Please tell me about denver

[LoveDopey]

I will be there in 3 weeks for a 4 day conference. This will be the first time I've ever travelled alone -- no husband, no children, no co-workers. I will have 2 free afternoons and every evening free. I've looked at the shopping in downtown Denver and know that that will fill a few hours

I'd like to know how safe it is in the evenings in the downtown area, what time does it get dark, and any suggestions for evening entertainment. I should clarify that -- I'm middle aged, not a party girl. I'm not sure how comfortable I will be going out on my own but I guess I'll have to try.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[cjb1879]

I was last there seven years ago, but I do remember a pretty neat open-air shopping center downtown. I don't remember the name, however.

Another thing my sister and I enjoyed was a visit to Molly Brown's house (of Titanic fame). Seeing the period specific furniture and architecture was really cool. I remember the guide kind of let us explore the second floor on our own and my sister and I went in different directions. While looking around one of the bedrooms, a creepy/prickly sort of feeling came over me and I rushed back out to the landing just in time to see my sister exiting another room with a frightened look on her face. We both went to find our guide and didn't leave his side for the rest of the tour! We don't much believe in supernatural occurences like this, but our simultaneous scare had us believing there was something a bit extraordinary about that house. A few years later, a brief feature on the house showed up on the Travel Channel about the creepy experiences people have at the house and our guide from that day was narrating! We were completely floored since we'd never mentioned what we felt to anyone at the house that day, believing we were only being silly. Nevertheless, the tour of the house was an interesting one and I'd recommend a visit while you are in Denver!

 

[LoveDopey]

I guess I should add I'm from Canada. This will be my 3rd trip to the States this year - 2 vacation, 1 business. I'm trying to help stimulate the economy by shopping.

I'll have to read up on Molly Brown -- that sounds eerie.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I was there for vacation a few years ago. I loved the Museum of Natural History out there. The Capitol building is worth a look at least...it has a gold dome, which is really cool. If you have time, I'd drive up a little bit into the mountains just to look around at the scenery. Beaujo's (spelling?) pizza is really good. LoDo (short for Lower Downtown) can be dangerous at times, but is definitely the party area of the city.

 

[FireDancer]

If you are into outdoor sports Denver is great. There are outdoor paths everywhere to run/walk/hike and if you can get your hands on a bike it is a great city for cycling. The outdoor mall I know of is in Boulder, which is just outside of town. It is the Pearl Street Mall.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Hi, and thanks for planning to stimulate the local economy!

I live in a southern suburb of Denver. I really don't get into downtown too much anymore, but used to work there and still visit occasionally. Where are you staying? Will you have a car?

There is a pedestrian mall in Denver, called the 16th Street Mall. The street is closed to cars, but there are free busses that run up and down, stopping at every cross street. Just hop on and hop off when you need to. There are lots of shops and restaurants along the mall, some are really cheap, touristy things, but some are nicer. Two small shopping centers, the Tabor Center and Denver Pavillions have nicer stores, as does the Larimer Square area (Larimer Street between 14th and 15th Streets, I think). Pavillions has a movie theater, too.

I second the Molly Brown House as a good place to visit downtown. It's an interesting tour. The Brown Palace Hotel is also worth a look. It was built in the 1890's IIRC, and it's beautiful. I believe they do high tea there (go to the website to be sure). The Ship Tavern in the hotel is a nice place to sit and have a drink.

I think of the downtown area as very safe, especially if you stay in the 16th Street Mall area. The Brown Palace is just a block off the mall at 17th Street, and I would have no problem walking there from downtown hotels at night. The Molly Brown House is within walking distance, but off in a more residential area of downtown. It's not unsafe, but less people would be around, so personally I probably wouldn't walk there at night alone. Just take the normal precautions you'd take in any city and you'll be fine.

If you have a car, the mountains are beautiful. You may be here when the aspen trees are turning, and a drive into the mountains to see the brilliant yellow colors is just gorgeous.

Downtown, there's also a nice acquarium, the Colorado History Museum, Denver Art Museum. There's a doll and miniatures museum, but I believe you'd need a car or cab to get to it. Hmm, what else are you interested in? What do you like to do?

 

[LoveDopey]

Thanks for the info. I've never been anywhere alone but I'm hoping to get in some shopping and sightseeing. I see no point in sitting in a hotel room for 4 days. I've actually never even been in a restaurant alone so this should be interesting.

Stupid question -- what time does it get dark in the evening?