More to Colorado Than Mountains

Denver is more than the home to the modern-looking Denver International Airport. It is a destination. Some of the reasons why this is true are highlighted in this journal. It is home to great sports teams that happen to be loved by Denverites, making sporting events raucous and exciting. Downtown offers great shopping as well as the malls in the suburban areas. Restaurants and bars pepper the city and offer a variety of both ambience and far. The people are friendly, the clothes are casual, and the pace is relaxed. Check them out and check Denver out. If not, it's your loss!

Quick Tips:

I suggest staying near downtown. You can either stay in downtown proper or across the bridge on Speer Street (going west) at one of the many hotels that claim to be the "gateway to Denver." One advantage of these hotels is the beautiful views they offer of Denver.

Best Way To Get Around:

I suggest staying near downtown. You can either stay in downtown proper or across the bridge on Speer Street (going west) at one of the many hotels that claim to be the "gateway to Denver." One advantage of these hotels is the beautiful views they offer of Denver.

The Wynkoop Brewing Company is my favorite destination in Lodo Denver. Not only does it have a great lineup of beers but it also has a delicious menu. Even when I go there just for drinks I usually end up ordering at least an appetizer because their food is so good. My favorite beer is the "Railyard Ale." It costs $3.50 for a pint, which brings up another reason to check out this brewery – its low prices for drinks. My favorite appetizer is their Artichoke and Parmesan Dip. For $7.50, you get a bowl of warm melted cheese dip and a plate of homemade toasted beer bread for dipping. Delicious. My favorite entrée is the "Mighty Red Gumbo." Reasonably priced at $8.95, it is good option for dinner on a budget.

The brewery is open from 11a.m. to 2a.m. every day. They also have a happy hour Monday through Friday from 3p.m. to 6p.m. Be warned, the happy hour is not that great of a deal. The downstairs area consists of a bar with patio seating (you can also order from the menu) and a restaurant area with booths. Upstairs is a massive bar area with pool tables, shuffleboard, and music.

If you want more details, check out their website: Wynkoop Brewing Company

The Fort is a replica of a fur-trading fort that existed in Colorado in the 1830’s. The restaurant owner was inspired by photos in the Denver library of the historic fort and decided to build a replica in southwest Denver. The result is a the Fort Restaurant.

The entire dining experience is aimed to replicate the ambience of the old fort. The menu serves up steaks, buffalo meat, and stews that were typical along the Santa Fe trail, where the old fort was located. The fare you receive at the restaurant is, of course, of much higher quality and in my opinion is fine dining.

When I was there I had the Hot Sausage Bean Dip ($6.95) as my appetizer. It was very tasty. For dinner, I ordered the Washtunkala Cast Iron Kettle. This was a buffalo tenderloin stew served in an actual cast iron kettle. The meat was simply delicious and very tender. I highly recommend this dish, but don’t hesitate to try something else. Everyone in the group I went with loved their meal.

The whole evening was fun because the restaurant is such a full experience. You feel like you really are in an old fort, the view of the city and the horizon is beautiful, and the food is so good you could forget where you are. If you’re in Denver and you feel like trying out a "Western" experience, take a short drive (20 min) up to The Fort.

For details, check out their website:
The Fort

Mead Street is a great place to go for a drink, for dinner, for dessert, or for all three. If you stay until 10 o'clock, you'll even get live music. If you stay past 11 o'clock, you'll get to order off their late-night happy-hour menu. I usually went for a drink and a plate of their Spicy Potato Wedges or Sweet Potato Fries. Both are amazing and cheap ($3.95 for a basket, large enough for four people). Their food is great as well, and their menu offers steak, burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and vegetarian options, plenty of variety for a diverse group of friends. Save room for dessert and order their brownie, served up hot and preferably with multiple forks, because as delicious as it is, it's also enormous. Enjoy!

If you want more details, check out their website: Mead Street Station

The Cherry Creek Trail begins at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in west downtown Denver. It makes its way through downtown Denver, through neighborhoods, including Lodo, Capital Hill, and Cherry Creek, and eventually ends at the Cherry Creek Dam, about 13 miles down the road.

Access to the trail is simple. Either start at Confluence Park across from the REI store or access the trail from one of the access ramps located about every other block along the trail. The trail is paved and relatively flat.

If you are traveling with kids or other inexperienced riders, be advised that on the weekends the trail can be quite crowded.

I ride this trail often. I like it because it is convenient, relatively flat, and a great way to see the city. I usually start at Confluence Park, ride in towards downtown, and turn around just past the Cherry Creek Mall. This loop is about 10 miles round-trip.

If you're in Denver you don't want to miss out on seeing a Colorado Rockies baseball game. Coors Field, built in 1995, is a beautiful stadium. A fountain shoots up water to celebrate home runs and you can see the Rocky Mountains over the top of the stadium.

I always enjoy going to the games, especially since ticket prices are very affordable. You can purchase a ticket for the "Rock Pile," located across the field from home plate, for only $4. Unfortunately, the stadium is usually less than half-full so most games are not energy-packed nor do many "waves" reach you. Given the team's better record this season, that trend is currently changing. Plus, the die-hard fans are always there making a ruckus.

Plenty of food and beer abound in the corridor that runs around the stadium. (Especially if you like Coors.) If you aren't interested in stadium food, no problem. Coors field is located right in LoDo Denver, the bustling downtown area. A variety of restaurants and bars are within walking distance of the stadium. The Chop House, a high-end steakhouse, is just a few steps out of the stadium exit. The Wynkoop (reviewed in this journal) is also within walking distance and serves up a great brunch as well as lunch and dinner.

Parking is expensive, most private lot owners raise their fixed prices on game-day. They usually charge around $20. Stadium parking, located nearby the stadium is $8 per game, but fills up quickly. As an alternative, you can take the light-rail to Union Station and then just walk the four blocks to the stadium.

I recommend seeing a game to families, singles, students, and anyone who likes baseball. It's very cheap, convenient, and a great way to see Denver.

If you want to see the home-game schedule, check for tickets and pricing, or find out more about the Rockies, check out their website: Colorado Rockies @ Coors Field