Our first trip to Denver
Feb 12th, 2013, 03:29 PM
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Our first trip to Denver
Hello everyone, my fiancee and I (late 20s) are travelling to Denver (03-11-13 to 03-19-13) for two main reasons. a) Vacation. b) Possible relocation. We currently live in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Pretty much our itinerary its almost clear but I would like to get any good tips, suggestions, advice. The first 2 days we are going to spend it in Denver, then we are planning to go to the Rocky Mountains for the following 3 days and come back on that sunday, perhaps to celebrate St. Patricks day. But we don't know yet what to do for the last 2 days? Any other ideas or suggestions would be amazing. Thanx .
PS. We are renting a car so transportation won't be a problem.
PS. We are renting a car so transportation won't be a problem.
Feb 12th, 2013, 10:02 PM
#5
pepeandres -
Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park is open year round, but some of the roads are not, such as Trail Ridge Road, which is the main draw for most visitors. It's closed during the winter months. Think snow and ice.
You can enter the park from Estes Park (east side) or from Grand Lake (west side), but Trail Ridge, the road in between, will be closed, so much of the park won't be accessible.
Current info here:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status.htm
You still might enjoy spending some time in Estes park and visiting whichever parts of the park you can get to, but expect cold and snow. Maybe snowshoeing?
If you just want to see mountains, you could always head straight up I-70 west - lots of ski areas and mountain towns up there and access is pretty easy.
Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park is open year round, but some of the roads are not, such as Trail Ridge Road, which is the main draw for most visitors. It's closed during the winter months. Think snow and ice.
You can enter the park from Estes Park (east side) or from Grand Lake (west side), but Trail Ridge, the road in between, will be closed, so much of the park won't be accessible.
Current info here:
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status.htm
You still might enjoy spending some time in Estes park and visiting whichever parts of the park you can get to, but expect cold and snow. Maybe snowshoeing?
If you just want to see mountains, you could always head straight up I-70 west - lots of ski areas and mountain towns up there and access is pretty easy.
Feb 13th, 2013, 03:53 AM
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For this trip I think I'd head out I70 and take in those mountains and stop in one of the ski resort towns. If you do come back on Sunday start back early to beat the ski traffic. If you wanted you could do some cross country skiing at some of the Nordic Centers at the ski areas.
I think you'll find enough to do around Denver especially if you are looking at it to relocate. There are shopping areas, museums, the zoo, the library (it is a cool architectural attraction now), REI.
For a cute shopping and restaurant street, go to Pearl Street--cute shop called Five Green Boxes has 2 locations. Go up to the Highlands and look around at neat little shops, restaurants--and housing.
Go 'way down south to Park Meadows area for a shopping center on steroids.
Ride the light rail to get a feel for neighborhoods, depending on where you'll be living and working.
I think you'll find enough to do around Denver especially if you are looking at it to relocate. There are shopping areas, museums, the zoo, the library (it is a cool architectural attraction now), REI.
For a cute shopping and restaurant street, go to Pearl Street--cute shop called Five Green Boxes has 2 locations. Go up to the Highlands and look around at neat little shops, restaurants--and housing.
Go 'way down south to Park Meadows area for a shopping center on steroids.
Ride the light rail to get a feel for neighborhoods, depending on where you'll be living and working.
Feb 13th, 2013, 04:07 AM
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To add to what Gretchen suggested: Take I 70 toward the Rockies - 2 hours to The Summit (the freeway is usually open unless there is a huge storm) - and then visit our little favorite town - Frisco - or Victorian themed Breckenridge.
This Frisco B & B is our favorite: http://www.friscolodge.com/
If you want to visit Vail - it's about 20 minutes further - and fabled Aspen is another hour and a half or so beyond that.
This Frisco B & B is our favorite: http://www.friscolodge.com/
If you want to visit Vail - it's about 20 minutes further - and fabled Aspen is another hour and a half or so beyond that.
Feb 13th, 2013, 07:54 AM
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We usually stay near 16th street mall, which is kind of pedestrian only (but buses run on it). From there you have access to dining and brew pubs and some shopping, and are not far from certain attractions. We were very impressed by the modern art museum last summer (consider Pint's Pub nearby). Denver has a good Natural History Museum too.
Across Cherry Creek (river?) from downtown is an REI in an old building (if you are into that retailer). They have an interesting aquarium near REI.
I always have a little trouble figuring out my directions in downtown denver. Lots of one way streets and then the creek/river.
Across Cherry Creek (river?) from downtown is an REI in an old building (if you are into that retailer). They have an interesting aquarium near REI.
I always have a little trouble figuring out my directions in downtown denver. Lots of one way streets and then the creek/river.
Feb 13th, 2013, 11:02 AM
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Feb 13th, 2013, 05:05 PM
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I will reiterate if you are going to relocate to Denver you may need to be a LOT more proactive in structuring this visit. I'm a little amazed at your being so laid back about looking at areas to live, places to go and be as young people.
Feb 13th, 2013, 07:25 PM
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The craft beer scene is huge in Denver/Colorado. Make sure you include some time to relax and take in what the "Napa Valley of Beer" has to offer. In the Denver Metro area, hit up Denver Beer Company, Prost and Crooked Stave to name a few.
Feb 14th, 2013, 08:09 AM
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Unfortunately I need to throw up a couple of cautions.
First, Tomsd time line is off by a fair margin. Frisco to Vail is a good 45 minutes. Vail to Aspen is at least two hours (it is exactly a hundred miles0.
Second, and most important, you are hitting the peak of Spring skiing which means that ski areas will be jammed and traffic will be heavy. On Sunday, the flow back into Denver along I-70 from about Frisco east will be a crawl. Three to four hours for a normal one hour trip is not unusual. It will start about noon to 2 pm and stay that way until 8/9 pm. And that is assuming good weather. If it is snowing, forget it. The smartest plan would be stay somewhere in the mountains Sunday night and return to Denver Monday AM but do not know if that is an option for you.
Don't know what you total plans are. But I would suggest hitting the mountains first on the 12, 13, and maybe 14. A quick trip a feel for the mountains and would be very scenic would be I-70 to Glenwood Springs for a couple nights. You could make it a slow trip if you want to hit Georgetown at the foot of the climb to the divide - old Victorian mining town worth an hour or so and some ice cream. You could hit the Breckenridge, another old Victorian mining town and big ski area. Ten miles south from I-70 at Frisco. Swing through Vail but parking is expensive, and then on to Glenwood Springs via Glenwood Canyon. From Glenwood you could drive to Aspen (45 miles) and back. Aspen is at the end of the road. Cannot got any further SE. On the return trip you could go through Breckenridge over Hooiser pass and back into Denver via US 285 and a different look at mountains in the South Park area.
That would put back into Denver on Thursday, avoiding the weekend traffic in the mountain and you could do you other busy till Tues.
First, Tomsd time line is off by a fair margin. Frisco to Vail is a good 45 minutes. Vail to Aspen is at least two hours (it is exactly a hundred miles0.
Second, and most important, you are hitting the peak of Spring skiing which means that ski areas will be jammed and traffic will be heavy. On Sunday, the flow back into Denver along I-70 from about Frisco east will be a crawl. Three to four hours for a normal one hour trip is not unusual. It will start about noon to 2 pm and stay that way until 8/9 pm. And that is assuming good weather. If it is snowing, forget it. The smartest plan would be stay somewhere in the mountains Sunday night and return to Denver Monday AM but do not know if that is an option for you.
Don't know what you total plans are. But I would suggest hitting the mountains first on the 12, 13, and maybe 14. A quick trip a feel for the mountains and would be very scenic would be I-70 to Glenwood Springs for a couple nights. You could make it a slow trip if you want to hit Georgetown at the foot of the climb to the divide - old Victorian mining town worth an hour or so and some ice cream. You could hit the Breckenridge, another old Victorian mining town and big ski area. Ten miles south from I-70 at Frisco. Swing through Vail but parking is expensive, and then on to Glenwood Springs via Glenwood Canyon. From Glenwood you could drive to Aspen (45 miles) and back. Aspen is at the end of the road. Cannot got any further SE. On the return trip you could go through Breckenridge over Hooiser pass and back into Denver via US 285 and a different look at mountains in the South Park area.
That would put back into Denver on Thursday, avoiding the weekend traffic in the mountain and you could do you other busy till Tues.
Feb 14th, 2013, 11:33 AM
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Or as Fmpden says, come back on Monday morning. There are good parties at the ski areas on St. Pat's day, as I recall. Our kids once skied in green tuxedos (think second hand tuxes that were worn by an Adirondack resort orchestra--hilarious).
Feb 15th, 2013, 09:48 AM
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If you are considering relocating to Denver, have you researched neighborhoods where you might like to live?
Denver city/county has lots of adorable little areas: Congress Park, Montclair, Mayfair, Hilltop, Park Hill, Country Club (tres cher!), Botanical Gardens, etc. Lowry and Stapleton are two nice new-ish developments which have homes in the moderate range, as well as very high end.
As you can tell, I prefer the city to the 'burbs in Denver.
Denver city/county has lots of adorable little areas: Congress Park, Montclair, Mayfair, Hilltop, Park Hill, Country Club (tres cher!), Botanical Gardens, etc. Lowry and Stapleton are two nice new-ish developments which have homes in the moderate range, as well as very high end.
As you can tell, I prefer the city to the 'burbs in Denver.
Feb 15th, 2013, 09:51 AM
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To clarify, Lowry and Stapleton might be just across the boundary of the city/county. They are on the east side of Quebec, which could be the county line. I'm not sure, but they are not far from downtown.
Feb 15th, 2013, 04:57 PM
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Denver county and Denver city boundaries are the same. Stapleton and Lowry are in Denver proper. My recommendation is to rent until you know you employment location and get a feel for public transit and what is important for you. If school age children are or will be in the mix then some of the suburbs are superior to Denver in general.
