Visiting Denver

Location

The Denver region is rich in both the heritage of Native American culture and the history of more recent frontier days. The city of Denver is located on plains just east of the Rocky Mountains. The elevation of the 15th step of the State Capitol is 5,280 feet, giving Denver its nickname of the "Mile High City."

The Denver metropolitan area is home to approximately 1.9 million and is one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in America. Downtown Denver boasts the second largest performing arts complex in the nation, dining for all palettes, and the 16th Street Mall, a walking street with many shops and cafes.

The Lower Downtown District, called LoDo, has one of the nation's best groupings of early commercial buildings, which now house many specialty shops and restaurants. A major league baseball stadium and Elitch Gardens (similar to Copenhagen's Tivoloi Gardens) will open in the spring. The Children's Museum, Denver Art Museum, and United States Mint are just a few of the other attractions concentrated in Downtown Denver.

Climate

Denver's climate is mild and dry. The city enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Springtime in the Rockies brings warm, sunny days with crisp, cool evenings. The city does have an occasional spring snow, but the snow melts immediately. Denver is noted for the spring blooming of its cherry trees, especially along Cherry Creek.

Visitors in the spring should bring warm clothing and sunglasses to prepare for both the high altitude sunshine and occasional spring snows.

Outdoor Fun

Half of Colorado is public land including national, state, and city parks. With more than 205 city and county parks, the Denver park system is considered one of the best in the country. A drive through Rocky Mountain National Park affords views of spectacular mountains, many over 14,000 feet high, and chance encounters with elk, moose, mountain goats, and other wildlife. Everything from hiking, backpacking, climbing, and biking to wildlife viewing, river rafting, fishing, ballooning, spring skiing, and horseback riding can be enjoyed within just a few hours of Denver.

The city of Boulder, only 45 minutes away, is home to the University of Colorado, the historic Pearl Street Mall, and miles of foothills hiking trails. Central City, Black Hawk, and a number of other old nearby mining towns have been newly licensed for limited�stakes gambling. Colorado Springs, home of the United States Air Force Academy and the stunning rock formations that make up the Garden of the Gods, is also only an hour away.

Keith Instone / instone@acm.org / 95-01-05