Sightseeing OverviewSet on high, rolling plains, Denver takes the visitor by surprise at every turn, with a view of the mountains at the end of 17th Street or the surprisingly continental feel of the pavement cafes in Larimer Square.
Horse-drawn carriages clatter around the solid brick Victorian warehouses of Lower Downtown (‘LoDo'), a sight that is reflected in the mirrored-glass skyscrapers alongside.
Unlike most metropolitan centers, walking is a real pleasure - the
Downtown area is compact and bursting with greenery in its parks, pedestrian areas and tree-lined
boulevards. Hotels, convention facilities, shops, restaurants and nightspots are all within easy walking distance, not to mention top attractions like the
US Mint, modeled on the Palazzo Riccardi in Florence,
Denver Art Museum,
Colorado History Museum and the
Molly Brown House Museum.
Tourist InformationDenver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau 1555 California Street
Tel: (303) 892 1112.
Website:
www.denver.org There is also a visitor information center at Denver International Airport (tel: (303) 317 0629).
PassesThere are no sightseeing passes available.
Key Attractions:Coors FieldDenver is a sports fanatic's heaven. Visitors can choose from American football with the Denver Broncos, ice hockey with the Colorado Avalanche, basketball with the Denver Nuggets and finally, some baseball at Coors Field with the Colorado Rockies. Opened in 1995 and costing a cool US$215 million to build, Coors Field is a great place to experience the weird and wonderful world of American sports. With tickets starting at US$4 and regular games from February to September, you will always be able to get in.
2001 Blake Street
Tel: (303) 762 5437.
Website:
www.colorado.rockies.mlb.commAdmission charge
Larimer SquareLarimer Square is where it all began for Denver. Originally set up in 1858 to accommodate the gold-rush, it has grown to be Denver's cultural hub. A major conservation project in the 1970s has preserved many of the original features, and horse-drawn carriages compete with yellow cabs for street space. It now houses several bars, restaurants and shops, as well as hosting several annual events like the Oktoberfest beer festival and La Piazza dell'Arte, a street art festival.
Larimer Square
Tel: (303) 534 2367.
Website:
www.larimersquare.com
Denver Museum of Nature and Science This museum is a great space in which to explore the earth and the creatures that live on it. The fourth biggest museum of its kind in America, it takes visitors on a journey from the age of the dinosaurs to the modern day. Attractions include an interactive investigation of the human body, a journey into the land of the dinosaurs and a digital planetarium complete with simulated space journeys.
2001 Colorado Boulevard
Tel: (303) 322 7009
or 1 800 925 2250.
Website:
www.dmnh.org Admission charge.
Molly Brown House Museum The spacious, three-story Molly Brown House Museum
is a fascinating place dedicated to the memory of socialite Margaret ‘Molly' Brown. As a member of Victorian Denver's upper-class, Molly Brown was a well-known figure and this mansion's opulence reflects her personality. As an aside, Molly Brown survived the sinking of the
Titanic, and there is a collection of memorabilia from the famous ship in the museum. Come at Christmas to see the house decked out in the colors of Molly's legendary Christmas parties.
1340 Pennsylvania Street (two blocks south of Colfax Avenue)
Tel: (303) 832 4092.
Website:
www.mollybrown.org Admission charge.
Denver Art MuseumMore than 40,000 works of art are housed in these two striking buildings in the heart of Downtown Denver. The main building was designed by I M Pei, architect of the Louvre pyramid, while the huge expanse of the Hamilton building was designed by Daniel Libeskind and opened in October 2006. The museum contains collections of American, European and Asian art, but the undoubted highlight is the fabulous collection of Native American art.
Civic Center Cultural Complex, 13 Avenue
Tel: (720) 865 5000.
Website:
www.denverartmuseum.orgAdmission charge.
Further Distractions:Beer Brewing Every October some 20,000 beer lovers congregate in Denver for the Great American Beer Festival to get merry on Denver's best brews. The most popular is the
Coors Brewery, located in Golden, which is the largest single brewery in the world. Guided 90-minute tours are available, following the entire brewing process, from roasting barley to bottling. There are free beer samples for those over the age of 21 years old.
At the opposite extreme, there are microbreweries and brewpubs. These serve and brew in-house distinctive beer that will not be found elsewhere. The city's best brewpubs are all within walking distance of each other in LoDo. Each brewpub offers tours and tiny samples of their ales, porters, stouts and lagers. The best include
Wynkoop Brewing Company,
Rock Bottom Brewery and
Breckenridge Brewery.
Wynkoop Brewing Company 18th and Wynkoop Streets
Tel: (303) 297 2700.
Website:
www.wynkoop.com Opening hours: 1100-0200.
Free admission.
Rock Bottom Brewery 1001 16th Street
Tel: (303) 534 7616.
Website:
www.rockbottom.com Opening hours: 1100-0200.
Free admission.
Breckenridge Brewery 471 Kalamath Street
Tel: (303) 623 2739.
Website:
www.breckenridgebrewery.com Opening hours: 1100-0200.
Free admission.
Red Rocks Park and AmphitheaterJust 24km (15 miles) west of Denver nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain range lies the imposing Red Rocks Park. Huge sandstone ridges create a natural amphitheater which has housed some magical musical performances. These concerts are a regular thing, especially in the summer when high-profile acts like U2 come to play. For those more interested in the natural beauty of the area, several trail walks are available with the chance to see wildlife like raccoons, deer, skunks and the occasional rattlesnake.
18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison
Tel: (720) 865 2494.
Website:
www.redrocksonline.comFree admission to park, performances cost extra.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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