Partly because the mountains so clearly delineate “west,” Denverites have long been fond of their geographically designated neighborhoods and the history—and undeniably appealing food traditions—tied to them. For instance, North Denver is famous for its original Italian inhabitants, and a handful of their red-sauce restaurants remain, while West Denver is notable for the generations of Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants who settled along the South Federal Boulevard corridor. Where neighborhoods have gentrified—Highland, for instance—residents struggle to retain the area’s historical significance and original allure in the face of a seemingly unstoppable surge of development. Meanwhile, older sections, such as Washington Park and Cherry Creek, sport the awkward look of lush old-growth foliage interspersed with the constant presence of construction cranes that often afflict the affluent areas of a city in the midst of a boom.
Less than a mile west of downtown is the booming Central Platte Valley, with the Highlands neighborhood at its center. Once the cluttered heart of Denver’s railroad system, it’s now overflowing with attractions. The imposing glass facade of the Broncos’ home, Empower Field at Mile High, the stately Ball Arena sports arena (formerly the Pepsi Center), the Downtown Aquarium, and the flagship REI outdoors store are four of the biggest attractions. Hip restaurants, a couple of coffeehouses, and a few small, locally
owned shops, including a wine boutique, make it appealing to wander around. The sights in this area are so popular that the light-rail line was extended to connect the attractions with downtown.
The South Platte River valley concrete path, which extends several miles from downtown to the east and west, snakes along the water through out-of-the-way parks and trails. The 15th Street Bridge is particularly cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly, connecting LoDo with sprawling northwest Denver in a seamless way. The
most relaxed, and easiest, way to see the area from Memorial Day to Labor Day is on one of the $5 half-hour tours Thursday to Sunday on the Platte Valley Trolley ( 303/458–6255 www.denvertrolley.org), which can be accessed by parking at the Children’s Museum and catching the streetcar east of the lot by the river.
