I am visiting Denver for a few days in August. And I am wondering what exactly is there to do, and please dont recommend the Art Museum or the Natural History Museum as the I've been to the ones in NY which are probably just as good if not better. Anyways, so what exactly is there to do in Denver for say 2 days? Thanks

Well, Yev, if everything in NYC is superior to everything anywhere else, they why bother to leave home?

Actually the Denver Museum of Nature and Science has a really wonderful mineralogy exhibit, just what you'd expect given the local industries! Including an eight-pound gold nugget. There are also exhibits that focus on Colorado -- birds, geology, etc. You might actually enjoy yourself and learn something if you try not to be as provincial as other New Yorkers.

What I actually meant, is what are the more unique things to do in Denver.

I don't think you can look at 8-pound gold "nuggets" in NYC!

So what else is in Denver other then the museums. I have hera d good things a out the Red Rock Amphetheter, and the Mint? Are they intresting? And is it worth traveling to Coloardo Springs for a day?

Last I heard, the Denver mint was still closed (9-11 security).

Red Rocks Amphetheatre is a interesting area, even if you don't see a show there, you can hike around. While you are there, have lunch somewhere in the small town of Morrison.

If you want to see a view of downtown Denver, as well as the gravesite of Buffalo Bill, drive up to Lookout Mountain.

Colorado Springs has some nice areas, I like Manitou Springs, Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods. However, if you're only in Denver for 2 days, driving down to the springs will burn up a few hours of your day - probably 2 hours down and 2 hours back.

I woudl stay in DT Denver. Lots of events happening in Summer Months check out
http://denver.citysearch.com/

There are usally free concerts on Fri nights near the Pavilion.

If you active rent bikes miles and miles of paths. take in a ballgame, coors field is worth it even if your not a big fan.

Yev,

While Red Rocks amphitheater is a beautiful, natural theatre, I'm not sure it would merit a trip to see it all on its own. That said, however, there are some other interesting things in the vicinity that might help make for an interesting day:

1. Dinosaur Ridge-- Less than a mile from Red Rocks, this "hogback" offers a walking tour among prehistoric fossil-beds, sea-beds and dinosaur footprints. The top of the ridge also affords a great view of Denver and the plains. Allow about an hour or so for the walk (perhaps a little more at this elevation).

2. Buffalo Bills Grave--only fifteen minutes from Red Rocks. Features the grave-site and a small museum.

3. Coors Tour--another fifteen minutes from Buffalo Bill's grave and you can be in Golden, Colorado. Neat little western town only twenty-five minutes from downtown. Stop and have lunch at the Table Mountain Inn--nice southwestern-style Inn with good southwestern food. Next, walk accross the street and take the Coors tour. No matter how you feel about Coors beer, the tour is quite good--and the beer you get afterwards is NOT their typical boring brew.

Actually, Yev, if you did this in reverse (lunch and tour in Golden, drive up Look -Out mountain to B.B. Grave, then Dinosaur Ridge and finally Red Rocks) you would be five mintutes from The Fort restaurant.

The Fort is a restaurant in the foothills of Morrison (where Red Rocks is) that is an actual adobe replica of Bent's Fort in southern Colorado. The Fort features game food such as elk, buffalo, quail and venison. You can also try such delicacies as rattlesnake and Rocky Mountain Oysters there. I'm only guessing, but I doubt there is much like it in New York.

I tried to come uo with an itinerary that might expose you to what Colorado is about. Let me know if you have any questions. Have fun!

David

Thanks for the help.

I have read that the mint in Denver is open to public tours, but some people and books say that it is still closed after 9/11. Is it closed or open? If its closed, anyone knows when they plan to reopen it.
Thanks

Yev, I'll be frank--Denver as a city really doesn't warrant a few days unless you are using the city as a jumping off point for other places such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder, etc. Moreover, the traffic on 1-25 and I-70 has become as bad if not worse than Los Angeles. That being said, Coors Field is probably the best of the new-style-old-style baseball parks in the country with great views, food, etc. However, I urge you to enjoy the Rocky Mountains while you're here--fire reports are overblown and all the tourist areas are in tact and awaiting your arrival.

I was in Denver on 5/31 and the Mint was closed then. We were told it houses more than 1/3 of the nation's gold and has been closed since 9/11 or thereabouts. We did take a walk around the beautiful State Capital and enjoyed it tremendously. The grounds are gorgeous as are the architecturally elegant interiors.

Denver has a wonderful doll museum. It also has a FANTASTIC antiques area with a zillion antique shops all in a stretch....definitely worth a visit if you love antiquing. Are you alone or with your wife? Take her to the Brown Palace (hotel) for high tea - very ritzy. Take a drive to Fairplay - South Park City Museum - a fascinating place with an old western town - all origian lbuildings that were moved there...each filled with artifacts of the old west. http://www.southparkcity.org
The area is very beautiful if you drive ouitside of Denver a short distance. Enjoy!

Yev,

I was thinking of visiting the us mint too. They will be open in late June but you will need your local congressman office to reserve admission for you. For more info, check the US mint website at www,usmint.gov