Going to Denver

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: JLTD
Driving Pike's Peak, make sure your rental has the option to select "1" on the gears...or they won't let you up. You've got to be able to have it in 1st gear for engine braking on the way down....I've driven it, and it's steep and long. I recall reading on here some guy came down in 1st gear and 4000 rpm in an F150.

If you're going to do #2, do it AFTER you do #3. Seriously.

Garden of the Gods is an interesting area, but stop in Colorado Springs to find a cool restaurant along the way; drive further up Route 24 and you can turn off to get to the town of Cripple Creek. Gambling's legal if you're into that, and there is some interesting history (and ghost stories, if you're into that) to be found.

If you feel like driving a little further afield, to the south you can get to Bishops Castle which is a fun stop along the way to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Coors brewery tour in Golden I think. Boulder is a nice little (expensive) mountain/college town. There's also Estes Park if it isn't snowing, which holds the hotel that was Stephen King's inspiration for the hotel in The Shining.


Google is your friend here...enjoy your trip, take pics and post 'em up when you get back!


Loved the brewery tour and the drive there was very nice also. Great samples.

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
Denver area has toll roads that you need a special transponder to drive on when I was there 9 years ago. Figure out if you need it and get it when you rent the car.


The rental companies have an agreement where they bill the renter's CC after the car is turned in (the toll cameras scan the license plate). They tack on a $2-$3 convenience fee, but the rest of the charges are per the toll guidelines.

The last time I was in Denver, I was running late and had to go from Boulder to DIA in the evening during a weekday. I took the E470 which was flat out empty and I made it in record time, and it only cost me around $7. Much better than fighting my way down I25 and across I70!

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Mount Airy.

 

[bigj_16]

Don't go to the 16th Street Mall.

If you want to not stand out, rent a Subaru. If not, at least something with a turbo.

Be careful how much of a brownie you eat. People OD all the time. Eat one serving and wait an hour.

Bonnie Brae Ice Cream.

Believe or not, people are more into beer than weed.

Stranahan's

 

[bigj_16]

If you want some actual historically Denver authentic food, try here:
https://www.yelp.com/menu/lil-nicks-pizza-wheat-ridge

The Denver sandwich is a Denver omelette on bread. They have been making it for a very long time.

This place seems like a joke, but it is actually a nice, upscale, uniquely Colorado place. We go here for our anniversary every year. It is right up the road from Red Rocks:
http://thefort.com/

One of the few decent sub places out here:
http://www.fatjackssubs.com/



I suggest touring the campus where I go to school. Lots of fascinating old buildings.
https://history.denverlibrary.org/auraria-neighborhood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auraria_Campus

There is a working brewery on campus (Tivoli). Actually part of the curriculum

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Red Rocks amphitheater/park is worth a visit. They have some short trails that will make you think you're in a Road Runner and Coyote cartoon. (Bring a designated driver if you mix this with the brownies.)

Dinosaur Ridge is near Red Rocks, if you want to see dinosaur tracks.

A friend told me White Fence Farm in Lakewood compares favorably to AQ Chicken in Arkansas. If fried chicken is your thing, that's a good sign.

 

[Driz]

I used to work at the federal prison near there. In the evening they manned the tower to watch the big yard and you could see Red Rock. Fairly well off in the distance. When they had a concert and it rained it looked like some sort of patchwork quilt because everybody put on their homemade rain coats. Scalpers sold those garbage bags for $5 / pop back in the early 80s.
If you like hiking that whole area along the foothills was and probably still is part of the Jefferson Cty Open Spaces Trail system. You can wander all over the place around there.

 

[Schmoe]

Drive up Mount Evans, worth it....just don't be afraid of heights...there are some turns on that road that will make you get religious quick. One thing for sure....be prepared for traffic. Just no other way around it. It's crowded all the time.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: ZZman
Royal Gorge, Red Rock, head to Garden of the God's near Colorado Springs. The Denver Zoo.


With the brownies he may be too stoned to remember his trip.