[I_Like_Plants]

The Mile High flea market is a good call - especially for the eats. Never forget our guest here is British, used to eating things like "spotted dick", "toad in the hole" and deep-fried Mars bars for God's sake.

[Laughs_Last]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('http://www.milehighfleamarket.net', 'T')he food is fun at Mile High Flea Market. If you just like to snack or if you want a whole meal, fabulous foods served from flea market operated food and drink stands will tempt your tastebuds. Succulent corn-on-the-cob roasted in the husk and dipped in butter. Giant grilled turkey legs, hot dogs, ice cream, pizza, popcorn, cotton candy and ice cold drinks.

[Kingcoal]

$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.

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!

[I_Like_Plants]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Laughs_Last', '
')Do they have roast corn-in-husk in the UK? For that matter do they have it throughout the USA, or is it just a Midwest thing like hotdish?

[ColossalContrarian]

Denver’s great! The weather can be mixed up a bit this time of year but it’s nice because bad weather doesn’t last long.
Sporting events, bands, and bars in the city and a sportsman’s dream 20 miles away... really can’t beat it.
Crime is present but not bad. I lived in one neighborhood where I’d walk my girlfriend out to her car at night because some people would consider it a rough area but it isn’t anything compared to parts of LA I’m sure, mostly just wanted to score brownie points

- Roughly what weather should I expect? Cold/hot? Dry/wet?
mixed up but generally in the 70’s and dry that/this time of year

- Is it a nice peaceful place ... or a centre of armed criminality?
I find it chill…
- How many $ should I allow for basic meals? And for a fancy restaurant meal?
$10 for lunch, $20 for diner

- Very important: what does a beer at a bar cost??
2-4$ at bars and $6+ at sporting events and concerts.
- Is there any "do NOT miss this" tourist spot in Denver?
Lots of cool places, maybe rent the movie “Things to do in Denver when you’re dead” –never seen it but I hear it’s good.

And as others have pointed out… Transit is ok but not like Chicago or New York.

[SoothSayer]

Many thanks for the advice everyone!

I suspect that I'll stick to the town centre area ... I don't fancy renting a car ... driving on the wrong side of the road and sitting in what should be the front passenger seat would freak me out!

I will however see if I can persuade one of my braver colleagues to rent a car so we can see a bit of the place!

[I_Like_Plants]

Sooth I know what you mean, I ever go to England I'm walking or taking a cab or something! Imagine having to drive on the wrong side of the road, from the "shotgun seat"!

There are buses and cabs and things, you still haven't said if you're staying with people or what, if you are, chances are good they'll feel obligated and proud to drive you all over hell and gone....

[Laughs_Last]

Taking a cab downtown from the airport will probably cost $50. Bus fare would be $8 per person. Some hotels have a free shuttle service.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SoothSayer', 'D')enver experts may also be able to tell me if there is such a thing as a German / Bavarian bar/restaurant in town?

[Eli]

I would hit the Flying Dog Brew pub and The Rock Bottom Brewery there is also a place called Pints Pub that looked great GIS Denver Brew Pubs.

If you have not had one before and you like steak you really should try an American style steak dinner but be prepared to spend some cash.

Get one of your friends to rent a car with GPS and you will be OK, just try to stay off the interstate during rush hour which in Denver is any time between 6:00 am and 8:00pm.

[PeakOiler]

lol @ the weather forecast tonight in Denver!
See Denver Weather Link

I hope our friend took some warm clothing or at least is crawling the brew pubs and restaurants using the horse-drawn tour wagons through downtown Denver...

[jdmartin]

If you've got the time, I would definitely venture down to Colorado Springs. My brother & sister both live there and I've stayed several weeks at a time. If for no other reason than to see Garden of the Gods.

Garden of the Gods is kind of like the old Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote cartoons. Great big red rocks, bigger than buildings, apparently balanced on little bitty rocks about the size of a watermelon. Huge monoliths that you can watch crazy people rappel from or climb up. Most of the rocks are actually one single rock worn away by erosion. I've been there several times and immensely enjoyed it each time.

Pike's Peak is interesting to visit but I would not drive up there being from England - hell, I won't drive up there being from the US!

If you've got time to kill in Denver, you can head northwest into the old mining towns -blackhawk et al - they're all gambling meccas now but with a lot of the old fascade buildings still intact - at least the last time I was there, which was several years ago.