Denver!

[SATX*APhi]

I know there are several Denver folks on here so I go to you for help.

I'll be in Denver the second week of September and would like some suggestions regarding places to shop, dine, and have an adult beverage or two. I am not in any way familiar with Denver but know that we are staying at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center. We may rent a car for a day or two but will be without one for a majority of the time that we are there.

Help!

(thanks in advance)

[DeltAlum]

Crap -- I just wrote an epic and lost it before posting. Damned computers.

I think I'll try to condense a little, anyway.

The Tech Center is a little over ten miles South of Downtown along I-25, also known as The Valley Highway.

The Hyatt, Denver Tech Center is a pretty nice hotel where our international conference (Karnea) was held about three years ago. I assume they've gotten it cleaned up after The Delts where there. Just kidding.

The really good news is that a new Light Rail leg runs right along I-25 to both Park Meadows Mall to the South (called a "retail resort" when it was opened within the past ten years or so). All of the "national" brand stores are there, as well as a number of franchise restaurants. If you're a walker, I think you can probably walk to the nearest light rail station. This leg of light rail is less than a year old, safe, and resonably priced.

Belleview Avenue, just South of your hotel has a number of very nice (some are a little pricey) restaurants that would be within a VERY short cab ride -- or the hotel might even take you in one of their shuttle or limos.

Ask the concierge or front desk for their recommendations.

If you want clubs, take the train North to LoDo (Lower Downtown) which is a redeveloped area adjacent to Coors Field, just North of downtown. There are MANY fun places. Not at all far from LoDo, you can catch the free Sixteenth Street (pedestrian) Mall shuttle which passes a number of restaurants like The Palm -- or ESPN Zone. On the other end of the mall, The Denver Pavillions hosts a Hard Rock or other places like Wolfgang Pucks. If you don't like "packaged" places, there are other non-franchise and less touristy places, but I'm having a brain fade at the moment. Again, the hotel can recommend places. The Mall Shuttle ends just a block or so from the Colorado Capitol with its gold dome.

Of course, if you rent a car, you're only a couple hours away from Keystone, Vail or Breckenridge. They've got some very nice places to indulge your taste buds.

Depending on your time and tastes in entertainment, check to see if one of our professional sports teams is in town. Take Light Rail and follow the crowds. If you're into theatre, check the schedule at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts to see what Broadway touring company, local production, Colorado Ballet or Colorado Symphony might be presenting. I'm pretty sure that "Spamalot" is here between September 18 and October 7 -- but that might be a hard ticket to come by. I saw it in New York, and it's an absolute stitch!

Hope this helps some without being too specific. Denver has just about anything you might look for.

ETA that Denver weather is unpredictible, but the average daytime temperature in September is in the high 70's and average precip for that month is less than two inches. There is a 70% chance of sunshine, but daytime/nighttime temperature swings tend to be greater here. It might get down into the 50's at night, so don't come without a jacket. Not too bad, though.

Hope you have a great time while you're here.