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City Overview

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Locked in the crook of the Rocky Mountains' bulky arm, and nestled up to the western fringe of the Great Plains, Denver is a perfect blend of big city living and country charm. As Middle America's biggest city, Denver offers all the perks of a metropolis without the hassle of actually having to live there.

It has an impressive commitment to culture and the arts, having doubled the size of the Denver Art Museum, whilst the redevelopment of the Lower Downtown (LoDo) area continues, with galleries, restaurants, bars and impromptu theatres springing up in the old warehouses. With big league sports teams in ice hockey, baseball, American football, basketball and football, Denver also claims to be 'Sports Town USA'.

As well as the many parks that line Denver's suburbs, the city also has two beautiful stretches of paved bike paths along Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, and numerous hiking and climbing opportunities in the Rockies. Unsurprisingly, these facilities plus the abundance of sunshine has led Denver to be dubbed the thinnest city in America.

However, it's not all early mornings and fresh air. Denver is home to some of the finest micro-breweries in America, and hosts the annual Great American Beer Festival, where visitors get merrily drunk on 1,300 varieties of beer. For more refined tastes, head to the upmarket Larimer Square, the historical and geographical centre of Denver which now doubles as a hotspot for restaurants, bars and clubs.

Getting Around

Airport

Denver International Airport (DEN)
Tel: (303) 342 2000.
Website: www.flydenver.com
Denver International Airport is 38km (24 miles) northeast of downtown Denver.

Approximate flight times to Denver: From London is 9 hours 40 minutes; from New York is 4 hours 10 minutes; from Los Angeles is 2 hours 15 minutes; from Toronto is 4 hours 45 minutes and from Sydney is 19 hours 55 minutes.

Airport facilities: Facilities include a 24-hour bureau de change, ATMs, over 40 restaurants, snack bars and grills and an extensive selection of over 60 shops. Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless and Thrifty all provide car hire services. The Qwest Business Centre (tel: (303) 317 0988) islocated on the Mezzanine level of concourse B and offers a full range of facilities. It is open 24 hours, with an attendant on duty from Sunday to Friday 0800-1800.

Transport to the city: The Ground Transportation Information Counter at the airport (tel: (303) 342 4059) provides information on the wide range of transport options available from the airport. RTD's Skyride buses (tel: (303) 299 6000; website: www.rtd-denver.com) run from the airport to Downtown and many other stops in the Metro Denver area. The service operates on an hourly basis, from about 0400-2400 (journey time - 40 minutes). A number of shuttle buses also operate from the airport to Downtown, including Supershuttle Denver (tel: (303) 370 1300 or 1 800 525 3177). Shuttles depart every 15-30 minutes, daily 0400-2400. There is a separate telephone number for Boulder Supershuttle (tel: (303) 227 0000).

Many of the major hotels operate free shuttle buses and taxis can be hailed outside the baggage claim area. The flat-rate taxi fare to Downtown is just over US$45. Limousines can be pre-booked from a number of companies.

Trains

Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245/USA RAIL; website: www.amtrak.com) run trains from Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street, which is at the northwest end of 17th Street. Facilities include a waiting room, payphones, parking, restaurant and snack bar. Recorded information about train arrivals and departures is available from the Denver Amtrak ticket office (tel: (303) 534 2812).

Rail services: Amtrak's main east-west route runs through Denver. The California Zephyr runs daily between San Francisco (journey time - 10 hours 40 minutes) and Chicago (journey time - 18 hours). The Ski Train (tel: (303) 296 4754; website: www.skitrain.com) makes a stunning scenic journey from Union Station through the Rocky Mountains to Winter Park Resort (journey time - 2 hours). It's open during the Christmas holiday, on Saturdays and Sundays in January, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in February and Thursdays through Sundays in March, and every Saturday from early July to late August.

By Road

America has an excellent system of Interstate Highways (I-1) and State Highways (Hwy-1), as well as smaller country roads with the letter of the state preceding the road number (eg C-1 in Colorado). For British nationals a full UK driving licence is acceptable. Other foreign drivers will require an International Driving Permit and a full licence from their own country. The legal driving age is 16 years. Liability insurance is required for all drivers in Denver.

Traffic drives on the right. The speed limit in the state of Colorado is 105-120kph (65-75mph) on designated rural Interstates and Highways, 88kph (55mph) on urban Interstates and Highways, 48kph (30mph) in all residential districts and 40kph (25mph) in any business district. The wearing of seat belts by drivers and front seat passengers is compulsory. In Colorado, the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. It is also an offence to carry alcohol in a car unless it is unopened and in the boot.

Emergency breakdown services
AAA (tel: 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP).

Routes to the city
Denver is at the intersection of the I-70, running east-west from Pittsburgh to St George, and the I-25, running north-south from Billings to El Paso. Las Vegas and Los Angeles are via the I-70 and I-15, while Chicago is via the I-76 and I-80. Further north, you can get to Toronto on the I-76, I-80 and I-94.

Coach services
Denver is a major hub for intercity buses. Some 60 or so coaches arrive and depart on a daily basis from the Greyhound Bus Terminal, 19th Street and Curtis Street (tel: (303) 293 6555), situated just north of the Capitol building. Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; website: www.greyhound.com) provides direct services to Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, St Louis and Chicago, among other cities.

Local Transport

Public Transport

Denver has an excellent public transport system run by the Regional Transport District (RTD) (tel: (303) 299 6000; website: www.rtd-denver.com). RTD has 180 bus routes, a light rail line and a number of special services, including the Skyride airport buses.

The light rail runs every 10 minutes between 0400-0200, and has 24 stops. The main line is between 1-25 Streets and Broadway to 30th Street and Downing Street, including six stops situated in Downtown. An extension runs south to Mineral Avenue and Santa Fe in the suburb of Littleton.

The local bus service is comprehensive, covering all areas in Metro Denver and Greater Denver. Times vary on the different routes but generally operate between 0500 and 2400. Some buses stop running between 1800 and 1900, although others on very busy streets run until after midnight.

You can buy tickets and passes at RTD sales outlets, which include the Market Street Station, Civic Center Station, Denver International Airport west terminal and selected metro-area King Soopers and Safeway stores.

The free Mall Ride shuttle runs between Broadway and Union Station, daily 0514-0135, and stops at every junction. The Skyride airport service has 30 stops, including Denver International Airport (see Getting There By Air).

Taxis

Taxis can be hailed on the street but they rarely stop. Visitors can instead find them at taxi ranks outside the major hotels and the bus and train stations, or telephone for one in advance. There are two reputable cab companies in Denver - Yellow Cab (tel: (303) 777 7777) and Metro Taxi (tel: (303) 321 5400). Tipping is customary, usually 15% of the fare.

Driving in the City

A car is not necessary for visits limited to Downtown Denver, as everything is within walking distance or accessible by public transport. Getting around by car is easy outside of the peak rush hour periods (0700-0900 and 1600-1800), when there is much congestion on major roads such as the I-25, I-70 and US36 to Boulder.

Parking is expensive in Downtown and although most of the major hotels have parking facilities for their guests, there is still a charge. Most blocks in Downtown either have parking garages or on-street, metered parking.

Car Hire

All major car hire companies have offices in the city, including Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1212; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: 1 800 527 0700; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 3665; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: 1 800 261 7331; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: 1 800 654 3001; website: www.hertz.com), National (tel: 1 800 227 3876; website: www.nationalcar.com) and Thrifty (tel: 1 800 847 4389; website: www.thrifty.com).

The minimum age for hiring a car is 21 years, although those under 25 will have to pay a higher premium. For British nationals, a full UK driving licence will suffice. Other foreign drivers will require an International Driving Permit and a full licence from their own country. A major credit card is also required to cover the deposit and insurance excess.

Bicycle Hire

Cherry Creek Bike Rack (tel: (303) 388 1630; website: www.cherrycreekbikerack.com) hires out bicycles for up to four hours, overnight, or by the week. Child bikes and trail-a-bikes are also available.

General Information

Location

Colorado, United States of America.

Time zone

GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).

Electricity

110-120 volts AC, 60Hz; flat two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures

- 6°C (43°F).

Average July temperatures

31°C (88F).

Annual rainfall

1,531mm (60.3 inches).

Things to do

Sightseeing Overview

Set 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 centres, 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, modelled on the Palazzo Riccardi in Florence, Denver Art Museum, Colorado History Museum and the Molly Brown House Museum.

Tourist Information

Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
1555 California Street
Tel: (303) 892 1112.
Website: www.denver.org

There is also a visitor information centre at Denver International Airport (tel: (303) 317 0629).

Passes

There are no sightseeing passes available.

Attractions

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 Amphitheatre
Just 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 amphitheatre 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.com
Free admission to park, performances cost extra.

Restaurants

Expensive

Fruition Restaurant
This relaxed restaurant serves classic American dishes to an adoring public. Set in an intimate house-style venue, customers munch through dishes like certified stockyard beef culotte and organic duck breast. The restaurant has an impeccable wine list and the maitre-d is more than happy to talk you through it. Beware though, it gets booked up fast so make sure you reserve a table at weekends. 

1313 East 6th Avenue
Tel: (303) 831 1962.
Website: www.fruitionrestaurant.com 

Restaurant Kevin Taylor
The best restaurant in Denver? It is definitely up there among the very best. Kevin Taylor is a nationally acclaimed chef and a local living legend both as chef and restaurateur. This restaurant carrying his name is situated in the luxurious Hotel Teatro, and he has created contemporary cuisine that emphasises flavour and treads a fine line between fusion and French, the American southwest and the Asian Rim.

1106 14th Street
Tel: (303) 820 2600.
Website: www.restaurantkevintaylor.com

Moderate

Sambuca
A modern supper club, Sambuca is a popular, sensual and stylish establishment with a great bar and restaurant to match. The food, whether steak, seafood or pasta, is a flavoursome combination of American and Mediterranean influences. The venue is cool yet cosy, and is usually pretty crowded. Live jazz and blues music (often by artists of national fame) creates a great atmosphere every night of the week.

1320 15th Street
Tel: (303) 629 5299.
Website: www.sambucarestaurant.com

Sushi Den
This restaurant has been churning out top quality sushi for over twenty years. A firm favourite with locals, the restaurant serves up classic sushi and sashimi in a stylish surrounding. The owners import all their fish fresh from local Japanese markets, and the place is always packed. A must try is the deep fried green tea ice cream. Unusual but heavenly. 

1487 Pearl Street
Tel: (303) 777 0826.
Website: www.sushiden.net

Cheap

Cherry Cricket
A dive bar in the upmarket Cherry Creek district may not sound like the most promising eating experience, but the burgers in this place are divine. The bar offers over 70 types of beer, and the menu allows for pretty much any variety of burger with infinite toppings. A regular winner of ‘best bar food' awards. 

2641 East Second Avenue
Tel: (303) 322 4702.
Website: www.cherrycricket.com

Croc's Mexican Bar & Grill
Located in the heart of LoDo's historical district and known for excellent service, tasty authentic Mexican food and its great business lunches, Croc's is a lively place with entertaining staff and a fun atmosphere. The menu includes authentic homemade chilli, taco dishes, burgers and delicious burritos and enchiladas. A variety of margaritas are also on offer.

1630 Market Street
Tel: (303) 436 1144.
Website: www.crocsmexicangrill.com

Night Life

Denver's nightlife is fresh and inventive, with loads of new bars and clubs opening in converted warehouses in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) area. Top spots include Denver institutions the Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th Street and Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake Street, which is a no frills bar full of sublime beers. For more refined tastes, the expensive cocktail menus of Larimer Square will appeal to budding James Bond's. Try Cru, 1442 Larimer Square, for tasty premium wines or Mynt, 1428 Market Street for refreshing mojitos.

Live music tends to focus on the folk and country music scene, although Herman's Hideaway, 1578 South Broadway, plays anything from reggae to heavy metal. Fans of Jack Kerouac's ‘On The Road' will want to flock to El Chapultepec, 1962 Market Street, which is as crowded and as smoky as ever and still plays great jazz. 

The top nightclub in Denver, and possibly America, is The Church, 1160 Lincoln Street. A converted church complete with stained glass windows, 70,000 watt sound system and an adoring crowd, it regularly hosts the world's top DJs. The focus is on dance music, with top acts like DJ Tiesto headlining the weekend parties.

Other clubs include Vinyl, 1082 Broadway, a popular and diverse club with a stunning rooftop patio, and La Rumba, Acoma Street, a stylish salsa club with an upmarket clientele.

The Ogden Theatre, 935 East Colfax Avenue (tel: (303) 831 9448), is an old vaudeville theatre and movie house that is now a venue for local and national bands. The Bluebird Theater, 3317 East Colfax Avenue (tel: (303) 322 2308), and the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson at Colfax Avenue, are other historic venues.

Shopping

Denver is the largest shopping city in a 966km- (600-mile) radius. Downtown shopping centres are based around the 16th Street Mall, a 1.6km- (1-mile) long pedestrian promenade, lined with pavement cafes. Free buses pass along the promenade every 90 seconds.

The Tabor Center, situated at the north end of the mall, has 80 shops and restaurants in a three-storey glass building. Nearby, Denver Pavilions has 50 shops and restaurants, including Victoria's Secrets, Nike Town, Gap, Best of Denver, Virgin Records and Barnes & Noble. Another popular mall is the Cherry Creek, East First Avenue. By contrast, the beautiful Victorian buildings of Larimer Square, in Denver's oldest street, house art galleries, exquisite antique jewellery stores, clothing stores, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs.

Book lovers should head for the Tattered Cover Bookstore, the largest independent bookstore in America, in the historic Lowenstein Theater on Colfax Avenue and Elizabeth across from East High School.

Shopping hours
Shopping hours vary but stores are generally open 0900-1700/1800, with shopping malls open until 2100 or 2200. Downtown stores may close on Sunday but malls are open daily.

Tax information
Sales tax is 7.5% but cannot be refunded to international visitors.

Events

National Western Stock Show and Rodeo
January
Denver Coliseum
Performances, parades, concerts and the opportunity to buy cowboy gear.
Website: www.nationalwestern.com

St Patrick's Day
March
Downtown
Parade.
Website: www.denverstpatricksdayparade.org

 
March Pow Wow
March
Denver Coliseum
The country's largest Native American gathering.
Website: www.denvermarchpowwow.org

Cinco de Mayo
May
Downtown
A celebration of Hispanic food and culture.
Annual Downtown Denver Festival of the Arts
May
The Fort
Features many of Colorado's finest visual artists.
Website: www.artfestival.com

Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Fourth of July weekend
Cherry Creek North
Outdoor art, live bands and an art zone featuring hands on opportunities.

Festival of Mountain and Plain ... A Taste of Colorado
Labor Day weekend
Civic Center Park
Food, carnival rides and live music.
Website: www.atasteofcolorado.com

Oktoberfest
September/October
Larimer Square
German beer festival.
Website: www.oktoberfestdenver.com

Great American Beer Festival
September/October
Denver Convention Center
Take the chance to sample up to 1,500 of the country's best beers.
Website: www.beertown.org
Starz Denver International Film Festival
November
Various venues
Movie stars throng the sidewalks at this annual event for the screening of new films.
Website: www.denverfilm.org

Parade of Lights
December
Downtown
Big parade of floats and bands to mark the start of the holiday season.
Website: www.denverparadeoflights.com

History & Culture

The rich cultural diversity of Denver's population means that black, Hispanic and Native American cultures have a vibrant presence in Denver. Denver citizens are highly supportive of the arts, contributing more public funding to the arts per capita than any other US city.

Proponents of the performing arts can get their cultural fill at the Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC), 14th Street and Curtis Street (tel: (303) 893 4100; website: www.denvercenter.org), which has regular concerts, ballet and Broadway performances. The New Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive, (tel: (303) 309 3773; website: www.denvercivic.com), is a recently renovated theatre which provides the local arts community with a base for rehearsing and staging.

To catch the latest Hollywood blockbuster head to the Denver Pavilions, 16th Street Mall, (tel: (303) 260 6000; website: www.denverpavilions.com). For something a little different, try the Mayan Theatre, 110 Broadway, a restored art deco Mayan revival style cinema. 

The Friday editions of the Denver Post (website: www.denverpost.com) and Rocky MountainNews (website: www.rockymountainnews.com) contain entertainment pages. The free weekly tabloid Westword (website: www.westword.com) also has extensive listings.

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