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View Full Version : Denver CO business trip--what not to miss?



mark page
07-30-2008, 11:20 PM
Will be in Denver for two weeks Sept 8-19th for a business edumacation trip. Will most likely be stuck without a car, etc, unless I rent one. All transportation will be done by the company, but for round trips to/from their campus. Me being without transportation is like being in jail. Can't do the two weeks stuck in a hotel room. I will probably only have one full weekend free to have unlimited roaming potential. I do have a friend there I can call to come rescue me from jail, but is there anything I shouldn't miss on a full weekend, or even on late evenings. This is one of those possible "pure business only, chapperoned type power sessions" things. Our distribution center is located on E. 49th avenue in Denver, and most likely the hotel provisions will be close by. Any help will be appreciated. Wish I knew more of the agenda at this time, but will not know fully until late Aug. Hopefully it will not be an "eat, sleep, training, and be un-merry trip" and will be a daily 9-5'er.

Jim Becker
07-31-2008, 5:55 AM
Rent a car for your free weekend and "do" Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods, etc.

Not having transportation makes for a bit of bordom on the evening meal thing, however, as it somewhat limits your choices...and there are so many great places to eat in the Denver area.

John Keeton
07-31-2008, 6:07 AM
Boulder is interesting in the evenings for some eclectic street walking. You may be able to do a Coor's tour. Jim's ideas are good, as is Estes Park - the other direction. You will be there in the peak of elk bugling (the rut) and there will be plenty in the park. Views are great.

The Flatirons are kind of neat outside town toward the mountains.

Would be nice if you had more time on weekends - a drive up into the mountains would be nice, but would be a full day trip at least.

Greg Cole
07-31-2008, 8:55 AM
Take every chance you can to pick on anyone you see wearing a Colorado Avalanche hat, shirt etc..... us (errr me) Red Wing(s) fans really have a thing for them there Colorado folk.....:D Very much akin to KC's love for the Raiders.:p
Pikes Peak would be on my list. A trip fishing about anywhere you can find is a must in that part of the world too. Definately rent a car for at least the weekend(s). Having done alot of business travel domestically and internationally, I'll never piss away days and or nights just sitting in a hotel.... especially when surrounded by the Rocky Mtns.

Cheers Mark.

Jerome Hanby
07-31-2008, 9:15 AM
Head up past Boulder to a little place called Lyons. It's up in the Rocky Mountain National State Park. It's a beautiful drive . Check out a restaurant called the Black Boar Inn. They have a black pepper encrusted fillet there that is out of this world. Make sure you pick out desert and order it first, they can and do run out. They also have an ancient soda fountain in town where you can still get flavored Phosphates.

Jason Whelehon
07-31-2008, 9:20 AM
If you like "good" beer, hit up Blake street from 16th Street Mall all the way down to Coors Field. Falling Rock, Wyncoop, Breckenridge, etc.

The food there is also amazing.

Pat Germain
07-31-2008, 4:08 PM
I think 49th Avenue is just North of I-70 and just East of I-25. As far as I know, there's nothing much to do in that area. It's pretty industrial from what I've seen.

Not far South is the 16th Street "Mall" area which is near Coors Field (where the Rockies play). Denver blocked off this street to vehicles and made it a pedestrian area. Electric busses run up and down which are free to ride. There are numerous shops and restaurants along 16th St to include a Cheesecake Factory and ESPN Zone. This might be a good area for you and your coworkers to enjoy a "power meal" or just get out in the open. September evenings can be cool, but still nice. Be prepared for cool weather. Once the sun goes behind the Rockies, the temperature plummets, but the air is nice and dry.

If you can get out of the city and enjoy the mountains, the possibilities are endless. Here are some suggestions:

- Blackhawk. This is an old mining town where gambling was approved. It's West of Denver just North of I-70. You can take HWY 6 and 19 directly to Blackhawk. If your coworkers like to gamble, Blackhawk is kinda cool and the scenery on the trip is very nice. Just beyond Blackhawk is Central City, which is a gambling competitor. I prefer Blackhawk.

- Vail, further West on I-70. Vail Village is actually a nice place to visit off-season. It's uncrowded, the parking is free and so is the spectacular scenery. I like to have lunch at Pepi's, which is a German Pub/Restaurant in Vail Village. They typically have a good Oktoberfest Pilsner available on tap. Depending on the weather this year, fall colors may or may not be in bloom.

If you can get to Colorado Springs (my town), there are many things to do in that area:

- Pikes Peak Cog Railway. This is kind of expensive, around $25 per person, but well worth it. A cool train car pulls you up Pikes Peak past some very nice scenery. An attendant shares history and trivia during the trip. You stay at the top for a short while to take in the view from over 14,000 feet up and enjoy a doughnut at the Pikes Peak House.

- Pikes Peak Highway. You can a pay per-vehicle fee and drive the toll road to the top of Pikes Peak. I've never done this, but based on talking with others, the train is a lot more fun. For the driver, it can be downright harrowing; steep curves and steep drops on a gravel road with no guardrails.

* However you get to the top, bring warm clothing. It's typically 30 degrees cooler up there. The wind is always whipping which can make for some serious weather.

- Garden of the Gods. If you do get to Colorado Springs, don't miss this park! Huge sandstone structures jut up from the ground in a beautiful way.

- Just beyond Garden of the Gods is Manitou Springs. It's a small, artsy town in the hills (and also where you board the Pikes Peak Cog Railroad). The Loop Restaurant has great Mexican Food. You can walk around and actually sample the water from multiple springs bubbling from what look like large drinking fountains. I think at least one is naturally carbonated.

- Josh & John's. This is an ice cream parlour in downtown Colorado Springs near Pikes Peak and Tejon streets. They make the ice cream on the premises and it's the best ice cream on the planet, IMO.

- Jack Quinn's Pub, downtown on Tejon. This is a cool Irish pub where a lot of locals hang out. The food is good and it will stick to your ribs.

If you get to Estes Park, try Mary's Lake Lodge just outside town. It's a very old inn made of logs. It has a nice restaurant on the second floor with a patio where you can enjoy great views of mountains and elk. You can also get a chicken fried steak the size of a dinner plate.

Feel free to send any further questions you might have.

John Keeton
07-31-2008, 6:03 PM
Head up past Boulder to a little place called Lyons. It's up in the Rocky Mountain National State Park. It's a beautiful drive . Check out a restaurant called the Black Boar Inn. They have a black pepper encrusted fillet there that is out of this world. Make sure you pick out desert and order it first, they can and do run out. They also have an ancient soda fountain in town where you can still get flavored Phosphates.
Jerome - great suggestion! We have eaten there and I had forgotten. Neat place.

mark page
07-31-2008, 8:08 PM
Thanks all for the info. I just hope my "pre-planned for me" scheduling permits some freedom to roam about. It could have been worse, as I was at first planned to go to Raleigh NC, and when asked on the creek what not to miss, IIRC it was two replies--a botanical garden, and the flight out!!!

Jim Becker
08-01-2008, 5:41 AM
- Pikes Peak Highway. You can a pay per-vehicle fee and drive the toll road to the top of Pikes Peak. I've never done this, but based on talking with others, the train is a lot more fun. For the driver, it can be downright harrowing; steep curves and steep drops on a gravel road with no guardrails.

Na....much scarier for the passenger since THEY are the ones next to the big drop-offs!! When I drove it a few years ago, a coworker who also had to hang out for a day before flying home went with me up the mountain. I pretty much had to peel her off the seat when we got to the top she was so freaky scared! (Never heard from her afterward either, LOL) When I have the family out there for our summer vacation, I'll be taking the girls up on the choo-choo this time. Professor Dr. SWMBO is going to stay in town and sip lattes and shop while we go up the big hill....

Rich Engelhardt
08-01-2008, 6:22 AM
Hello,
I spent two weeks in Denver back in 1993 at an IT "Boot Camp". It was an 8:00am to 8:00pm, 7 day a week schedule with no breaks. Midway through the ordeal, one of the instructors was a no-show and they gave us an afternoon off.
3 of us rented a car and drove to Pikes Peak.

I second (of third of fourth) the idea of renting a car and making the trip up to the top.

One thing - when you get to the top and hop out of the car - remember you're almost 3 miles up in the air.
We parked the car, I shoved a cigarette in my mouth and jumped out -and promptly fell flat on my face. :o


Blackhawk. This is an old mining town where gambling was approved
I'm not sure which little mining town we hit after the Peak, but it absolutely rocked!
The main street through the town was blocked off to traffic, and all the "casinos" were old timey false front stores.
We were really pressed for time and only spent about two hours there, but it was well worth the time.

Jerome Hanby
08-01-2008, 7:48 AM
Bring me back a caramel custard <mmmmmmmmmmmmmm>:p

Jerome - great suggestion! We have eaten there and I had forgotten. Neat place.

Roger Ronas
08-01-2008, 12:19 PM
Hello,
I spent two weeks in Denver back in 1993 at an IT "Boot Camp". It was an 8:00am to 8:00pm, 7 day a week schedule with no breaks. Midway through the ordeal, one of the instructors was a no-show and they gave us an afternoon off.
3 of us rented a car and drove to Pikes Peak.

I second (of third of fourth) the idea of renting a car and making the trip up to the top.

One thing - when you get to the top and hop out of the car - remember you're almost 3 miles up in the air.
We parked the car, I shoved a cigarette in my mouth and jumped out -and promptly fell flat on my face. :o


I'm not sure which little mining town we hit after the Peak, but it absolutely rocked!
The main street through the town was blocked off to traffic, and all the "casinos" were old timey false front stores.
We were really pressed for time and only spent about two hours there, but it was well worth the time.



Hey Rich, was it Cripple Creek on the backside of PP? Nice place, I used to have friends there before gambling and would spend weekends there.

Roger

Pat Germain
08-01-2008, 1:06 PM
When I have the family out there for our summer vacation, I'll be taking the girls up on the choo-choo this time. Professor Dr. SWMBO is going to stay in town and sip lattes and shop while we go up the big hill....

Cool! Let me know if you have any questions or would like any tips for Colorado Springs, Jim.

And Rich, I second that you likely visited Cripple Creek, which is the third old Colorado mining town with gambling. I personally don't like Cripple Creek much. They've pretty much given up on keeping the old town charm and are converting to "little Vegas". Only in Vegas, there are non-casino activities; typically not so in Cripple Creek. All but a few structures are casinos.

K. L. McReynolds
08-01-2008, 9:03 PM
Denver museum of Natural History---plus all the other ones mentioned.

In Colorado Springs, on Old Colorado Boulevard, is a several block long section of shops, art galleries, a candle making(you can watch) store, and decent open air eateries.

Rich Engelhardt
08-02-2008, 1:29 AM
Hello Roger,
Cripple Creek rings a bell.
If that's close to Pikes Peak, that's probably it.
Really super cool little town.

Dewey Torres
08-02-2008, 1:40 AM
Na....much scarier for the passenger since THEY are the ones next to the big drop-offs!! When I drove it a few years ago, a coworker who also had to hang out for a day before flying home went with me up the mountain. I pretty much had to peel her off the seat when we got to the top she was so freaky scared! (Never heard from her afterward either, LOL) When I have the family out there for our summer vacation, I'll be taking the girls up on the choo-choo this time. Professor Dr. SWMBO is going to stay in town and sip lattes and shop while we go up the big hill....

Jim,
Please let me take you to lunch or meet for a handshake an conversation when you come here next. If Pat is a good boy, he can come with us:p

Pat Germain
08-02-2008, 10:18 AM
^^ I'm up for it! You paid for David Marks' lunch, Dewey. I'd be glad to buy for Jim Becker. He's already given me lifetime's worth of friendly advice.

However, I will completely understand if Jim just wants to chill with his family. :)

Jim Becker
08-03-2008, 12:30 PM
Pat and Dewey, it would be good to find time for a good old 'Creeker meet-up when we are in the area. I PM'ed Pat with the dates which for obvious reasons I'm not about to post publicly. We are already hooking up with some friends from the adoption world during our vacation, too...a family we met and spent time with in Moscow before going to court and bringing the girls home.