Table Of Content“Everything you wanted to know . . . and then some.”—Travel + Leisure Denver
Your travel Destination. Your Home. Your Home-to-Be.
Denver
Experience the best this sports town has to offer and catch a live game.
Admire the sweeping Rocky Mountain vistas.
D
Go on a brewery tour and sample some high-quality craft beer. e
n
v
• A personal, practical perspective for travelers and residents alike e
r
• Comprehensive listings of attractions, restaurants, and accommodations
• How to live & thrive in Denver—from recreation to relocation
• Countless details on shopping, arts & entertainment, and children’s activities
Our insider, Eric Lindberg, is a Denver-based travel writer and photographer who
specializes in adventure, culture, nature, and off-the-beaten-path destinations. He
is the author of Colorado Off the Beaten Path (Globe Pequot Press) and was named
the Society of American Travel Writers’ 2011 and 2013 Travel Photographer of the
Year. Visit him at ericlindberg.com.
Front cover image by Eric Lindberg
Back cover image licensed by Shutterstock.com
Insiders’ Guide® is an imprint of
Globe Pequot Press
Guilford, Connecticut
GlobePequot.com
1
0
t
H
E
D
It
IO
N
IG_Denver_mech.indd 1 5/30/13 4:51 PM
denver
tenth edition
eric lindberg
IG_Denver.indd 1 5/8/13 2:40 PM
All the information in this guidebook is subject to change. We recommend that you
call ahead to obtain current information before traveling.
®
Copyright © 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013 Morris Book Publishing, LLC
A previous edition of this book was published by Falcon Publishing, Inc., in 1999.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing
from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press,
Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.
Insiders’ Guide is a registered trademark of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.
Editor: Kevin Sirois
Project Editor: Lauren Brancato
Layout: Joanna Beyer
Interior Design: Sheryl Kober
Maps: XNR Productions, Inc. © Morris Book Publishing, LLC
ISSN 1534-2166
ISBN 978-0-7627-8644-2
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
IG_Denver.indd 2 5/8/13 2:40 PM
Contents
Introduction .....................................................ix
How to Use This Book ............................................1
Area Overview ....................................................2
Getting Here, Getting Around .................................. 11
Accommodations .............................................. 19
Restaurants ..................................................... 38
Nightlife ........................................................ 69
Shopping ....................................................... 82
Tours & Attractions ............................................. 92
Kidstuff ........................................................104
Annual Events & Festivals ......................................114
The Arts .......................................................137
Parks & Recreation .............................................152
The Great Outdoors ...........................................173
Ski Country ....................................................180
Spectator Sports ...............................................194
Day Trips ......................................................200
Appendix: Living Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Relocation .....................................................212
Education .....................................................225
Health Care ....................................................248
Retirement ....................................................260
Media .........................................................266
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
IG_Denver.indd 3 5/8/13 2:40 PM
contents
Directory of Maps
Denver & Surrounding Area ......................................vii
Downtown Denver .............................................viii
iv
IG_Denver.indd 4 5/8/13 2:40 PM
About tHe AutHor
Eric Lindberg is a Denver- based travel writer and photographer specializing in adventure
travel, culture, the outdoors, and offbeat, far- flung destinations. A member of the Society of
American Travel Writers (SATW), he has won numerous photography and writing awards for
work published nationally and abroad. Eric is the 2013 and 2011 Photographer of the Year,
SATW. For more information, visit ericlindberg .com.
IG_Denver.indd 5 5/8/13 2:40 PM
ACknowLeDgMents
Thanks to Rich Grant, Katie Converse, and Deborah Park from Visit Denver for sharing their
expertise and familiarity with the many attractions, activities, and events that make the city
such a wonderful place to live and play. Thanks to Dan Rabin for his expert advice on Denver’s
ever-expanding beer culture.
IG_Denver.indd 6 5/8/13 2:40 PM
BASELINE RD. 7 TToo FFoorrtt CCoolllliinnss 85 To Fort Morgan
SS.. BBOOUULLDDEERR RRDD.. LLaaffaayyeettttee 160TH AVE. Brighton
TToo3 BB6oouullddLeerrouisDDvIILLilLLlOOeNN RR42DD..287120TH ST.120TH ST. LOWELL RD.LOWELL RD.14E4xpTr4He7s 0sAToVllE28.57 NGTON ST.NGTON ST. 128TH A7VE. RRIIVVEERRDDAALLEE AAVVEE..Pl atte 1133116644TT442HHTTB HHAAR AAVVOEEVVM..EEL..ELLYaaBB L7kkaaN6ee.rrrr6B1122a88SPrTTrtaHH aL rtAAkaeVVkEEe..
MMCCBBCCLLAAVV1SSDD2LL..8IINN BBrroooommfifieelldd 128 WASHIWASHI uth 120TH AVE.
o
WWG37..2 o266MCINTYRE ST.MCINTYRE ST.N44lWWDdINDIANA ST.TT 7..AHHe 077 Vn22AAENNVV.DDEEWWWARD 4..WWAA7S..0 2VV11t..AA RD. 00EE88aL00..rr00 an6TTvvTTWWKIPLING ST.KIPLING ST.RRHHkHHaad iieddAAAAhhlddeWWCCVVaaVVeegg1OOEEyEE66..aa2 ee....LL..33TTDD1ttWWAAVVFFDDSSWW88OORRHHTTHHLL BB1AATT 2AAHHXX1WWVV AAAAEE.. VVVV..88EEEE88SHERIDAN BLVD.SHERIDAN BLVD.....TT9HH5WWWW AA7..eeVV0 11EEssFEDERAL BLVD.FEDERAL BLVD.002..2tt4488mmTT7799HH322ii nn6PECOS ST.NNAABBMMssDDVVRRIIttEE GGiiAAeennHH..TTVVtt2rrOOEE5NN..SCSCDDBBttaaEELLMMMaappTTNN..VVee tt...88DD4 iiee..hhLLLttoo884nnoo...oo2TT rrKKKll6HHttvvrrIII5hhNNNn n7888 eeAA6GGGTTTggttEEVVHHHoo ..llrrBBB eeEE 11nn2AAALLL00..nn7VVVVVV440CCnnDDDTTEEEHH......ooQUEBEC ST. AAmmMMMOOONNNAAACCCOOO SSSTTT...CCVVmmiiEE2tt..yySee4rr0cceeARW2ro83si.TS AIRROO5EEPPc0ledkEEnly.. aiCC75f OO2l6Me NTLLN 1oHDRFF9066aAA 6 u4AeTTAtTXXTnHHVVfiH Hou tEEAAAA Aa44..gnAVVVV88ViVaeEEEEnTTEE....lHH.. AAVVTOWER RD.TOWER RD.EE..30E7xEp0ITTr–nePoo4stE s7eLLPICADILLY RD.ADTÑ0oiirmmielAnlrn pooaBvonntLierVortDn.al
To Idaho AALLAAMMEEDDAA AAVVEE.. 111SSSTTTAAAVVVEEE... 666TTTHHH AAVVVEEE...AALLAAMMEEDDAA AAVVEE.. AAuurroorraa ExEpr–e4ss7T0oll
BBeeEaaxCLLSprrr–paae4 srLLCCs72kkiTn06aaorreeglkkWWleeseeee.. BBwwBBkkOOEEooLLW8LL3ooLLEE9ddLPIEENIKST.GV1SSIIEE KKAAWCCEEJJVOOEE2NN MMEAA8WAA CC..5IIVVLLSSEEAA1EE SSLLMMM2RR..IILLSS1IIYY NNSSAALaLLEEIIHH VPPaRRr EAARRPPEEsDDkMMII.DD.n 9..teAA..PP7go5VDD5lnLLEEEe.NNiiwtt ttAA8ollVV8eeoLLEEttd..ooiittnntt8ll5eeYYAAWWDDAAOORRBBttoonnCC8OOAAQQ8UURRS. UNIVERSITY BLVD.S. UNIVERSITY BLVD.UU1NNBBAAII7NNTTEEPP7CCYYLLAALLCC YYGVGVHHLLCOLORADO BLVD.COLORADO BLVD.EEE IIIIRR2xOOAAeeVLLNNpEECCVVLLEEnnrIEEeEEEAAhh EEs ttRRWRRNNs..GGeeeeTDDDDWWo8EE nnrrl..A2..l3rrOOnn5VyyOOLL iiEECCEEaa..rrDDEEeellTTeeSS..TTSS EETTIIMMEESSkkOOYYDD AALLEE MMDDRRRRII.. eeSSCCCCSSsshhrrII..TTSS AANNAAVVSSAAHHeeeeeeSSrreeIIIIrrLLPP8vvrrkkIIPP8FFooyyII FF 2CCAAii rr2AAVVSShh5VVEEtteePEE..AaaRrr..KttrrEJCHAMBERS RD.CHAMBERS RD.ReeOyy RR DDPPACC. NA RaarrD.BUCKLEY RD.BUCKLEY RD.ReerrAkkeePkkHHATOWER RD.TOWER RD.AAHMMOQQPPEUUDD IIRNNEEEDxNNCCEp.r–YY eAA4s AAs7VVT0VVEEolEE..l.. .DR BULC NUG
C–470
121 LLIINNCCOOLLNN AAVVEE..
LONE TREE
Chatfield
Reservoir
Chatfield 25
State Park 83
85 87
To Colorado Springs
N 0 3 6 km. Denver & Surrounding Area
0 3 6 mi.
IG_Denver.indd 7 5/8/13 2:40 PM
287 r
EXITEXIT212C212C reviR25 e .TtS tN.T.aTESSV lE TPATETR SAhS LEAtP 0LBu0To4.TT1S SCoorsI .LTTCommonsCommonsUSField 2NT 0TE0ParkParkTSK0EHR3 H0A1SC 0 MT0..ConfluenceConfluenceT2 00S1 10 .1RT 7 ParkParkSE.1T M ES.0 TIC0 R0ESN0A O0UnionUnionP.6ETL1HO1RS 0 .A WO T.00AStationStationTPSK90TASA NS T5 L R..IAY1ERTT AEW WSRI.CTZ0 UAESA 0CHW0 P8WE0CM K 7.TAATCC I HSLL.hh1T BCET9SeeUT rrAOHrrdens densINTSyyS1RTaborTaborT .C8OWaterWaterTCCFHHCenterCenterrrI LOSAeeTP1.Cee P7LarimerLarimerPepsiTkkE HR 1SquareSquareSCenter6CTI.T RH .S T. M1A5LTL .0YHLLW 0IISKAA6PT . RR1.A T 4ITTSRTHH ANHGG ROSIIULLTT. A LDDE TTWRR DenverDenver .Y TASPerformingPerformingW DenverDenverNArts CenterArts CenterDLPavilionsPavilionsOAUniversity of ColoradoCOSat DenverNRP00I0B0E1LAuraria Campus453E0 T..RLL0H ColoradoColoradoPP 3 S TM.T L.N RPConventionConvention O A TM NR ComplexComplexEEUBRLOGLTC V 40D. CapitolCapitolUS MintUS MintCivic CenterCivic CenterW. 14TH AVE.ParkPark Downtown Denve
.TS RETAW Elitch GarElitch GarTheme and Theme and ParkPark EXITEXIT210A210A
W. 29TH AVE. D. EXITEXIT212AB212AB DowntownDowntownAquariumAquarium EXIT211 Children'sChildren'sLIAMuseumMuseum R THGIL DEXITTR210B .TS TNAYRB 25 m. 0.5 mi.
SPEER BLV .TS YALC W. 25TH AVE. W. 23RD AVE. W. 20TH AVE. W. 17TH AVE. ports AuthorityField at Mile High 40287 0.5 k2.5 2.5
S
287
0 0
N
IG_Denver.indd 8 5/8/13 2:40 PM
IntroDuCtIon
Welcome to the Mile High City. Whether you’re relocating or just visiting, I’m sure you’ll love
it here. With sweeping Rocky Mountain vistas and casual hospitality, Denver is a place rich in
history, beauty, and excitement. Insiders’ Guide to Denver is designed to help you make the
most of your time here.
For starters, chances are good that if you’re already in Denver reading this book, the sky
will be a startling shade of blue for at least part of the day. The sun shines 300 days a year
here, and sunglasses are highly recommended. In fact, bad weather is perhaps the biggest
misconception about Denver. Put simply, snowcapped peaks in the Rockies don’t mean snow-
covered streets in Denver. We do get the occasional blizzard, but most snows melt within a
day or two, leaving fresh, clean air and sunny weather in their wake.
Beyond the great climate, Denver is a vibrant, growing city. It’s no surprise that Democrats
chose it as the site of their 2008 National Convention; nor did all that national attention hurt
Denver’s reputation as a great place to stage a mammoth party. Regardless of why you’re visit-
ing, one of the first landmarks many visitors see is Denver International Airport (DIA), Denver’s
gateway to the rest of the world. In addition to its spectacular tented terminal building, DIA
is known for its beautiful stonework, whimsical artwork, great views of both mountains and
open plains, and a location that provides easy access to Colorado’s interstate system.
Even die- hard Denver lovers find new things to treasure about our city. For instance, our
city parks are vast expanses of green space with walking trails and flower beds. Denver has
more than 850 miles of paved off-r oad bike trails. If what you really want is great shopping,
you’re in luck there too. The Cherry Creek Shopping Center stands as the area’s top attraction,
surpassing even the Mint, Coors Brewery, and the Denver museums in tourist draw, but it
shares the retail arena with other regional shopping centers strewn throughout the Metro
Denver area.
Denver is also a sports town, with modern venues for all its professional teams. Coors Field
in Lower Downtown houses the Colorado Rockies baseball team. The glass and steel Pepsi
Center, also in Lower Downtown, is shared by the Colorado Avalanche hockey team and Den-
ver’s basketball team, the Nuggets. The Denver Broncos play nearby at Sports Authority Field
at Mile High, and the stadium is also the venue for the Denver Outlaws professional lacrosse
team. The Colorado Rapids, a professional soccer team, plays its games at the new Dick’s
Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. A new facility called the Broomfield Events Center
was built on the northwestern edge of Metro Denver for two minor league clubs—the Rocky
Mountain Rage hockey team and the Colorado 14ers basketball team.
There are so many things to do in or near downtown these days that boredom is out of
the question. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park is located in the once- abandoned Platte
Valley area just west of downtown. Brewpubs are a way of life—in or out of baseball season.
ix
IG_Denver.indd 9 5/8/13 2:40 PM
