From Wikitravel

Denver is the largest city in and capital of the state of Colorado, USA. Denver ("The Mile-High City") is at an altitude of 5,280 feet/1,600 meters, where the midwestern plains give way to the Rocky Mountains.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By car 2.3 By train 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 12.1 Wireless Internet 13 Stay safe 13.1 Altitude Sickness 14 Cope 15 Get out

Understand

Denver is the Mile High City, a bustling city of over 579,000 people supporting a metropolitan area of nearly 3 million people. Though the city embraces its cowboy and mining past it also looks forward to the future with a vibrant arts, and performing arts scene, dozens of great outdoor festivals, awesome neighborhoods offering their own unique experiences, and pretty much everything a cosmopolitan city has to offer, not to mention great access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains only 15 miles west of town (Unlike the Denver seen in the television series "Dynasty").

Still, Denver does have its growing pains. Sprawl is becoming a problem, with the metropolitan area sometimes growing faster than the infrastructure can really handle, especially with public transportation. Denver is generally a driving city, and problems with pollution and traffic are thus a part of every day life. In November 2006, the T-REX transportation construction along I-25 will be completed (with a Light-Rail line as well), which should aid in the traffic and transportation for this area of the city. Denver's grid system is fairly efficient as well, though there is often confusion at the intersections of the NE-SW, NW-SE downtown grid, with the N-S, E-W grid of the rest of the city.

The Denver climate is generally mild year-round, with mostly low humidity and spectacular seasons. Visitors are often surprised to see temperatures in the 50s and 60s even in January, although it certainly can get very cold in Denver on occasion during the winter months. Though summer temperatures can get into the 90s and even the 100s, the low humidity keeps the heat bearable, and afternoon thunderstorms often cool off the city by mid-day. No matter what time of year, Denver weather can be very unpredictable. (After all, this is the city where the saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes," was coined.) Its position next to the mountains can quickly bring in storm systems as well as warming "Chinook" winds that quickly raise the temperature 20-30° in the course of a day. Weather in the nearby mountains changes even more rapidly. Don't be surprised by the weather -- pack a variety of clothes at all times of the year.

Late spring/early summer and early autumn are excellent times to visit Denver if you are an outdoor sports enthusiast. The weather is generally pleasant, there is an abundance of outdoor festivals at these times, and the mountains offer great beauty in the form of plenty of wildflowers in early summer and the fantastic color of the changing aspen trees in September.

Of course, for skiing enthusiasts, winter is the best time to visit Denver. There are many ski resorts about 1 1/2-2 hours west of Denver along I-70, though the weekend traffic to these resorts can be very slow, especially in inclement weather. To avoid the drive, you can take the Ski-Train from Union Station to the Denver-owned Winter Park and Mary Jane ski resorts or the RTD bus service to the Eldora Ski Resort west of Boulder (by far the cheapest option). You can find information about the latter at the RTD bus station at the corner of 16th and Market streets in downtown Denver. To avoid the crowds, go skiing during the week or avoid the busy Thanksgiving to New Years season. There are also numerous mountain trails for snowshoers and cross-country skiers that are generally free.

Get in

By plane

• Denver International Airport, DEN. Commonly referred to as DIA. It is located about 20 miles to the east of downtown. It's served by most major domestic carriers.
  • Frontier Airlines. Discount carrier with its hub at DIA and service to and from San Francisco, the Twin Cities, and other US cities.
  • Jet Blue. Makes inexpensive flights to Denver from New York.

The airport is located amidst rolling plains, far from any conceivable local destination. The public skyRide bus goes to downtown Denver for $8 one way, $13 round-trip.

By car

• U.S. Highway 40 connects Denver to Salt Lake City, to the west.
• If you choose to rent a car and are heading for the southern suburbs, Hwy E470 is a toll road that will cost you $5 each way or you could take I-225 for free.

By train

• Amtrak serves Denver at Union Station (DEN). The California Zephyr stops once a day, and continues east to Chicago, and west to California.

Please note, however, that Union Station is currently under renovation, and when it is complete, Union Station will become the central terminal for bus, light rail and Denver commuter rail, as well as Amtrak national railway service.

Get around

Though voters approved a plan to greatly increase the public transportation in Denver in 2004, these plans will not be even close to completion until the beginning of the next decade, so public transportation is fairly underdeveloped, especially outside of the central core of the city. There is a light-rail line (and another one opening along I-25 in November of 2006) that can get you around downtown and connect you with some busses for additional travel. However, renting a car is probably recommended unless you are really only interested in visiting the central part of the city.

That said, you could definitely park your car somewhere (there are many places within reasonable walking distance of downtown that have completely free parking, especially in the Golden Triangle and Commons Park areas) to visit the central part of the city. A car is unnecessary, and the strange diagonal layout of the downtown area can be difficult to understand -- especially for first-time visitors. RTD offers a free shuttle bus along the 16th Street pedestrian mall, which has a length of 1.25 mile and pretty much takes you close to most places in downtown. The streets are also fairly compact and easily walkable. The light rail system and most busses go through downtown and connect with the rest of the city. Information about both can be found at the Market Street and Civic Center bus stations at either end of 16th street.

Car rentals are the most convenient for of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.

Car Rental Companies includes:

• Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266, [1].
• Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212, [2].
• Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700, [3].
• Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665, [4].
• E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171, [5].
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331, [6].
• Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131, [7]].
• Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389, [8].

See

• Denver Zoo,2300 Steele St, +1 303 376-4800, [9]. Open every day of the year, hours vary by season.
• Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, 720 865-5000, [10]. Closed M and holidays.
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, +1 303 322-7009, [11]. Open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Includes exhibitions, planetarium and IMAX.
• Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St, 720 865-3500, [12]. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Avenue, Denver Mint Tours - Registration is required for all tours.

Do

• HauntedDenver.com , [13] The Denver Guide to Halloween - A directory of Denver haunted houses and other Halloween happenings in Denver.

Learn

• University of Denver, 2199 S University Blvd, Phone: 303-871-2000, [14].
• University of Colorado at Denver, 1380 Lawrence St, Phone: 303-556-5970, [15].

Work

Buy

There are a number of shopping areas in Denver. The two most prominent are the 16th Street Mall, and the Cherry Creek Shopping District.

• The 16th Street Mall runs the near entire length of 16th St. in downtown Denver. It is home to a number of chain stores, as well as novelty shops. It is dominated by the Denver Pavilions, an "urban mall," on the southeast end of the street.

• The Cherry Creek Shopping District sits southeast of downtown Denver, and hosts some of the most expensive stores in the metropolitan area. The Cherry Creek Shopping Mall is the epicenter of this district.

Eat

Mexican food is abundant and satisfying and takes a local Denver flavor. Green Chili is the order of the day: a brown, chunky and spicy sauce made from pork and Pueblo or Hatch green chilies that works well on everything from chorizo and eggs to tamales.

Budget

• El Taco de Mexico, 714 Santa Fe Dr. corner of 7th, Phone: 303-623-3926.
• Tommy's Thai, 3410 East Colfax, Phone: 303-377-4244.
• Taqueria Patzcuaro, 2616 West 32nd, Phone: 303-455-4389. This neighborhood favorite boasts the most amazing tacos and Green Chili.

Mid-range

• Jack n Grill, 2524 Federal Blvd., Phone: 303-964-9544. New Mexico style.
• New Saigon, 630 S Federal Blvd., Phone: 303-936-4954, [16].
• Empress Seafood (Dim Sum), 2825 W Alameda Av., Phone: 303-922-2822.

Splurge

• Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St., LoDo, Phone: 303-296-1970, [17].
• Mizuna, 225 E 7th Av., Phone: 303-832-4778, [18].
• Barolo Grill, 3030 E 6th Av., Phone: 303-393-1040.
• Luca d'Italia, 711 Grant St., Phone: 303-832-6600, [19].

Drink

Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state. In fact, Denver mayor John Hickenlooper was a microbrewer before running for office. Notable breweries in Denver and environs include Coors Brewery, Great Divide Brewing Co., Flying Dog, Breckenridge Brewery, Wynkoop Brewing Company, and the Bull & Bush. New Belgium, maker of the very popular Fat Tire, is based to the north in Fort Collins. Rock Bottom, a national chain of brewpubs, is based in Louisville (near Boulder).

• My Brother's Bar (Brother's), 2376 15th St, +1 303 455-9991. The oldest bar in Denver and steeped in the history of the Beat movement. Smoking in the front and fumeless in the back. Massive selection of premium choices and a fantastic single-malt scotch selection. Classical music plays, but don't expect to hear it on a really busy night. Good food, including the JCB: a cheeseburger featuring Jalapeno Cream Cheese. There's no sign on the bar so don't look for one, but it's directly across from Shakespeare's. This is where the locals go and regulars abound.

• LoDo is the name Colorado locals have given the Lower Downtown district of Denver. It's a great place for meals, entertainment, and nightlife, where restored Victorian buildings now house more than 90 sports bars, brew pubs, jazz clubs, and restaurants.

Sleep

• Hotel Monaco, 1717 Champa Street, +1 303 296-1717, [20].
• The Oxford Hotel, [21]. The historic hotel provides a romantic retreat located in the midst of Denver’s lively LoDo district.
• Wyndham Denver Tech Center Hotel, 7675 East Union Avenue, +1 303 770-4200, [22]. In the heart of Denver's most prestigious business center.
• Summerfield Suites Hotel by Wyndham, 9280 East Costilla Avenue, +1 303 706-1945, [23]. Within Denver Tech Center's corporate park and just a short drive from the Rocky Mountains' finest resort cities.
• Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17th Street, 800-321-2599, [24]. An elegant, historic hotel in downtown Denver.
• Drury Inn, 9445 E Dry Creek Road, near the Tech Center. Low cost, solid rooms and free breakfast and dinner of pizza and salad.
• Embassy Suites - Downtown, 1881 Curtis St., [25]. An all-suite, full service hotel.

Budget

• Microtel Inn Denver International Airport, 18600 E. 63rd Avenue, Tel: (303) 371-8300, [26].

Mid-range

• AmeriSuites Denver Airport , 16250 East 40th Avenue, (303) 371-0700, [27].
• AmeriSuites Denver/Park Meadows, 9030 East Westview Road, Tel: (303) 662-8500, [28].
• AmeriSuites Denver/Tech Center, 8300 East Crescent Parkway, Tel: (303) 804-0700, [29].
• Best Western Central Denver, 200 W 48th Avenue, +1 303 296-4000, Fax: +1 303 296-4000, [30].
• Courtyard Denver Airport, 6901 Tower Road, +1 303 371-0300, Fax: +1 303 371-2480, [31].
• Courtyard Denver Cherry Creek, 1475 S. Colorado Blvd, +1 303 757-8797, Fax: +1 303 758-0704, [32].
• Courtyard Denver Downtown, 934 16th Street, +1 303 571-1114, Toll-free: +1 888 249-1810, Fax: +1 303 571-1141, [33].
• Courtyard Denver Stapleton, 7415 E 41st Avenue, +1 303 333-3303, Fax: +1 303 399-7356, [34].
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver Cherry Creek, 1680 South Colorado Blvd, +1 303 691-2223, Toll-free: +1 800 690-9799, Fax: +1 303 691-0062, [35].
• Fairfield Inn Denver Airport, 6851 Tower Road, +1 303 576-9640, Fax: +1 303 574-9638, [36].
• Holiday Inn, 15500 East 40th Ave, +1 303 371-9494, [37].
• Holiday Inn, 4849 Bannock Street, +1 303 292-9500, [38].
• Holiday Inn, 1450 Glenarm Place, +1 303 573-1450, [39].
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 7010 Tower Road, +1 303 373-4100, [40].
• Holiday Inn Select, 455 South Colorado Blvd, +1 303 388-5561, [41].
• Motel 6, 3050 W 49th Avenue, +1 303 455-8888, Fax: +1 303 433-2218, [42].
• Motel 6 Denver - Airport, 12020 E 39th Avenue, +1 303 371-1980, Fax: +1 303 375-7763, [43].

Splurge

• The Burnsley, +1 303 830-1000, [44], Luxurious hotel right in the heart of downtown and offering 80 suite accommodations.
• Denver Marriott City Center, 1701 California Street, +1 303 297-1300, Toll-free: +1 800 228-9290, Fax: +1 303 298-7474, [45].
• Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 South Syracuse, +1 303 779-1100, Fax: +1 303 740-2523, [46].
• JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek, 150 Clayton Lane, +1 303 316-2700, Fax: +1 303 316-4697, [47].
• Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, +1 303 399-7500, Fax: +1 303 321-1966, [48].
• Loews Denver Hotel 4150 East Mississippi Ave. 303-782-9300

Contact

Wireless Internet

• Common Grounds, 3484 W 32nd Ave, +1 303 458-5248 or 1601 17th St, +1 303 296-9248. Both locations in the West Highlads and LoDo neighborhoods respectively, offer wireless Internet as well as a wide selection of coffee and coffeehouse food. The LoDo location also offers pay internet terminals.

• Peaberry Coffee. Multiple locations. Free WiFi, but you have to ask the barrista for username and password. Use your browser to log in.

• Paris on the Platte, 1553 Platte St, +1 303 455-2451. A funky little coffee shop down in LoDo. Good food, good art, great coffee. Free WiFi and even tables where you can plug in for power and even ethernet for those that lack wireless.

Stay safe

Denver is pretty safe for a city its size. Use your common sense when traveling, particularly in downtown and some of the other inner-city neighborhoods. Denver does have a higher than usual population of homeless people, but the city has strict laws about accosting for money. In general, they are not really harming anyone. Downtown has a fairly active 24/7 population, especially in LoDo, so it's generally safe. Still, it may be a good idea to not travel alone, especially at night, and especially in some of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. Unlike some larger cities, there are really no neighborhoods where one should not travel at all. Violent crime is fairly low in Denver for a such a large city. Muggings and theft are not nearly as common in Denver as other cities, but common sense dictates that you should be careful with your money and valuables. Probably the most common theft in Denver is stealing from cars, especially around busy shopping districts. Take extra care with valuables in your vehicle, and consider either keeping them in your posession or keeping them at the hotel. At the least, keep valuables out of sight in your trunk.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude Sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness is an ailment that potentially anyone can have when they visit areas with higher altitudes than they are used to, due to decreases in barometric pressure (though not oxygen content). Denver is called the Mile High City for a reason -- at an altitude of a mile above sea level, one can start to experience some of the effects of altitude sickness, though generally this condition becomes more pronounced at elevations around 8,000 feet (2,500 meters) and above. Some normal changes may occur when people travel to higher altitudes that are not altitude sickness. These include:

• Hyperventilation (breathing faster, and/or deeper than normal)
• Shortness of breath after exertion
• Changes in nightly breathing
• Awaking at night
• Increased urination

The above are generally nothing to worry about, though problems with breathing may be helped by a drug called acetazolamide. If you think you may have problems, get advice from your doctor before traveling to Denver.

Some people get Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which can be serious, at the higher elevations you will experience if you are touring through the Rocky Mountains. A diagnosis of AMS is usually given if a person has a headache accompanied by one of more of the following symptoms:

• Loss of appetite, vomiting and/or nausea
• Fatigue or weakness
• Dizzyness or light-headedness
• Insomnia, difficulty sleeping

Some people liken AMS to a bad hangover or worse. It occurs because your brain tissue swells at higher elevations than it is used to. If you are feeling unwell at high altitudes assume that you are suffering from AMS unless there is another logical explanation that would be accompanied by other symptoms (food poisoning or a viral infection). To avoid AMS, try to get to a lower elevation until your symptoms subside, drink lots of fluid to avoid dehydration, and avoid traveling at high rates of ascent. If the symptoms continue or worsen, travel to a lower altitude. AMS can turn into High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), a potentially fatal condition wherethe brain swells so much that it ceases to function properly. Symptoms of HACE include confusion, inability to think clearly, lethargy, ataxia (walking staggerdly, as if one was drunk), and changes in behavior. The person may not recognize they have HACE, but if you or a person you are with experiences any of these symptoms (especially ataxia), they need to immediately be taken to lower elevations for medical treatment.

Another very serious condition, called High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) causes fluid in the lungs. If someone suffers chest tightness, congestion, gurgling breaths, blue or gray fingers or lips, cough producing frothy or pink liquid, and difficulty breathing even at rest, they should be taken to a lower elevation and recieve medical treatment immediately.

Although not particularly common, keep in mind that these illnesses are possible, and that anyone is susceptible to them, even if you have traveled to high elevations before. For more information about AMS and related illnesses, see [49].

Another medical concern at higher elevations, particularly those in Colorado and Denver, is sunburn and skin cancer. The higher elevation means that there is less atmosphere protecting the skin from harmful solar radiation. This is especially true in Colorado, with both dry air that saps the skin of protective moisture and with the beautifully sunny days we have in the state. Colorado actually has the highest rate of skin cancer in the country, so it's always a good idea to wear a lot of high SPF sun-screen, hats, long sleeve shirts and pants. Don't think that you are protected from the sun in the winter either. The sun's rays can actually be reflected by the snow on the ground, still causing skin damage, so when in Colorado, do as the locals do, and wear sunscreen on any exposed skin surface at any time of the year.

Cope

Get out

• Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Located in Morrison, Colorado on the western edge of Denver, is a gorgeous outdoor concert venue with amazing natural beauty that provides a great view of Denver below.
• Most travellers are likely to use Denver as a base for their forays into the neighboring mountains.
• Boulder is a laid-back university town about 25 minutes northwest of Denver.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!