Weekend in Denver first week in December
 

I have to make a business trip to Denver the first week in December. My husband will be joining me Dec. 4-10. We do not ski, due to bad knees. We will be staying in the Tech Center Area in Greenwood Village. Please help with activities and must see tips for a 50's couple.

I would go south to Garden of the Gods--some hiking, some driving, good sight-seeing.

Thanks, I have been reading other posts and a carriage ride downtown sounds good for one evening. Can anyone suggest a restaurant to go with the carriage ride. The Garden of the Gods sounds like a full day. My husband says he wants to go to the Football game, if there is one in town. Someone mentioned dinner at the Fort. All of this sounds good to me. Any other suggestions

From the Tech Center it's an easy morning/afternoon to Garden of the Gods. Truly spectacular scenery.

Everyone has been so helpful.
Thanks. The Museums sound good, especially if the weather gets bad. Figure the temps should be in the 40's. Am I close?? As for food, My husband is not a big sushi fan and I am not a Moroccan fan. I will be there for a week or so. Choosing a business hotel. Would the Marriott Tech Center or the Hyatt Regency Tech Center be good choices?

A car will make coming into downtown easy - you will be a few miles away.

The Art Museum and Colorado History Museum are near a nice park - all good to fill an afternoon.
Be sure to dress warm, and come out to the Parade of Lights - 8pm Dec 8th.

The 16th Street pedestrian mall has lots to browse (and a free bus ride) - shops, architecture and eateries (Chili's, Hard Rock Cafe,ESPN Zone...but I would head over to Larimer Street for Tamayo, Capitol Grille or Rioja!!)

I would save Garden of the Gods for a summer trip. The drive down is so/so and depending on the weather you could be very limited on what you could do. It is very pretty but so is most of the state (once you are into the mountains)

The Parade of Lights will be Friday and Saturday night. (5th & 6th). Friday night is the big night with the lighting of the City/County building. Remember the electric lighting of outside trees was "invented" in Denver.

Nothing on the 8th. I would do the carriage ride on Sunday evening as it will be extremely crowded (over 100,000) if the weather is good for the parade nights. You will need a reservation for an early evening ride.

If staying in the Denver Tech area, I would avoid driving downtown as it just not worth the parking hassle given the convenience of the light rail from the Tech Ctr AND especially that weekend. Depending on the hotel you would be within walking distance of a light rail station. You also have some good restaurants in the Tech Ctr.

The are many good restaurants in the downtown area and some great "hole-in-the-walls" depending on your interest. What is your budget and food interest? I am a big fan of The Fort for ambiance and setting but it is expensive. It is near Morrison in the foothills and about 30 min drive from the Tech Ctr.

At that time of year the weather can be very variable temperature wise.

Goggle the sports teams for their schedules. All of the sports sites are reachable via light rail.

If anything else comes to mind, ask.

fmpden ~ thanks for catching the typo; yes - Parade of Lights IS Friday, Dec 5th and Sat Dec 6th


sdonald - google The Denver Center for The Performing Arts; there may be a show that interests you; The Paramount is just off the 16th St Mall for music + venues

If weather/driving permit - from the Tech Center you will be less than 1 hour from The Air Force Academy, which offers vies and a visitor center, and the campus.

Meant to say... the Air Force campus offers Views and visitor center....

Everyone has been so helpful.
Thanks. The Museums sound good, especially if the weather gets bad. Figure the temps should be in the 40's. Am I close?? As for food, My husband is not a big sushi fan and I am not a Moroccan fan. I will be there for a week or so. Choosing a business hotel. Would the Marriott Tech Center or the Hyatt Regency Tech Center be good choices??

Depends on what you mean by 40s. The day time temp should be higher and could be 60 and 70s. Nightime could get to zero. Remember one Parade of Lights when our high school band was participating it was close to ten below. Point is -- you need to be prepared for a wide range. Watch the weather the week before and see what weather pattern is setting up.

Either hotel would be fine -- about a block apart. There are several Marroitts in that area so I am making some assumptions.

I don't understand why the other posters seen obsessed with getting you to Colorado Springs. By Dec everything is pretty drab -- unless covered with snow. If you want to drive somewhere --- go to Georgetown at the approach to Eisenhower tunnel. Old Victorian town that dresses well for the holidays.

The Molly House will be decorated for the season. Take in a high tea in the Brown Palace. A great place to start Christmas.

The Denver Zoo will be hosting the Zoo lights which is an interesting way to see the zoo at night. Same for the Botanical Gardens. The upscale shopping at Cherry Creek (half way between Tech Ctr and downtown Denver) will be festive. And good restaurants in that area also. Although one of the better recently closed. Haven't heard if the German Christmas Markets will be there this year or not.

I could on but really need a feel for what you want.

I agree with fmpden, about skipping Colorado Springs this time. Georgetown could be a nice day-trip, especially if you can go during the week. Weekend ski traffic can be a killer, and make you wish you'd never ventured up I-70!

What about going to Boulder for the day? It sits below the Flatiron mountains, which are stunning and unique. Tons of great restaurants there, too.

Chatauqua Park is lovely. You could drive up Baseline Road, past Chautauqua, past the Flagstaff House, to see the Continental Divide overlook. It's a very short walk from the parking lot. Great dining at the Chatauqua Park restaurant.

The Tea House is very "Boulder" and very good, also. Or try The Mediterranean for a very reasonably priced and very good meal. Or splurge at The Kitchen. Lots of choices in Boulder.

The CU campus is also very pretty architecture. Have fun!

Your weekend will be very dependent on the weather. At that time of year, it could get up to 60, possibly, during the day, or we could have a snowstorm. As has already been suggested, keep track of the weather reports right before you come out. The temperatures drop quite a bit after the sun sets, so bring warm clothes for the evening. If the weather's in the 40s in Colorado, that means that it's warm enough for a medium-weight jacket. If you're coming from the midwest, it will feel warmer in Colorado (because it's dryer).

I agree that Georgetown could be a nice visit, if the weather's good. That early in the ski season, I don't think you'll have bad ski traffic heading into the mountains in the morning, or out in the afternoon.

As I live south of Denver, I don't know much about those two hotels. The Tech Center area is equally close to the highway, and it's not really set up for walking around, so either hotel/location would probably work just fine.

A great breakfast place in the Tech Center is the Original Pancake House, at 8000 East Belleview. I'm not too impressed with any of the other restaurants in that area, so I don't have anything else to recommend there.

I agree that a day in Boulder can be nice, again, depending on your interests. There are many great walks/hikes in the area, including some with wonderful views that wouldn't be hard on the knees. If you do that, take a walk from Chautauqua.

My husband has lined up tickets for the football game on Sunday, and meeting some friends on Friday night for dinner. Boulder sounds nice as does Georgetown. Is Chataquqa Park between Boulder and Denver? Should I be making dinner reservations or can we get them once I get to Denver? Would it be better to fly into Denver airport of Colorado Springs?? And since my husband will be coming in while I am at work, anyone got a guess as to cab fair from Airport to Tech Center?
Thanks again. Everyone has been so helpful

Cab fare can be pricey for that ride, especially during rush hour. Our house is closer to the airport than the Tech Center, and we usually pay about $55 + tip. But our drive is not on freeways. So I would count on paying at least that much.

There's a Super Shuttle which will be much cheaper, but ask them how many stops they'll be making before yours. Sometimes it take an hour just to get home, when I use them, unless I make sure I don't have to go downtown first.

Last time I took it, the driver drove PAST my house to take people downtown first. It was stop-and-go freeway traffic at the height of rush hour. ARRGH. If the driver had known better, he would have known that traffic would NOT be slow going down 13th Street, but he would not listen. Very rude driver. I was not the only passenger who was pissed.

Re: restaurants, you can probably make reservations once you get here. Unless you're planning on eating at the historic Chatauqua Dining Hall. I'd call them now, just to be sure.

Been reading online, the Botanical Gardens lights soung wonderful. Priced a lemo to the airport ($75.00). Will check with hotel to see if they have airport service. Which would be better, dinner at Chatauqua or the Fort?

Your only choice for reasonable transportation is the SkyRide or the Super Shuttle. SkyRide is $10 and runs hour and swings by both hotels. SkyRide is part the local bus system - RTD. The Super Shuttle is reserved.

At that time of year I would opt for the Fort -- setting and easy of access. Chautauqua Dining Hall and The Fort are not equal comparison. Both great places but very different. One of the great dining experiences is on the patio but it is closed at this time of year. And you will not have day light. The Flagstaff House in Boulder would be very similar the Fort and good recommendation if you happened to be in Boulder. Chautauqua would be over an hour and more difficult to find while the Fort would be 30 minutes at most and one turn.

Will you not have a car or getting a car later?

Forgot -- none of the hotels in the downtown or tech area provide free shuttles -- too far.

Another PS -- you husband can take the light rail to the game --- AND HE SHOULD !!!!!

If the SkyRide goes to your hotel, take it for sure. We use it to a Park 'n' Ride at old Stapleton, and it is a very good service. Also beats the heck out of a shuttle or a cab in price.