Best places to go in Denver

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I'm spending the day in Denver. Was wondering what the best places to go were. Looking museums or parks and someplace to have a great lunch.

Go to P.F. Chang's at the Park Meadow's Mall complex (way south Denver off of I-25) and sit on the patio for lunch--great food and you have a clear, unobstructed view of Denver and the Rocky Mountains. Don't know if shopping's your thing but Park Meadow's is worth a walk-through--it's constructed to resemble a mountain ski-lodge--lots of wood and even a couple of fireplaces and cozy couches. For a great museum, check out the Museum of Natural History off of Colorado Blvd.

family traveling to denver/colorado springs in late july, would like so info-advice on things to see and do. we would like to hike,horseback,go rafting and maybe a rodeo

For a truly unique place to eat, check out the Buckhorn Exchange. Their bar proudly displays Colorado Liquor License #1, and how many places can honestly say they've served venison from a deer shot that day by the President of the United States? (It was Teddy Roosevelt). Not cheap, but not overly expensive.

Another great museum: Museum of Western Art, one of the best such collections around.

Best thing to do in Denver is not go. Go to Boulder instead. If you can't, and you like aquariums, go to Ocean Journey. If you want to see what little of a city there is, go to Lodo, Highlands, and Wash Park.

Park meadows is a great mall, but it's just that - a mall. And PF Changs is a national Chinese chain. And the area around there - highlands ranch - is awful beyond belief. Ticky tacky suburbia. Drive around Wash Park, Capital Hill, 7th avenue instead. Or go to Cherry Creek if you want to see stores that aren't the exact same as everywhere else in the US.

And no, I'm not from Boulder - I've lived two years in Congress Park

We're all thrilled you're so cosmopolitan.

I'm afraid I agree with Charles. If you want to see classic, ugly suburban sprawl and all its ills, visit Denver. Baby boomers are flocking to live in this state (it's the number one destination for them)and developers are cashing in. If you enjoy looking at vast seas of cookie cutter houses spaced inches apart, by all means, visit us! Charles is right: Highlands Ranch, followed closely by Parker, is awful beyond belief.

Hey, I love living in Colorado. Sure, it has grown uncomfortably fast, and there is urban sprawl. But, even the poorest areas in the state area decent place to live. We have great weather -don't tell anyone, but other people think it is cold here in the winter! As a whole, Coloradans are probably more educated, and more physically active than those in other states. And so are our kids. Some of the prettiest mountains in world are at our doorstep. So first poster, come to Denver and Colorado, and enjoy all we have.

I agree that a great place for lunch, especially, is the Buckhorn Exchange. But not if you're a vegetarian. I say lunch because they still serve you dinner-size portions, but at about 50% off their dinner time prices. They have everything. We had, I think, roast buffalo with mashed potatoes, veggies, the works. It was delicious. We tried alligator and even the dreaded "Rocky Mountain Oysters." eew. Funny, but the men in the party loved them. You can also check out the Mint although I was disappointed with the tour. Seemed like all they wanted to do was get you to spend money in the gift shop.