Denver, the Mile High City. Gateway to the rugged Rocky Mountains. This now high-rise, high-tech city has evolved over the past 150 years in ways people had never imagined. Once just a rough mining camp set between the banks of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, Denver exploded almost overnight when the gold rush, and later the silver deposits hit the Colorado Territory in the mid 1800's. Denver became the capitol city after several trial and error periods with other towns like Golden and Central City. It flourished with traders cashing in on the fortunes and misfortunes of the miners who made their way up the rugged mountain trails to hack their way through solid rock in hopes of getting rich.
Within a few years Denver was host and home to many of the rich, famous and infamous. Hotels, newspapers, a variety of stores and businesses, cattle lots, and residential areas established themselves and flourished. The capitol building with a gold leaf dome and the Denver U.S. Mint were built. Parks were established and large graceful mansions were built around them. Along with people like the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" and Baby Doe Tabor, who made their fortunes (and lost them) in the gold and silver mines, there were men like Soapy Smith who stood on the street corners playing con games with bars of soap or selling phony mining stock, (he was eventually run out of town and later gunned down in Alaska).
After the gold and silver rush passed, and the prices for the metals dropped to rock bottom, Denver slipped into just a quiet town where people lived and worked without much thought of growth and big business settling in or taking hold. It wouldn't be until skiing and technology began to take on a more dominate role in the lives of Americans that Denver would suddenly blossom once more and become the Queen she had been in the 1800's.
With the mountains set at her back, Denver became the jumping off point for those looking to speed down the snow covered peaks only minutes or a couple of hours from the airport. The Winter Park Train became (and is still) the only train in the country to take skiers and sightseers up the mountains to Winter Park Ski Resort. The train runs year-round and offers a unique look at the mountain vistas. Skiers of all abilities and interests have their choice of dozens of outstanding resorts to enjoy. Vail, Aspen and Breckenridge are within a few hours drive, but there are several ski areas within an hour of Denver that offer great skiing and accommodations close by.
While the actual City of Denver encompasses a small area it is packed with things to do and see. The Denver Mint offers daily tours. The newly remodeled Art Museum is within walking distance as is the State Capitol. The 16th Street Mall has replaced what was once "downtown", but many of the original buildings from the late 1800's and early 1900's are still being used today. The mall features many fine departments stores, shops and fine dining. A short distance from downtown it Larimer Square which offers unique gift shops and specialty stores set in another of Denver's historical areas. LoDo is a new addition to this historical part of town and features upscale lofts, apartments and condos built in what, at one time, were warehouses and storage facilities. A variety of microbreweries and restaurants featuring nightly entertainment is scattered among these exclusive homes. Rockies Stadium is also here and the sounds of baseball fans fill the air on summer afternoons.
A little farther from downtown is City Park Zoo and the Museum of Natural History. The Zoo is always creating new and more animal and people "friendly" exhibits for visitors and offers a wide variety of birds and animals to observe. The museum has a great exhibit of pre-historic bones that represent a large variety of dinosaurs that once roamed the Colorado territory. There are also life-like exhibits of North American animals and birds, along with some South American reproductions. IMAX Theater is also located here and the shows are ever-changing.
The Pepsi Center offers professional basketball, hockey and a variety of entertainers throughout the year. Next door is Six Flags Amusement Park offering family entertainment, food and fun. And there is also the new Bronco Football Stadium for those who like the excitement of a good professional game. And last, but definitely not least, Denver hosts the yearly National Western Stock Show in January that features the best of the best in horses, cattle, poultry, sheep and even exotic breeds of all of these and more. There is a nightly rodeo and shows change each day.
Dining in the downtown area is plentiful and varied along the mall or tucked away on side streets. There are so many to choose from it is hard to single out a few for examples, but some favorites that you won't want to miss are listed here. The Buckhorn Exchange is over 100 years old and the oldest restaurant in Denver. It has a rustic western atmosphere and décor much as it had in the 1800's. The food varies from steaks to wild game and there is a bar for those wanting drinks. For an evening of very fine dining and entertainment you won't want to miss Sambuca. The richly designed and candle-lit tables provide diners with not only a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy some of the best food in the country but also an opportunity to hear live music. Their entertainment schedule changes frequently and reservations are requested. The menu is extensive and offers everything from generous appetizers to sea food, steaks, lamb and pork. There is a bar with a fine wine list and choice of drinks. Another good place is Bayou Bob's featuring Cajun cuisine in a very relaxed atmosphere. No need to dress up, but you may need to wait for a table on weekends as this place is a favorite among area diners. The portions are generous and well prepared. One other place famous in Denver is the Brown Palace Hotel. This rich old hotel has been around for over a century but is still the hotel of choice for those wanting a first class room and dining experience.
Denver also has Metro State Community College located in the downtown area and Denver University is a short drive south of the area.
Denver is a year-round city with a temperate climate and a wide variety of nationalities that will offer everyone something to enjoy whether it be exploring the fine stores, museums, dining or history. Take time to search out some of the historical mansions, bars and side streets to really get a feel of the days gone by and how Denver has grown. Broadway, the main north-south avenue through Denver offers dozens of antique stores and gift shops to explore.