearby and it offers both licensed divers and beginning snorkelers the chance to swim in its tanks (check for times and availability).

It is impossible to even begin to touch on the many places to dine in Denver. Noodles & Co. to Fabulous Irish Pubs in the very "must" LoDo area to Sushi at Domo Restaurant or the Sushi Den, there is a place for every palate and from every culture you can think of. Breakfast at Racines on Sherman Street, lunch at Panzano's for those with a healthier budget, Noodles & Co.(I love noodles!) or Pete's Kitchen for those with a tighter one, keeping your belly full will never be a problem while in Denver. For SouthPark fans and those with families, get directions to Casa Bonita in Lakewood for an interesting evening. Although the "lunch room" style buffet Mexican cuisine is not the most spectacular, the cliff divers, cowboy shootouts, amazing jungle décor, and arcades - make for a fun filled evening.

For those with a wild side who like interesting nightclubs The Church is a must. Located at 1160 Lincoln Ave. (basically at the corner of 12^th street and Lincoln, off of Sherman) this club, literally an old church transformed, boasts 8 bars and multiple floors and will be one of the most incredible "sub-culture" experiences you will remember forever. Wynkoop Brewing Company is an option for those with a more casual personality. No matter what nightlife personality you have, Denver is a city with multiple choices for those who love to party. Beware - if you are coming from a lower altitude....you will not be able to drink anywhere near what you are used to! Many people hit the high altitude and end up completely obliterated without intending to. Take it slow, take it easy, and breathe!

To fully cover all the things to see and do in Denver would take an entire book. Only short miles away you have the extreme beauty and ambiance of Boulder, the gambling havens of Blackhawk and Central City, the ski slopes, the Rocky Mountain National Forest...unbelievable natural sights and experiences to discover, making this one of the most budget friendly vacations possible. This could be why so many people either return, or move to the Denver area. Never enough time to see everything. After a life time of living in Colorado, I still have not seen or done all I want to. And even while I move away, I know I will take vacation time here in the hopes of fulfilling the things still on my list.

Always remember when you are in the "Mile High City", to drink plenty of water as altitude sickness is unpleasant and can ruin your vacation, get clear directions to avoid being confused or lost (Denver streets are not always logical), do shop on East Colfax, an area full of unique shops and historic buildings yet not usually one pointed out to tourists, but be careful as you would in any major city (there has been a huge clean up of this area but it is still a bit rough), and definitely plan a couple day trips outside the city. Although I may be biased, I am well traveled and would tell anyone at some time in their life, a vacation to Denver is a must. Denver remains one of my favorite cities in the world. For those who live in Colorado and those who don't, you can always enjoy your time in Denver even on a budget, and summer is a great time to travel to this magnificent city in the Rocky Mountains.

Traveling to Denver can be done by air, but a great alternative is by car to give you the most of your trip, viewing the sights given to us by nature is free, or if traveling from the west part of the U.S., traveling by Amtrak will take you through the most breathtaking scenery you can ever imagine. While this requires more time, it is an experience forever remembered.

Once you have planned your trip to Denver, one thing to remember, the weather is fickle and changes constantly. We have a saying "The weather changes every five minutes and every five miles". This is very true so pack with this in mind. While not common, you could get light snow even in the middle of the summer, or hot days in the middle of the winter. Visit cvent.com for a good, fact filled website to plan your trip out west.

The places listed here are merely a suggestion for your time in Denver and there are so many wonderful sights, restaurants, clubs, etc. not included it is worth the time to study multiple sources prior to your vacation. May you discover more of the joys of Denver each and every time you visit!

Sources:

Hotel Guide

Destination Guide, cvent.com

What to do in Denver; denver.org