Denver will take your breath away – literally. At a mile above sea level this Rocky Mountain metropolis, and the scenery that surrounds it, comprise one of the most dramatically attractive settings in the country. Be you indoors or out (we much prefer the latter) you don’t always have to pay to be enthralled and entertained. Consider seeing:
The United States Mint. The Mint, ah, mints some 50 million coins per day. Tour the place and see how they render money from dull, blank, metal slugs. You can tell a Denver-minted piece by the tiny “D” stamped on the coin.
The Garden of the Gods. As a kid vacationing with his parents in Colorado this reporter’s five year-old eyes thought this the most magical place on earth – especially because of the name. Located 60 miles from the city, this supernatural site sports 500-foot red sandstone spires at the base of magnificent Pikes Peak.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research has an extraordinary museum. Watch as they create a tiny tornado, see how lightening is created and begin to fathom why our planet (all too suddenly it seems) is turning hotter.
The Coors Brewery. Purported to be the planet’s largest brewing site, Coors still uses Rocky Mountain spring water to make its beer. Tours break down each step of the brewing process. In this case there are free samples of the product – assuming, of course, that you’re 21 or older.
Dinosaur Ridge. See the remnants of the biggest critters ever to have roamed the earth. Dinosaur Ridge harbors the relics of creatures such as Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus. There’s a guidebook available for self-guided tours of the ridge.
Denver is easily accessible by air. It’s a focus city for Southwest Airlines, a major hub for United and Frontier Airlines’ home base.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: drljohnson)
