| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
It's no accident that Denver is called "the Mile High City": When you climb up to the State Capitol, you're precisely 5,280 feet above sea level when you reach the 13th step. Denver's location at this altitude was purely coincidental; Denver is one of the few cities not built on an ocean, a lake, a navigable river, or even (at the time) an existing road or railroad. In the summer of 1858, eager prospectors discovered a few flecks of gold where Cherry Creek empties into the shallow South Platte River, and a tent camp quickly sprang up on the site. (The first permanent structure was a saloon.) When militia Gen. William H. Larimer arrived in 1859, he claim-jumped the land on the east side of the Platte, laid out a city, and, hoping to gain political favors, named it after James Denver, governor of the Kansas Territory, which included this area. Larimer was not aware that Denver had recently resigned. Larimer's was one of several settlements on the South Platte. Three others also sought recognition, but Larimer had a solution. For the price of a barrel of whisky, he bought out the other would-be town fathers, and the name "Denver" caught on. Although the gold found in Denver was but a teaser for much larger strikes in the nearby mountains, the community grew as a shipping and trade center, in part because it had a milder climate than the mining towns it served. A devastating fire in 1863, a deadly flash flood in 1864, and American Indian hostilities in the late 186
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Denver's history as a boom and bust town began with the desire for a simple precious metal: gold. In 1858, a group of prospectors were exploring the Kansas Territory, which then encompassed what is now Colorado, and discovered piles of the almighty metal at the confluence of the Platte River and Cherry Creek. One of the prospectors, William Larimer, established Denver City in an area then populated by the Arapaho tribe, who camped along the banks of Cherry Creek while hunting and gathering. Over the next two years, a new gold fever penetrated the pulse of the eastern states. One-hundred-thousand hopefuls pioneered across the harsh landscape to the territory, seeking instant prosperity. The influx uprooted the Native Americans and forced them to move on, while the settler population soared, causing the federal government to create the Colorado Territory. So began Denver's first boom, inspiring its mythical image as a Wild West town ruled by material obsession. In 1859, at the peak of the rush, Denver's first notable figure strolled into town with a vision well beyond the price of gold. William N. Byers moved to Denver from Ohio, via Omaha, and founded the Rocky Mountain News . Through the newspaper, he tried to calm the hysteria and instability associated with the gold rush, by promoting settlement on the high desert frontier. Byers proceeded to create an illusion of Denver, proclaiming the city to be the "Queen City of the Plains" and the new steamboat capitol of
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| When To Go (Source: Fodors) | Top | Summer is a busy time. Hotels in tourist destinations book up early, especially in July and August. Denver summertime highs above 100°F are not uncommon, and the winters are still cold, with highs in the 20s and 30s at the height of winter. The entire state sees snowy winters, even on the plains—where some of the most powerful blizzards hit. Colorado has a reputation for extreme weather, to be sure, but that cuts two ways: no condition ever lasts for long. If you don't mind capricious weather, spring and fall are opportune seasons to visit. Rates drop and crowds are nonexistent. Spring's pleasures are somewhat limited, since snow usually blocks the high country—and mountain-pass roads—well into June. But spring is a good time for fishing, rafting on rivers swollen with snowmelt, birding, and wildlife-viewing. In fall, aspens splash the mountainsides with gold, and wildlife come down to lower elevations. The fish are spawning, and the angling is excellent. Summer in the Rocky Mountains begins in late June or early July. Days are warm, with highs often in the 80s; nighttime temperatures fall to the 40s and 50s. Afternoon thunderstorms are common over the higher peaks. Fall begins in September, often with a week of unsettled weather around mid-month, followed by four to six gorgeous weeks of Indian summer—frosty nights and warm days. Winter creeps in during November, and deep snows arrive by December. Temperatures usually hover near freezing by day, thanks to the surprisingl
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There Air Denver International Airport ( DIA ) +1 303 342 2000 http://www.flydenver.com DIA is located 25 miles from downtown and services the following airlines: Air Canada ( +1 888 247 2262 / http://www.aircanada.com ) American Airlines ( +1 800 433 7300 / http://www.aa.com ) British Airways ( +1 800 403 0882 / http://www.britishairways.com ) Continental ( +1 800 523 3273 / http://www.continental.com ) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212 / http://www.delta.com ) Frontier ( +1 800 432 1359 / http://www.frontierairlines.com ) jetBlue ( +1 800 538 2583 / http://www.jetblue.com ) Lufthansa ( +1 800 645 3880 / http://cms.lufthansa.com ) Northwest/KLM ( +1 800 225 2525 / http://www.nwa.com ) Southwest Airlines ( +1 800 435 9792/ http://www.southwest.com ) United Airlines ( +1 800 864 8331 / http://www.ual.com ) US Airways ( +1 800 428 4322 / http://www.usairways.com ) Airport Parking Service: PCA Parking ( Park 'N Fly ) ( +1 800 763 6895 / http://www.pnfnetwork.com ) From the Airport Shuttle: SuperShuttle ( +1 800 525 3177 / +1 303 370 1300/ http://www.supershuttledenver.com ) BlueSky ( +1 303 300 2626 / http://www.blueskyshuttle.net ) Bus: The Regional Transportation District ( RTD ) ( +1 800 366-7433 / +1 303 299 6000; http://www.rtd-denver.com ) provides public transportation in the form of the "luxury" SkyRide. Train Amtrak ( +1 800 87
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Denverites love the outdoors. The sun shines over 300 days a year, and the dry climate and unpredictable weather patterns allow for intense mountain biking one day and perfect powder skiing the next. A good portion of the city heads to the mountains come the weekend, leaving the rest of the populace to enjoy Denver's immense assortment of cultural delights. Even though much of the city's entertainment involves sweat, residents easily maneuver from an exhilarating day on the slopes to an afternoon hockey game or a night at the symphony. Most places, whether restaurants, nightclubs or theaters, are brimming with activity every night of the week. Sports When it comes right down to it, Denver is widely regarded as a sports and recreational haven. The Broncos, Rockies, Avalanche and Nuggets draw all sorts of admirers throughout the region, and tourists come from all over to see baseball at Coors Field . Skiers and snowboarders jam the slopes from November to early July, and people from all corners converge on Colorado during summer for its wealth of camping, fishing and backpacking options in the serene Rocky Mountains. Warm weather evenings are packed with mountain bikers and hikers when the after-work crowd escapes to the Front Range trails. Weekends lure thousands to the area's greenbelts for relaxation and exercise. Museums Denver Museum of Nature and Science , located in City Park, is the city's largest cultural attraction drawing almost 2-milli
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