Denver Colorado Tourist

Denver Colorado has its capital building right in the heart of the city. The dome on the roof is of pure gold. The brass market on the 13^th step leading into the building marks the height of one mile above sea level. Visitors can take a free guided tour.

The Denver Mint building is only one of six locations making coins for circulation, as well as storing gold and silver bullion. The walls are four and a half feet thick. 50 million coins are minted here every day, and visitors can take a free guided tour. (alas, no samples are given out)

16^th Street Mall is a busy commercial street a mile long, right in the heart of the city. Free buses run continuously all day long in the center of the street, stopping at every block. Micro breweries, shops and pavement cafes tempt you to linger and appreciate the atmosphere.

Travel south from here along Colorado Boulevard to First Avenue/Cherry Creek Mall for a flavor of 150 great American stores.

Northwards from here along Colorado Boulevard for just a few miles is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Three floors hold a planetarium, IMAX theatre, and exhibits showing the best of wildlife from the USA, Colorado and the rest of the world.

Visit the Sky Terrace on level three for a great view over the Denver skyline and the Rockies in the background. Below is the museum park with its boating lake, manicured gardens, walkways and lots of Canadian geese.

Alongside the northern boundary of the museum park is the Denver zoo, home to nearly 4000 animals, an entire rainforest under glass and a replica artic circle with polar bears, penguins and sea lions.

Idaho Springs is the birthplace of the Rocky Mountain gold rush 33 miles west of Denver, visit the gold mine to pan for gold and visit the gold-mining museum.

In nearby Miner Street, walk along the wooden sidewalks and visit the quaint shops for souvenirs, see the preserved steam train with carriages, or cross under the I-70 to visit the large waterwheel with tumbling cataracts.

South of town, drive the highest paved road in North America and head to the top of Mount Evans, one of Colorado's tallest mountains. The road starts off at 8,700 feet, rising to 14,240 feet at the summit. The temperature cools accordingly, if it’s 90 in Denver it will be more like 40 degrees at the top of Mount Evans.

Idaho Springs is also near Golden Gate State Park with stunning views of the continental divide, and within an hour's drive of six of the state's most famous ski resorts.

Dozens of other recreation spots are also near these 12,000 acres of dense forest, rocky peaks, and aspen-rimmed meadows laced with miles of trails awaiting the hiker, horseback rider, mountain biker and winter sports enthusiast.

Camp with electrical hook-ups and tent-sites in two different campgrounds, stocked fishing ponds, picnic sites and the Panorama Point Scenic Overlook where visitors can see 100 miles of the Continental Divide. In winter, visitors can go cross-county skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, ice fishing and ice skating. 

Buffalo, said to be the direct descendents of Buffalo Bills herd, graze in Genesee Park along side the I-70 near Lookout Mountain. You can visit the grave of Buffalo Bill here, a museum to the memory of Buffalo Bill is nearby, or take in the breathtaking views over the Denver City skyline to the Denver International Airport buildings on the horizon.

Nestling in the foothills of Lookout Mountain is the city of Golden, home to Coors Brewery which plays host to half a million visitors each year. Take a free 2 hour guided tour past the 150,000 gallon copper kettles used in the manufacturing of the beer, and see the full production process.

At the end of the tour, samples of beer are provided in the hospitality room.

Red Rocks Amphitheater Park, just 15 miles west of Denver is set in 2,700 acres with seating for 9000 people. Visit the hall of fame where posters of hundreds of past artists who have played here, including Elvis, Glen Miller, The Beatles and Sting are displayed.

Once nominated as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the amphitheater consists of two 300 feet high monoliths named Ship Rock and Creation Rock which are both higher than the Niagara Falls.

Created and shaped naturally by Mother Nature, Red Rocks Amphitheater is unique in the world and provides acoustic perfection for every performance with a bonus of breathtaking panoramic views over Denver.

Every year, the first performance of the season is the Easter Sunrise Service.

The Peak to Peak highway starts near to Red Rocks in Morrison, going north for 55 miles along highways 7 and 72 through the gambling town of Blackhawk, Nederland, a mining town at about the half way mark, National Forests, glacier lakes and reservoirs, amazing views of snow capped mountains, passing pine forests and the colorful display of Aspen trees in the fall, to Estes Park where elk roam freely.

One of the more famous stopping places on highway 7 is St. Catherine’s church, seemingly miles from anywhere, perched on a rock of granite and visited by Pope John Paul the second during his visit to Denver in 1993. This is one of the most photographed churches in Colorado.

Estes Park is surrounded by the Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest and is the gateway to the rocky mountain national park. Every year a Scottish Festival is held here.

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