I've lived here for 5.5 years now. The Towneplace Suites Denver Southeast on Monaco Parkway is right next to the Southmoor light rail station, and is an easy walk through the tunnel under I-25. My husband stayed there for corporate housing when he started his job in Denver before we got all our things moved. It's a safe area, and SO convenient to hop on the light rail to go downtown.
One thing I've learned is that the rental car agencies at the airport REALLY stick it to the tourists, so if you can take a shuttle or taxi in and rent at a suburban location, you will save a LOT of money. We rent cars fairly often for road trips and long weekends in the mountains, and I have consistently found the best rates at the Avis/Budget location at the Sheraton hotel in the Denver Tech Center. The last time we rented a car over 4th of July, it was $200 at the suburban location, and almost $900 at the airport. Crazy, right?
I also recommend Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs if you rent a car. It is one of my family's favorite places in Colorado.
The usual touristy places in town are fun too...the Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Denver Mint, 16th Street Mall (and Pearl Street in Boulder). If you like beer, the Coors Brewery in Golden offers tours and complimentary beer after the tour (so does the Budweiser Brewery near Fort Collins, which would be close if you're going to Rocky Mountain National Park).
Mount Evans is a LOT of fun to drive, and not far at all from Denver. It's a little scary driving the switchbacks, but the scenery is incredible. And it's much cheaper (and closer) than driving Pike's Peak. Echo Lake is along the drive, and it is one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen.
Food wise, if you like German food, Helga's in Aurora is excellent. Best burgers in town are at Juicy Burgers and Dogs. We recently had great BBQ at LuLu's in Arvada, but I've heard Wayne's Smoke Shack in Superior is good. Best Mexican food I've ever had (and I'm from Texas, no less) is at Casa Mariachi in Parker (but that's a ways out of town, lol). The Denver Aquarium restaurant is pricey, but is actually quite good (it is part of the Landry's chain), and if you are there at the right time, you'll see the mermaids diving, which is pretty darn cool.
If you like airplanes/space, the Wings Over the Rockies Museum is really cool, and the Lowry Beer Garden right next to it has good food.
That's all I can think of for now. Hope it helps!
P.S. This is my favorite place to look for things to do in town:
http://www.milehighonthecheap.com/
One thing I've learned is that the rental car agencies at the airport REALLY stick it to the tourists, so if you can take a shuttle or taxi in and rent at a suburban location, you will save a LOT of money. We rent cars fairly often for road trips and long weekends in the mountains, and I have consistently found the best rates at the Avis/Budget location at the Sheraton hotel in the Denver Tech Center. The last time we rented a car over 4th of July, it was $200 at the suburban location, and almost $900 at the airport. Crazy, right?
I also recommend Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs if you rent a car. It is one of my family's favorite places in Colorado.
The usual touristy places in town are fun too...the Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Denver Mint, 16th Street Mall (and Pearl Street in Boulder). If you like beer, the Coors Brewery in Golden offers tours and complimentary beer after the tour (so does the Budweiser Brewery near Fort Collins, which would be close if you're going to Rocky Mountain National Park).
Mount Evans is a LOT of fun to drive, and not far at all from Denver. It's a little scary driving the switchbacks, but the scenery is incredible. And it's much cheaper (and closer) than driving Pike's Peak. Echo Lake is along the drive, and it is one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen.
Food wise, if you like German food, Helga's in Aurora is excellent. Best burgers in town are at Juicy Burgers and Dogs. We recently had great BBQ at LuLu's in Arvada, but I've heard Wayne's Smoke Shack in Superior is good. Best Mexican food I've ever had (and I'm from Texas, no less) is at Casa Mariachi in Parker (but that's a ways out of town, lol). The Denver Aquarium restaurant is pricey, but is actually quite good (it is part of the Landry's chain), and if you are there at the right time, you'll see the mermaids diving, which is pretty darn cool.
If you like airplanes/space, the Wings Over the Rockies Museum is really cool, and the Lowry Beer Garden right next to it has good food.
That's all I can think of for now. Hope it helps!
P.S. This is my favorite place to look for things to do in town:
http://www.milehighonthecheap.com/
