Denver CO what to do arriving at 8am
 

My grandson (15 years old) and I are arriving at about 8am. We cannot check in to our place about an hour and a half away until 4pm. What fun thing can we do until about 3pm???? And where would the best place to pick up a rental car be?

First, where is your "place." Generally rentals picked up in the Denver downtown area will be cheaper than the airport. Obviously, you have a number of museums that you can visit or spend some time in the downtown area.

I guess your "place" is not in Denver, and just pointing out that you don't have to check in right at 4. You could spend the day in Denver so theoretically you could take the public transit to town, do some sightseeing and then pick up your rental car in town and drive to your "place". Let us know where that is for better ideas.
Or if your "place" is in the mountains, you can rent your car and head on that way, sightseeing along the way.

If you're arriving at Denver International you can take the A rail line into Union Station which has been beautifully renovated.

In the station Snooze serves a great breakfast. You can then cross the street to the Tattered Cover, a wonderful old bookstore that encourages browsing with lots of nooks and seating to read before walking the 16th Street Mall.

For lunch Biker Jim's has great grilled dogs and sausages (the buffalo dog is excellent), and Illegal Pete's makes good burritos.

I am assuming you will have luggage which will determine to some extent what is reasonable with bags in tow. Downtown Denver may not work well for you. It would help to know where you plan on picking up your rental and where your place is located. I agree with Gretchen that if heading to the mountains, the best option would be to spend the time enroute visiting / viewing things along the way. Let us know where you're headed and we can offer suggestions.

And if your place is 1.5 hours away, you can go there and leave your luggage in all probablility.
We need information to help you maximize your time. ;o)

I agree that knowing where you are going would make a big difference.

Absent that, I would head to Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak to sightsee.

Another option, head to Cripple Creek to go to the Mollie Kathleen gold mine.

From 8 till 4 is 8 hours = plenty of time to start your vacation instead of finding ways to be busy while waiting for a room to be available. That's an entire vacation day. Use it! :-)

There is plenty to do in Denver if that is what they'd like to do also. I love the Denver Art Museum for its native American exhibits. The Museum of Natural History is wonderful. Botanic Gardens? Good food? We just need to understand which way they are going and what the total plan is.
If Denver doesn't fit in somewhere, I'd hang around there.

Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek are not good suggestions. While good areas to visit but too far with too much driving from Denver given your time schedule.

fmpden, how can you say that when you don't know which direction they are going? They may be getting a head start on their driving.

In any case, they are places I enjoyed and I would definitely head that way if I had 8 hours before check-in...wherever check-in might be. I think a 15 year old teen might enjoy going down in the Mollie Kathleen mine - and it's not the kind of thing you can do many other places. :-)

Pikes Peak is a favorite and Garden of the Gods is unique. Not sure how one can say they "aren't good suggestions" with authority. If you wouldn't like going there, that's one thing. "Not good suggestions" is another thing.

We are going to have a condo in Brenkenridge and it is for a family gathering so I'm thinking we really won't get back to Denver. I was thinking of just getting our car at the airport. We will just be carrying on but it still is baggage. I do not have to be there at 4 as others will, just thought it would be fun for my grandson to get to downtown Denver. Thanks for any tips.

Rent your car and drive in. There is parking near the Art Museum. The Botanic Garden and Museum of Natural History have parking lots.
The REI store might ba big draw for him if you don't have one.
There are fun places to dine. there is Little Man Creamery for ice cream (in a HUGE milk can).
It's a 1.5 hour drive to Breck.

Thanks Gretchen!

Luv, if your grandson has any interest in baseball,look into a tour of Coors Field. It's a beautiful stadium. And, to be clear it's the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. They usually have some great IMAX shows in addition to exhibits.