Actually it is now full of empty casinos having lost the battle to Blackhawk. My guess is that TxTravelPro hasn't been there in 15 to 20 years.

Oh, that's a shame. They should have left it alone! Darn casinos.

Thanks again, everybody. Thinking, thinking...

fmpden, when you say that the semester ends May 6, do you happen to know if exams and everything are over that early? Or would students still be around another week or two for exams? Our trip is May 7 -14. So if even exams are over on the 6th, making the 7th and 8th the weekend there will be lots of parents around, that's something for us to consider.

Other question for you on the bike sharing program, are helmets available? Since we'll be air traveling we won't have ours with us. We actually can't do a whole lot of biking these days due to some health issues. But can do a little!

Mirth60, Colorado Springs sound intriguing, as a possibility for our first couple nights if not Boulder. We'd certainly make sure to do both in day trips, regardless of where we decide to stay. Gretchen, thanks for the Celestial Tea tour tip! I'm a huge tea drinker, so tho' I generally am a tea snob and drink loose teas, I bet that would be fun. I hear what you're saying about staying right in the mountains for a couple nights, and layering. Problem being, with air travel that's a lot harder to do, do not want to lug my parka coat!

We're now seriously thinking of getting a condo or house in Denver for the whole week, having that as our base. All the other places are sounding very do-able as day trips, and there's something nice about getting to settle in like that, as well as not eating every single meal out for a whole week, as much as we love eating out!

NElson, thanks for the Cub Lake Loop tip, that sounds just right for us.

Students are done the 6th. Commencement is that weekend so Boulder will be more than a little busy that weekend and the following week. Helmets are not provided. It is not a bike rental program but a bike sharing program that gets you from point A to point B on cruising style bikes. First 30 minutes are free, next 30 minutes is $1, and the next is something like $25 and next $60. There are several bike rental shops around if you want something for the day.

Try to get your condo or house near a light rail station. Between the light rail and the free mall shuttle, there is no need for a car in downtown Denver.

Thank. We didn't even think of that when we agreed to these dates. Oh well!

We'd thought to go for a condo right in the heart of downtown to be walking distance to as much as possible. Any reason not to do that? Any neighborhoods of downtown Denver to avoid for safety reasons?

For music, or just an interesting place to visit check out Red rocks park. It is quite close to Denver and spectacular.

Here is a site to look at http://www.redrocksonline.com

Don't get caught up in the hype that if you miss Boulder your trip will suffer. And don't go there during an "event".
As for the mountains and a parka, layers are the winning way to dress-in Denver or the mountains.
IF there is a concert at Red Rocks it would be a wonderful way to spend an evening. There is a distinctive restaurant very near--The Fort--that specializes in wild game meat, and is quite delicious and interesting.

Your trip won't suffer if you miss Boulder, but it'd be a shame not to visit it for at least a day trip. Students get out of town as quickly as they can and certainly after commencement there would be no problem. I lived there for several years, and the impact of students really isn't as much of a problem as others have indicated. With the exception of game days and a few events, the local Starbucks seem to be the one place where students are really visible.

I live in Denver and love it here, but Boulder is certainly worth a visit or short stay for all the reasons others have indicated.

Do you have 5 nights? And you want to spend time in Denver with your friends? If so, I recommend 2/3 nights in Denver and 2/3 nights in a mountain location.

Boulder is an easy and fun day-trip from Denver. We have lived there, way back when. And we love to visit friends there. The campus is pretty red rock architecture which fits the setting so nicely. Our favorite outdoor area in Boulder is Chautauqua Park, for hiking and scenery. The restaurant there is fantastic, with a scenic view of sunset from its veranda dining tables. You can Google it.

See Denver and environs for two or three days, with all the good ideas you have seen.

Then spend two or three nights somewhere in the mountains. But check out what will be open in the towns you research, because many restaurants close between seasons.

We love Winter Park, but it has lots of closures then. The good news is that it is a nice, quiet time to visit before summer activities open up. And lodging should be cheapest then Great bike riding, weather permitting.

Have fun planning your trip.

Thanks so much, all. Your collective advice has been interesting - less unanimous than advice I've received for other trips, I think. So we're still looking into various options. I'll let you know once we make decisions, and certainly will post a trip report upon return!

Fwiw, we are fortunate to have 7 nights total, with the last 3 (or maybe 4) committed to Denver with our friends, the first 3 or 4 open. We most definitely will go to Red Rocks Park as part of this trip, that looks wonderful.

Central... last time I was there? Last fall.
Sweet town, yes. I HATE casinos, but I spent some time walking around the old part of town (not in the casinos), looked at many decaying buildings, ate in a diner, talked to some local shop owners.
The shop owners are kind and the town is a bit sad.
Many of the buildings are not stable, so they sit empty.
There is at least one stinky old casino in one of the old buildings. I think I saw a new casino kind of behind the older part of the town, but my visit focused on non-casino buisnesses.
Still, a sad little town to me.
But to answer you again... I have been on the road dozens of times, all WITHIN the last decade!

I agree, a "sad little town", not a "sweet town" really.

We are originally from the Northeast and moved to Denver about 3 years ago. We have had alot of visitors and everyone loves the visit to Rocky mountain National Park. They usually like a couple of the short hikes around the Bear Lake area, do a lunch at Sprauge Lake in the park and then do the drive up Trail Ridge road. In May it wont be open all the way but you do get pretty close to the Alpine Visitor Center and then head back down. In Denver, don't miss Red Rocks as it is really an awesome site. Also, while In Denver, you can also visit Coors field if there are any Baseball fans in your group. Other areas that have gone over well with our visitors is Pike's Peak around Colorado Springs as there is a Cog Railway that takes you to the top and also Garden of the Gods park near the same area. Hope this helps.

Trvlpro. It would have been MUCH more informative to EVERYONE if you had posted THAT--it didn't sound that way AT ALL. So, it COULD still be interesting. It's a travel board. Tell the story, and let the people decide.

Gretchen, ??

mssav, thank you for your suggestions. We are ALL baseball fans and absolutely plan to go to a game at Coors Field. Mabye even 2! All of your other ideas sound great as well.