[SoothSayer]

Hi,

I'm visiting Denver from the UK in a couple of weeks.

I have a few questions which some nice person might be able to help with:

- Roughly what weather should I expect? Cold/hot? Dry/wet?

- Is it a nice peaceful place ... or a centre of armed criminality?

- How many $ should I allow for basic meals? And for a fancy restaurant meal?

- Very important: what does a beer at a bar cost??

- Is there any "do NOT miss this" tourist spot in Denver?

Denver experts may also be able to tell me if there is such a thing as a German / Bavarian bar/restaurant in town?

Also, I haven't travelled to the US since 9/11. What sort of airline security is in place?
Can I carry a mobile phone, camera, keys, books, notebook PC, electric shaver etc in the cabin?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[PeakOiler]

Denver Chamber of Commerce

I used to live in Federal Heights, a northern suburb of Denver.

You'll want to bring some warm clothing, as Denver is known to have snow events well into May.
Like all big cities, Denver has some parts that you don't want to be in late at night, but generally it is a friendly town, (except towards Texans.)
See the link above for current meal prices.
Beers at a bar are probably around $4/bottle.
I would check out the Stapleton area, which was mentioned in the movie End of Suburbia as being a New Urbanist development. (Haven't been there myself, since that area was redeveloped after the former Stapleton International airport was shut down and after I moved.)

Edited to add pic showing what it can look like in late April in Federal Heights.


lol at those old lab glasses (without the side shields) I was wearing. The pic was taken in 1991.

[Laughs_Last]

Check the local weather forecast a day or two before you leave, Denver 10-Day Forecast at weather.com. Denver has a reputation for being sunny nearly all the time.

Meal costs start at around $4, at McDonald's or Taco Bell. I usually spend $6 to $12 per meal for good food. I think "nice" ranges from $12 to $20. I'm sure that there are fancy places charging anywhere from $25 to $250, but I never go to places like that.

When I am truly frugal, I can get a single banana at a grocery store for about $0.25

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SoothSayer', '-') Roughly what weather should I expect? Cold/hot? Dry/wet?

[KhanCEO]

I live in Colorado Springs, which is about 50 miles south of Denver. I've been to Denver a few times, most of Denver feels like a huge mexican ghetto. There are a few places you should check out while in Denver.

The first is Dave and Busters . Dave and Busters is basically a huge arcade that serves beers etc. Drinks are about 4 dollars each, give or take a dollar. 30 dollars will buy you alot of arcade time.

DragonMan Arms If you have time to drive to Dragon Man, please do. Anyone from the U.K. should see this place, it is a gunshop/paintballpark/WW2Museum/bikepark that sells class 3 weapons (that means full auto assault rifles). Most of the weapons are displayed on the walls. Dragon man also has a huge collection of WW2 weapons, machine guns, tanks, armored transport vehicles, (Yes he has a real WW2 tank) halftracks with quadguns. When I was there I saw someone riding around the property in an APC. You need to see this place! Really, the whole world could go to shit and the guy that owns this place could destory anyone who messed with him. Hangers full of stuff you wont see anywhere esle.

If your leaving Denver you need to take the I-25 south to Colorado Springs (50 mile trip), exit on East Fillmore St heading east (then Fillmore curves and goes south). Make a left on Platte go east, make a right on highway 94 (still going east for about 15 miles). Then make a left on Curtis road (you will see signs that say Dragon Man arms make left turn). Less than a mile north is Dragonman Drive. You should check this place out, even though its about 65 miles away from Denver.

[I_Like_Plants]

Anyplace in the US is going to be a hotbed of crime unless you're coming from one of those bad neighborhoods in England like 8 Ace or Ratboy from the VIZ Comic live in...

Beer is cheap, it's also overpriced for what it is since it's cheap piss with a headache in every can/bottle in the US. I warned you. Fortunately, imported stuff is proabably the same or less than you're used to paying in England so you'll be ok in the suds department.

There is essentially one AM radio station in the area - KOA, you can listen to G. Gordon Liddy! Right wing rants galore! There is one FM station, KILO, lots of mullet-head rage music but a fair amount of alternative too.

Gun clubs abound - do pop in and have a shot, as long as you're over 18 you can rent a gun an ammo and blast away. For the real "insurgent" experience, see if Dragon Man is still in business in Colorado Springs....

I lived in the Springs for a couple of years, some interesting stuff there, you can visit NORAD, the olympic center, Focus On The Family, all kinds'a stuff. There's also Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods.

Forget getting around if you or people you're staying with don't have a car. This is true in 99% of the US. Colorado is a very "red" state.

For a possibly hippy experience, there's Boulder, I may consider popping up there myself while I still have the Prius, once my caricature-doodling skills are more developed, so I can try to have the trip pay for itself.

Baseball season is on, so you might try catching a game, that's a kind of American thing to do also

Enjoy your visit!

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'F')orget getting around if you or people you're staying with don't have a car. This is true in 99% of the US. Colorado is a very "red" state.

[Eli]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'A')nyplace in the US is going to be a hotbed of crime unless you're coming from one of those bad neighborhoods in England like 8 Ace or Ratboy from the VIZ Comic live in...

Beer is cheap, it's also overpriced for what it is since it's cheap piss with a headache in every can/bottle in the US. I warned you. Fortunately, imported stuff is proabably the same or less than you're used to paying in England so you'll be ok in the suds department.

[Laughs_Last]

http://www.rtd-denver.com/ <--- that's the website for the Denver transit system. It looks like the transit trains don't reach the airport.

[Mechler]

Weather: Definitely dress in layers as the temperature can swing greatly during the day.

You'll be at altitude (5,000 ft) and it's dry, so be sure to drink more (water) than you normally would.

As others have said, there are probably places to avoid, but it's a pretty safe place. I wouldn't go to unfamiliar places at night, but that's true just about anywhere.

Food: $5-$20, depending on what you like. I'm sure downtown you can spend more, but you don't have to.

Places to see: I'm not sure if any of these are must see, but just some ideas...

16th Street Mall - a street (16th) in the middle of downtown that's closed to traffic. Has a lot of restaurants, shops, etc.

Boulder - nice town, definitely more liberal. Chataqua (sp?) Park is right on the edge of the mountains and has great hiking and views. I highly recommend that if you're into hiking.

Denver Science Museum and Zoo - no big mystery here, but they are nice.

If you want, you can PM me and I can give you other recommendations based on where you're staying and what your interests are.

Airport security: it's easiest if you don't carry on any liquids. All electronics should be fine. No lighters, matches, blades.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Laughs_Last', 'h')ttp://www.rtd-denver.com/ <--- that's the website for the Denver transit system. It looks like the transit trains don't reach the airport.

[frankthetank]

I've been to Denver and thought its traffic was worse then Chicago. You are either going 100 or your stopped (for another auto accident, of course). Outside Denver is gorgeous. I recommend going up to MT. Evans, but that'll be closed until June? I noticed that the people were a lot thinner then the Wisconsinites i see, but maybe thats changed. Lots of SUV's...like everywhere. Hot/dry and stinky in the day and cold @ night.

I wouldn't mind going back out there, except stay 100 miles away from Denver!

The day we were on Mt. Evans, it was 40F (sunny) and it was in the mid 80's in Denver...very cool!

Edit:I think you can still take the tour in Golden and drink free beer??

[Eli]

Yeah the trafic is hell in Denver that is for sure, and you are much better off renting a car. I would hate to see how much a taxi from the airport to downtown would cost.

Airport security is a joke, and nothing to worry about just get to the airport earlier when leaving. But the Denver airport has lots of places to self medicate before your flight leaves.

I know there are some great steak places that you should check out I have never been to Elway's but hear that it is good.


People are in better shape overall in Denver most of them are outdoors nuts. They Ski in the winter and hike in the spring and summer.

[frankthetank]

I'm not lying, I saw a dude on a roadbike that had to be 60+ going up a hill my CAR had trouble getting up (STEEP). We witnessed bicyclists all over this road (it was an alternate road or something that led up to Idaho Springs, me thinks i got lost). The climate out there really is awesome for outdoors people (dry/warm/snowy @ times). They really don't see the extreme chill we see over in the midwest due to the blocking effect of the rockies.

You could try Ted's Montana Grill ... i bet that place would be awesome.

http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com/locations_006.html

[I_Like_Plants]

If you go to the Springs, you can go to the Olympic Training Center, then if you're facing the front gate of that, turn right and walk up the street, you'll end up in an actual white ghetto! Do check out the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) store and all the little one-man-operation thrift/pawn shops.......

[Mechler]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Klu Klux KlanCEO', 'I') live in Colorado Springs, which is about 50 miles south of Denver. I've been to Denver a few times, most of Denver feels like a huge mexican ghetto. There are a few places you should check out while in Denver.

[I_Like_Plants]

I'll second the vote for the Garden of the Gods, very nice nature place with red rock formations jutting out of beautiful green pasturelike areas, and a nice trail to walk around the whole thing. Don't sit and watch/poke at an anthill though or a ranger will come and tell you to not poke the anthill.... hehe. As with these areas generally, there are maps and guides and things so you can choose which trails to walk on and learn some of the animals and birds and plants and things.

[DesertBear2]

If you had a little time and wanted to rent a car, I would suggest a little side trip up to 14,000ft. Mount Evans. It's a Denver City Park and is about a 3 hour round trip. You can hike or drive right to the top. You could stop at Red Rocks Park on the way up.

Another great place is the Mile High Flea Market that is NW of town. You will get a great dose of Denver characters and culture. It has something like 5,000 different vendor spots and lots of good eats.