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View Full Version : Things to do in Denver . . .



Tony Sade
06-04-2007, 9:25 AM
While I'm still alive, I hope. I'll be in Denver for a week with a fair amount of free time on my hands. I would appreciate any recommendations for fun things to do, whether woodworking-related or not. I'm always up for good food (partial to ethnic cuisine but willing to try new stuff) and I may rent a car for a day or so to see some out of town sites. Thanks.

Al Wasser
06-04-2007, 10:29 AM
If you want to check out your lungs, take your rental car and drive to the top (almost) of Mt. Evans at 14000 ft. To me Denver is just another big damn city that I stay away from. Another Day trip would be to Rocky Mtn. National Park, west of Loveland.

Eric Wong
06-04-2007, 11:28 AM
The mountains are wonderful, as Al said. Rocky Mtn National Park is great. Also, if you take 1-70 up into the mountains, there are many towns and resorts to visit and each has something different. There is a historic train you can take, I believe it starts in Georgetown, and its a great way to see the mountains. Some of the ski resorts allow you to take the ski lift to the top of the mountain in the summer. Some crazy people take mountain bikes up and ride down.

If you like Sushi, believe it or not, there is a fantastic place called Sushi Den. Its owned by a Japanese businessman and is one of two--the other is in Japan.

John Schreiber
06-04-2007, 11:36 AM
I've visited Denver a few times and I think the best things about it are the mountains to the west. Lots to see there year round. If you like factory tours, the Coors tour in Golden and the Celestial Seasonings tour in Boulder aren't too far away and both are very good.

Eric Wong
06-04-2007, 12:03 PM
Yes, I forgot about the Coors tour! How could I forget about that?? Free beer.....

Pat Germain
06-04-2007, 3:07 PM
No doubt about it. The mountains to the West of Denver are spectacular. However, you asked about Denver. So ...

Unless you absolutely hate any city anywhere, Denver is actually pretty nice. Compared to most other US cities, Denver is pretty clean and safe. It has an excellent, very new light rail system which I recommend using when you can.

For knocking around, I highly recommend the 16th Street Mall area. It's, well, on 16th Street downtown and starts at the intersection of Broadway. This part of 16th Street is closed to traffic. There are free, electric busses which run up and down. You can walk along and browse the stores, restaurants and pubs. If your feet get tired, you just hop on a bus going the way you want to go.

16th Street has an ESPN Zone and Cheescake Factory restaurant, which are pretty nice. There are also multiple, independent restaurants. Just choose a cuisine and you'll likely find it. I'll try to remember some places where I've dined and post them later.

Also downtown is the baseball stadium. If you like baseball, you may be able to catch a Rockies game. I'm pretty sure getting tickets is easy.

East of Downtown is the Museum of Nature & Science. It will be closed in the evenings. If you can get over there during the day, they have some very nice permanent exhibits and some spectacular traveling exhibits. I saw an Egyptian artifacts exhibit there which was unbelievable. A Titanic exhibit opens there June 22nd. I've seen one Titanic exhibit which was great, but my parents saw another which absolutely sucked. I can't tell you which one this will be. This museum is also tucked away in an older neighborhood next to a large park. Therefore, it's a nice place to hang out and enjoy our spectacular summer weather. :)

If you like to gamble, you might drop by Blackhawk. It's an old mining town in the mountains. It was dying so they allowed gambling. The have since blown large holes in the hills to make way for large casinos, but's it's actually kinda cool up there. The scenery is great so it's nice to drive up there, take in a little blackjack, and be on your way.

If you have the time and are heading West on I-70, stop at Vail Village. In the summer, the Vail ski resort area is uncrowded and has free parking. The scenery near Vail is absolutely breathtaking. The village is very picturesque. There are many shops where you can look at imported Norwegian sweaters and wonder who would pay $700 for one. If you want to eat there, it's pretty reasonable for a nice meal. There's a great German Restaurant in Vail Village with a German Pub built-in. I'm pretty sure they've got Octoberfest on tap year-'round. :cool:

I heard they recently built a Bass Pro Shops in Denver, if you're into that sort of thing. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

Jude Kingery
06-04-2007, 3:48 PM
Tony, I'd say everyone and especially Pat has you covered; only thing I'd add is the Denver Art Museum. But it's been years since I've been there, although at that time, it was incredible! Safe travels and fun times to you while there. Jude

Greg Cuetara
06-04-2007, 7:51 PM
Tony,
Another Idea is to head south to Colorado Springs...some good sites down there and also Pikes Peak. I took the train up the side of the mountain a few years back and that was a fun trip. In denver there is also the zoo and the aquarium. A fun place to visit is the REI store near downtown if you are into outdoors stuff. If you are into model trains there is caboose hobbies which is one of the larger hobby stores in the country or that I have seen.
Pat had a few good ideas with the 16th street mall down in lodo (lower downtown)....there are a few good brewpubs across from the train station which is a few blocks from coors field....
have fun
greg

Pat Germain
06-04-2007, 8:39 PM
Tony,
Another Idea is to head south to Colorado Springs...some good sites down there and also Pikes Peak. I took the train up the side of the mountain a few years back and that was a fun trip. greg

Yeah, man! Come and see my town! We have a park here called Garden of the Gods which is amazing and there's no other place like it in the world. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is really cool. You take in the ever-changing scenery while the train slowly pulls you up the mountain. The top is over 14,000 feet above sea level. It's like looking down from an airplane.

You actually board the train in a little town called Manitou Springs. Manitou is just West of Colorado Springs. It's a very laid back arts community with nice scenery, interesting shops, and some very good restaurants. It even has an arcade with old pinball machines from the 50s, 60s and 70s along with classics like Pac Man. Lots of Harley riders go through there in the summer. There are bikes everywhere. There are also some very good bed and breakfast inns around Manitou. It's quite popular.

Colorado is a great place visit. It's also a great place to live. :)

Jim Becker
06-04-2007, 10:01 PM
I was going to mention Pike's Peek...whether you drive it or take the railway, it's a most excellent view! And they have some very lovely rocks down that way, too... :D

James Rambo
06-04-2007, 10:33 PM
I also went to Pikes Peak, a great place. And to the Garden of the Gods. When I went there was in November and the Gods said stay out and they ment it. It rained the day before and at night was about 10 degrees so we could not get the car to go up the 5 or 10 degree incline at the gate but that was in the year of our lord 1977.http://sawmillcreek.org/images/icons/icon12.gif

Rob Wright
06-04-2007, 11:28 PM
If you want to check out your lungs, take your rental car and drive to the top (almost) of Mt. Evans at 14000 ft. To me Denver is just another big damn city that I stay away from. Another Day trip would be to Rocky Mtn. National Park, west of Loveland.

Spent a long weekend in Denver for a college roommate's wedding last summer. My wife and I rented a car and did the Mt. Evan thing early on saturday and then drove the rocky mountain national park. Late lunch in Estes Park and home by 6:00 pm. Was a great time, lot's of pictures, and a little bit of small hikes at Evans and in RMNP. Have a good time!:)

_rob

John Schreiber
06-05-2007, 11:27 AM
. . .We have a park here called Garden of the Gods which is amazing and there's no other place like it in the world. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is really cool. You take in the ever-changing scenery while the train slowly pulls you up the mountain. The top is over 14,000 feet above sea level. It's like looking down from an airplane. . . .
Pat is right about Garden of the Gods, it is amazing and worth a trip. I drove up Pikes Peak and that is wild too. There's nothing like looking out the window of your car and down at a lightning storm. Of course you don't want to spend too much time looking at the scenery, the road commands your full attention as you go up and up and up.

Tony Sade
06-05-2007, 11:45 AM
I definitely see some mountains in my future.

Kevin Beck
06-05-2007, 2:57 PM
I have seen an enjoyed the following in the Denver area. I'm there several times per year as that is where my employer is located.

Celestial Seasonings tour
McGuckin Hardware - hardware store in Boulder
Pearl Street Mall - outdoor mall with street entertainers in Boulder
Rocky Mountain National Park - Estes Park

Colorado Springs

I really like Colorado Springs. The Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the Money Museum are all worth visiting.

I'd live in Colorado Springs without hesitation (and I'm a 4th generation Floridian).

Kevin