edit Denver Travel Guide

• Take the Ski Train. Get your snow on, but avoid the 1.5 hour drive (and more during weekend traffic). The ski train leaves from Union Station and goes to the Denver-owned Winter Park and Mary Jane ski resorts. Or take the RTD bus service to the Eldora Ski Resort west of Boulder (by far the cheapest option). You can find information about this route at the RTD bus station at the corner of 16th and Market streets in downtown Denver.
• Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre One of the coolest places in the world to see a concert. The ampitheatre is formed by two giant sandstone rocks that create greate acoustics and an amazing outdoor venue. But if you pay and visit Red Rocks only during a concert, you are seriously cheating yourself. Visit the Rock and Roll Museum at the top of Red Rocks, eat in the restaurant, hike the red sandstone and scrub oak trails for their scenic beauty and wildlife. It is possible to book a room or stay in a campground next to the amphitheat.

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").

Thanks to the Denver Mint Denver Mint Tours, more U.S. money is made in Denver than anywhere else in the world. Fish a coin out of your pocket and look for the "D" on the face side of the coin (usually in the bottom right quadrant). The 'D" means the money was minted in Denver.

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 was completed (with a Light-Rail line as well), which is aiding 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.

By plane

Denver International Airport, (IATA: 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.

The airport is located amidst rolling plains, far from any conceivable local destination. A public skyRide bus goes to downtown Denver for $8 one way, $13 round-trip. The airport is often crowded due to its design of having a single central screening station, followed by a train that passengers must take for access to concourses B and C. It can take up to an hour to get from the ticket line to the gate, so travelers should get to the airport at least 1.5 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Private pilots will prefer Centennial Airport (ICAO: KAPA) south of town. Be aware that on warm days the density altitude may make takeoffs difficult; Centennial has long runways for this reason, and to accommodate a large volume of private jet traffic. Flight visibility in the Denver area is often in excess of 100 miles; weather fronts tend to travel quickly N-S along the front range. For small planes, any direction but West is a good choice.

By car

• U.S. Highway 40 connects Denver to Salt Lake City, to the west.
• I-25 (north and south), I-70 (east and west), and I-76 (northeast) are the major interstates leading in and out of the city. I-225 and I-270 cross the Denver area.
• 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, and connects to the Northwest Parkway (also a toll road) and C-470 to form a 3/4 loop around the Denver Metro Area.
  

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.

By bus

Greyhound, 1055 19th Street. The bus station is located in downtown a few blocks away from Coors Field and other central attractions. It is serviced by Greyhound and Skyride buses. The station also has storage lockers, which can be rented hourly.

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 still fairly underdeveloped, especially outside of the central core of the city.

Light Rail

However, Denver does have light rail that that can get you around downtown, and some sections of south central and southeast Denver. A new light rail line opened in November 2006, that travels parallel to I-25 from its intersection with Broadway to Lincoln Avenue in the southern part of the Denver metro area, with another light rail spur on I-225 connecting the highway to its intersection with Parker road. Another light rail line built in 1998 connects downtown to south Santa Fe Drive to Mineral Avenue. Most light rail lines connect to downtown Denver on to either the central part of downtown or to Union Station. There are also many buses you can take for additional travel throughout the city. Buses are $1.50 a trip with a free transfer to another line within two hours. Light rail tickets must be purchases at stations before entering the trains and cost between $1.50-$3.75 depending on how far you travel.

Walking Downtown

If you do have a car, you could definitely park it near downtown (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 to travel in this area, and the strange diagonal layout of the downtown area can be sometimes 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 takes you close to most places downtown. The streets are also fairly compact and easily walkable. The light rail system and most buses 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.

By Car

A car is the most convenient way to get around most of Denver and deffinately the surrounding areas. Be aware that in general Colorado is less tolerant of speeding than most Western states and if you consistently push the speed limits you stand a good chance of a run-in with the highway patrol. Be warned: fines are stiff.

By Bike

Denver has a truly wonderful network of bicycle routes on city streets plus trails along the Platte River Greenway Cherry Creek and Bear Creek. See the Denver Metro Bike Routes map in the Denver phone book for route suggestions.

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.

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
• Dizziness 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 where the 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 receive 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.

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.

• Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 East Warren Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80210. Information line: 303-871-5172. Built in 1890, this working observatory is a historic landmark and a pride of the University of Denver. Star Parties and other events are open to the public.
• Colorado Historical Society,1300 Broadway, 303 866-3682. Home of the Colorado History Museum and the Stephen H. Hart Library. Exhibits, museums and historical sites throughout Colorado. Check website for details.
• Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, 720 865-5000. Closed M and holidays.
• Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St, 720 865-3500. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Avenue - Registration is required for all tours.
• The Molly Brown House Museum, [13] 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver CO 80203; Tel. 303.832.4092
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, +1 303 322-7009. Open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Includes exhibitions, planetarium and IMAX.
• Denver Zoo,2300 Steele St, +1 303 376-4800, [15]. Open every day of the year, hours vary by season.
• Butterfly Pavilion 6252 Westminster Blvd. Westminster, CO 80020.
• Six Flags Elitch Gardens Elitch Gardens, Six Flags, Amusement Park.
• Washington Park Beautiful and lush Denver park, with lakes, flower gardens, a recreation center, soccor fields, tennis courts.... Over 160 acres of natural beauty, surrounded by turn of the 19th Century homes.
• Waterworld One of the largest family water parks in the U.S. Open last weekend in May through Labor Day.

Festivals & Events

• January National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, Martin Luther King Parade, Indian Market
• February Colorado Garden and Home Show, Denver Restaurant Week, Buffalo Bill's Birthday Party
• March St. Patrick's Day Parade, Denver March Powwow, Starz Global Lens Film Festival
• April Doors Open Denver, Colorado Rockies Home Opener, KBCO Kinetics
• May Cinco de Mayo, Tesoro Indian Market and Powwow, Downtown Denver Festival of the Arts, Colorado Colfax Marathon
• June Colorado Renaissance Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival, Comcast La Piazza dell

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.

• The Tattered Cover, 2526 East Colfax Avenue 303-322-7727 (and other locations), is the area's largest and best-known bookstore, selling both new and used books. The bookstore hosts author readings and other educational programs.

• Boulder is a laid-back university town about 25 minutes northwest of Denver.