Want to Live on the Edge?
As you head out of town, the limit increases to 65 mph. Here’s an insider tip: the police rigorously patrol the highway in and out of the airport, so resist the urge to put the pedal to the metal. Public transportation: Denver is still playing catch-up when it comes to contemporary methods of public transportation, but the Regional Transportation District or RTD operates numerous bus routes and a limited light rail system. Service within Denver and to the outlying suburbs and communities is prompt and plentiful, and there are 65 Park-n-Ride locations throughout the Denver-Boulder area for stowing your car.
Amble over to ESPN Zone (1187 16th St) for a fun-filled morning of interactive sports games, sure to test your competitive edge. 3 days: Today, test your luck on the slot machines in the picturesque mountain town of Central City, home of the world-renowned Central City Opera House (400 S. Colorado Blvd) and its neighboring casinos. In the evening, sway to the sultry sounds of national stage talent at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret (1601 Arapahoe St), a sumptuously sexy nightclub headlined by Lannie Garret, Denver’s most versatile chanteuse. You’ll find virtual tennis, air hockey, hoop games, and much more. If it’s been a while since you’ve bowled, see how well you score at the Hollywood-esque Lucky Strike Lanes (500 16th St).
Below are suggestions on to best spots to check out during your stay. 1 day: Play a challenging 54-hole miniature golf course, race around an outdoor electric go-kart track in authentic NASCAR-themed speedsters, or zoom down a drag racing course at Highlands Hills Adventure Golf & Raceway (9650 N. Sheridan Blvd). Head next door for a gaggle of giggles and guffaws at Comedy Works (1226 15th St), the city’s most popular stage for both established (bold name headliners like Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld have performed there) and up-and-coming comedians. Chill out at 5 Degrees (1475 Lawrence St), a trendy lounge for cosmopolitan cool cats imbibing fancified cocktails and perfectly concocted martinis, like the OO7, a James Bond classic.
You can watch the kayakers splash, surf, and spin through the rapids, bike, rollerblade or walk along the paved trail, or take in a summer concert. If you’d rather just watch, hop aboard the Platte Valley Trolley for a 25-minute open-air riverfront ride that takes you between Confluence Park and the Children’s Museum. Also take the time to tour the sea — and its inhabitants — at the world-class Downtown Aquarium (700 Water St). Visitors can rent kayaking equipment from Confluence Kayaks (1615 Platte St).
There, you’ll encounter exotic fish, Sumatran tigers, moray eels, and stingrays. Want to live on the edge? 2 days: Walk and talk with the animals at the spacious Denver Zoo (23rd Ave and Steele St), home to more than 75,000 species of ubiquitous, unusual, and endangered critters. If your adventurous streak hasn’t run its course, don’t miss the spectacular REI flagship store (1416 Platte St), an outdoor-lover’s paradise that allows visitors to practice their rock-climbing skills, test-drive bikes, and practice their kayaking maneuvers on adjacent Cherry Creek.
After lunch, take a leap of faith and enter through the sculpted brass doors of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (1530 Logan St), one of the finest (and most overlooked) examples of French Gothic architecture in the region. The imposing exterior, constructed of acanthus stone and bolstered by a green ceramic tiled roof, is stunning, but so is the interior with its hand-painted, stained-glass windows and jaw-droppingly beautiful art.
