Explore the 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado

Malls seem to be everywhere. If a city lacks a mall then they are considered to be behind the times. In Denver, Colorado there is a fairly unique mall called the 16th Street Mall that you really should see. In this article, I will describe what this unusual mall is like.

Where it is located.

The 16th Street Mall is located in downtown Denver, which is also called Lodo(lower downtown). The mall is actually outside for the most part, and it is a mile or so long with stores surrounding it from all sides.

You can ride a bus up and down the mall's length, or you can just walk the entire distance if you wish. You can also drive to the mall, but parking is so difficult to find that you are better off walking or riding the bus. Parking is also quite expensive.

On the bus.

Like I said, the bus ride is free. Unfortunately, this means anybody can ride the bus. There can be some fairly shady people on the bus so be aware of that. I never had any problems, but you never know. The bus will also make frequent stops. There are usually people waiting to board the bus at every stopping point, which is about every block. So if you're only going a short distance, you may want to simply walk to your destination instead of riding the bus.

Walking along the 16th Street Mall.

If you are exploring the 16th Street Mall by foot, you should be fairly safe. However, try to avoid walking in the early morning hours because miscreants tend to be out at that time. When I walked near or along the 16th Street Mall early in the morning I was bothered by the occasional drug dealer or crazy person. But only a few times. Still, be careful.

Security.

There is security all along the 16th Street Mall. Police on bike, foot, motorcycle, car, or even the occasional horse are at the mall to protect you. There are also several security cameras that monitor certain areas along the mall. If you need any assistance, feel free to ask one of the police officers. The police are usually nice and will help out if they can.

Types of stores.

The 16th Street Mall has a large variety of stores. There is Barnes and Nobles, Office Depot, Walgreens, and many others. You can also find several banks and insurance companies along or near this mall. There is also a theater nearby that you can visit. And then there is your standard music, video, games; etc type of stores.

My favorite store was a small shop that sold Native American artwork. There were all sorts of little trinkets for me to look at or buy, and I really enjoyed the experience. For more information about the stores that inhabit the 16th Street Mall click here.

So if you ever visit Denver, you may want to take a closer look at the 16th Street Mall. While there is the occasional trouble maker, overall it's a safe mall to explore. Just be sure to arrive after eleven, and you shouldn't have any problems.