Denver, home to America's first Cheeseburger, is the most densely populated city in the state of Colorado. Also known as the Mile High City, due to its mile-high elevation above sea level, Denver is home to over 2.5 million residents. Founded around the mid-19th Century, nine years after the California Gold Rush, the city rapidly grew and expanded into the metropolitan hub that it is today.
Owing to its elevated geographical location, weather in the area is often mild and pleasant, with winters being short and gentle, and summers being long and enjoyable. The city experiences minimal snowfall and so tourist attractions and resorts are open for business all year long.
Denver is a diverse city, being home to Victorian style neighborhoods, casual, comfortable houses and fun-filled nightclubs all at once. The city is diverse in almost every sense of the word, whether it is comparing ethnicities, economic profiles, or cultures. It is a city with a rich, assorted history and a great number of landmark attractions that testify to this fact. Entertainment in the city ranges from high-profile clubs to historical landmarks, with something to interest everyone, both young and old. Denver also has a thriving sports culture with almost a dozen national level professional teams.
Denver, Colorado is actually a mile high. Denver sits at 5,280 feet above sea level which is exactly 1 mile. There is, as of June 2010, an estimated population of about 610,000. According to the National Weather Service, there is about 61 inches of snow in a normal year. But, also according to the National Weather Service, there is an average of 300 sunny days per year.
The Native American tribe that originally settled in the site, the Arapaho, remains in Denver as little but a name. The name “Arapaho” was more than likely derived from the Pawnee word meaning “trader.” The Arapaho called themselves the “bison path people.” Seven years after the Fort Laramie Treaty was finalized in 1851, which recognized the Denver area as Arapaho land, the treaty was undone when gold was discovered in the sands of Cherry Creek and the South Platte rivers in 1858. After this, the town of Denver was born.
The name, Denver, was derived from the Governor of the Kansas Territory, James W. Denver. Eastern Colorado, at the time, was still a part of the Kansas Territory. The Federal Government established the Colorado Territory in 1861 when there was an influx of some 100,000 people because of subsequent gold finds. Shortly thereafter, Denver's railway system was born and it elevated the town into the minting, banking and processing center for the gold that was found there and in other states. Denver became known for its breweries. The last surviving major brewery is Coors. Coors is now the third largest beer maker in the United States. Denver's economy thrives because of the skiing and tourism industries. Its economic base also includes aviation, electronics, computers and it has the largest communication center in the US. The U.S. Mint is also housed in Denver.
Denver's cost of living averages about 35% above national average. It is definitely not the cheapest place to live, with luxurious apartments in the range of $2,000, but the further out you get from downtown, the more affordable the housing is. Housing, whether renting apartments or houses, outside of the downtown area can generally run from $400 to $800, depending on how nice of a neighborhood you want to live in. Denver has a relatively mild climate, except for the approximate 61 inches of snow it gets per year. Denver does, though, enjoy 300 or more days of at least partial sunshine a year so, overall, it is a somewhat temperate climate.
Neighborhoods to check out if you are interested in moving there include the Lower Downtown area, where urban living is king with over 100 restaurants, many galleries and a varied amount of shops and clubs. Their loft apartments for rent are very chic but they are generally affordable. The Cherry Creek neighborhood is very high priced but very luxurious. The upscale apartments along the 22-mile stretch of the Cherry Creek River are for those that enjoy the good life and have the money to do it. The surrounding suburbs have lower cost apartments for rent but, of course, that means longer commutes and questionable neighborhoods.
Denver has always had a very diverse economy and, therefore a wide range of employment opportunities. Federal and State jobs are the most numerous in Denver. There are over 250 Federal offices within the city that accounts for a high amount of employment opportunities therein. These offices include the United States Mint, the Federal Reserve Board, US Customs and the Federal Court System, to name a few. The mining industry, another one that is high in employment opportunities, is not easy employment but it is good paying and has wonderful health benefits. The service industry booms especially in the winter when the snow enthusiasts come out to play. Industries on the rise include medical tech, aerospace and high-tech companies.
The unemployment rate is just about comparable to any other US city in that it has a rate of about 8.6%, which doesn't include seasonal workers, while the US rate hovers at about 9.2% as of August 2010. According to the Denver Times, Denver lost about 54,500 jobs in 2009. On the upside, in the first half of 2010 there was reported an increase of employment within the education and health services, leisure and hospitality services, and within the government.
The foods and restaurants in Denver thrive on contemporary fare. Many of the restaurants cater to the touristy but there are a lot of places that residents find fun and enjoyable. Take The White Chocolate Grill in Lone Tree, a suburb of Denver. The tourists and residents alike rub elbows with this down-home American restaurant. The foods are traditional to innovative and the restaurant has a jovial vibe that many enjoy every day. The menu features rustic sandwiches, grilled burgers and jambalaya but it also includes sesame crusted ahi tuna, salmon and, everyone's favorite, barbecued baby back ribs. As the name might suggest, The White Chocolate Grill is most famous for its deserts. These treats include molten chocolate soufflé cake, white chocolate raspberry cheesecake and freshly baked apple pie. Sounds delicious, doesn't it?
A very fun place to go is the Lumber Baron Inn and Mystery Dinner Theater. It is located in an historic Victorian Mansion in the Highland neighborhood. It was voted “2006 Best Bed & Breakfast in Denver.” The most famous aspect of the Lumber Baron Inn is its mystery, suspense and comedy dinners. Dinner, a truly gourmet fare, comes complete with entertainment. These murder-mystery shows invite guests to participate in the comedy-oriented themes. Dinners include a full buffet and they are always sell-outs.
Denver has a very active theater district that includes traditional and progressive art institutions such as the Denver Avenue Theater and the Center for the Performing Arts. The Denver Art Museum is a veritable showplace with its Western American and international collections. A popular museum for families is the Museum for Nature and Science. Denver also has many high-end art galleries and features many local and international fashion talents in some of the shopping districts. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit organization that encompasses an eclectic mix of Broadway shows, professional theater, dazzling venues and acting instruction. Annually the Center serves more than 75,000 patrons. The Center creates theater that engages, provokes and excites audiences and artists alike. They perform classics as well as newly written plays and shows. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts encompasses the Denver Center Theater Company, the Denver Center Attractions, the Denver Center Theater Academy, and the National Theater Conservatory.
Another fun arty surprise in Denver is the availability of Bill “Stretch” Coleman. He is a member of the Colorado Clown Association. His company, Stretch's Lair, features a group of stilt walker, clowns, giant (handmade) puppets, and clown trainers. He can be e-mailed at stretch@stiltwalker.com concerning prices and dates that he and his company is available.
Denver has an array of things to do and see that is just about unparalleled and unique in that there are so many. One of them is the Red Rocks Park. It is a premier site for hiking and biking but it is also an acclaimed live music amphitheater. Just 15 minutes outside of Denver, near Morrison, the Red Rocks Park is an 868 acre park that was once listed among the Seven Wonders of the World. One of the best attractions is two towering rocks that are actually taller than Niagra Falls at a whopping 300 feet. These two rocks are Ship Rock and Creation Rock. There is a 1.4 mile hiking trail called the Trading Post loop that meander through the rock formations that give a close-up view of the unique blend of animals that live in the mile-high park. The amphitheater has been named one of the best places to have a concert. This open-air amphitheater is enhanced substantially by the natural sound walls that are the massive rocks in the background. Several renowned acts, including the Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, The Beatles and John Denver have performed at the amphitheater.
The US Mint is definitely a site you must see. It originally opened in the mid-1800's to be a distributor and minter of the gold and silver found by the miners. It was bought by the US Treasury in 1863. It wasn't until 1906 that the Mint began making coins for the US, though. There are free tours available.
A very large part of the nightlife of Denver is drinking. Denver has a varied selection of select microbrews and breweries with a local western flavor. The locals and tourists alike are friendly and the various venues of nightlife are varied and probably not what one would expect. A different one is the Lucky Strike Lanes on 16th Street. It is a bowling alley and drinking establishment in one that attracts local older generation and the younger generation as well as tourists. The style of both the restaurant and bowling alley is in the 1950's kitsch style. The drinks are cheap but they are fully loaded.
Another place to go is LoDo, or Lower Downtown, Denver. It is full of inclusive see-and-be-seen bars which are nestled alongside packed sports bars. Of course, you can't leave out the Whiskey Bar on 16th Street. There are about 75 different kinds of whiskey that, if you even attempted the varied “Whiskey Tour” menu, your liver will run for the hills! The Coyote Ugly Saloon is a New York based bar chain that is always packed. It prides itself on being a one-sided meat market where the guys try to get the girls any way they can.
Almost all of the best shopping in Denver is in its outdoor shopping districts. There are many to choose from. The biggest feature of Denver's outdoor shopping experience is the 16th Street Mall which is an outdoor pedestrian mall over a mile long that is lined with restaurants, hotels, bars, spas and music stores. The Cherry Creek North Business District is Denver's version of Rodeo Drive. It encompasses multifunctional shopping and entertainment. The district is home to many casual shops and Birkenstock-friendly café's as well. The Cherry Creek North Business District also has galleries, boutiques and restaurants, all catering to the rich. Within the Cherry Creek North Business District, there is a monthly Art Walk galley tour that brings out the creative crowd who enjoys window-shopping and sitting and talking. Colfax Avenue, once lined with manicured mansions, now boasts trendy local boutiques as well as trendy new restaurants. And, lastly, the Denver Pavilions, though it may not be an outdoor shopping district, is great for entertaining tourists. There are three levels of shops as well as street performers that attract various Denver tourists, and residents alike, who are in search of fashion and fulfillment.
The best, at least according to patrons, spa in Denver is the Renaissance Aveda Spa and Salon. It's top of the line treatments and packages are pricey but they are priceless. For example, a “Renaissance of You” half-day package may cost $225 but it is an exhilarating and relaxing four hours of luxury and includes a 50-minute facial, a Total Body Massage and an anti-stress pedicure. Lunch is also included. Another great spa is New Spirit Wellness Center and Spa. It provides Denver residents and tourists alike a serene environment without the usual “spa attitudes.” It presents, and prides, itself as being the “Cheers” of spas with a very talented staff. They use all natural products and the treatments can be customizable.
If you want to bypass the spa and work the kinks out, there are numerous gyms out there for you. The five best gyms, in order, are the Cherry Creek Athletic Club, membership is required, the Corepower Yoga, free week and classes available online, the Qi Athletic Club, membership is required, 24 Hour Fitness, a small but serviceable place, and the Matrix Fitness and Spa. Denver is the place to find basic as well as high-end gyms and rec centers. The Mile High City has everything that one would expect a first-class ski-resort type destination would be like. Whether you live there or are just visiting, take in the sights. The glorious Rocky Mountains are waiting.
When staying in Denver, Colorado there are many accommodations to choose from to suit the needs of the vacationer. Homewood Suites Denver International Airport is equipped with a full kitchen and separate living area from the bedroom. Country Inn Suites is located by the airport as well and offers breakfast. The Magnolia Hotel is established in downtown Denver and has its own inclusive style. Hotel Teatro is a luxury hotel located in the downtown area of Denver that will meet all your needs, such as tickets to an event or dinner reservations, and is dog-friendly. If staying in a hotel is not what you have in mind for your getaway, Denver has an assortment of bed and breakfasts for your choosing. The Castle Marne is a bed and breakfast located in a 120-year-old home in downtown, with cozy rooms and homemade breakfast in the morning. Capitol Hill Mansion is another bed and breakfast to enjoy, and has a highly elegant tone. This historic home was built in 1891 and is located in downtown next to the Kirkland Museum. The rooms are all fully furnished with comfort in mind. No matter where you choose to stay you will find Denver has something to offer everyone. You can make reservations and enjoy an original meal at Denver's own Fruition Restaurant. Visit Mount Evans and the Kirkland Museum, enjoy Denver's very own Brew Cruise, or find out what Denver has to offer with the Denver Inside and Out Tour.
Denver is one of the more heavily populated cities in the country. With the large open spaces and fresh mountain air it is not hard to see why it would be a great place to live. A fun and interesting fact regarding its education system would be that the very first school in the city was a log cabin which opened its doors way back in 1859. Education has played an important part in the forming of the city and it remains so to this day. With excellent public schools Denver seeks to mold and build a strong foundation amongst its youths which is then solidified and refined to a true piece of art with the final step of its exemplary college institution.
The education that one can receive when attending the University of Denver is of the highest in the country. Being a private institute the tuition is somewhat higher, as it does not receive funding from the state. This also affords them the right to be rather selective when it comes to potential students. It is ranked as a Tier 1 school, 45th to be exact on a list of the top 100 schools in the country. Which means that it is above the average rating and better than a little over half of the other schools in the country, speaks a lot in terms of the academics that are offered.
With many activities available to stimulate growing minds, along with being so close to downtown Denver students are rarely if ever bored. This only adds to the appeal of attending the school even more, aside from the excellent education offered. There is little to no complaints about the school save for the tuition and somewhat snobbish attitude of the wealthier students. The University of Denver is a school of note that delivers a quality education to the students able to afford to go there and pass their qualifications.
Denver is known for its mountains which of course mean that they get a good deal of snow in the winter season. Snow has always been one of those forces of nature that has the ability to bring a city or town to its knees. Blocking roads, closing schools (much to the delight of kids everywhere and to the annoyance of many a working parents) snow is something that can cause some serious damage to those who are not properly prepared. As chance would have it, since this is what it truly is, Denver is actually prepared to deal with the snow when it comes and tries to pile up on their streets.
The downtown grid layout for the streets was fabricated and designed to allow for them to run parallel South Platte River and Cherry Creek. Because of this design when the streets were being laid out and created it came to be that the streets actually now had a natural means of helping with dealing with the snow. The positioning of the streets is such that both sections/directions of streets get the much needed sunlight which of course helps with melting the snow and thus keeping the streets clear come the snow season. Given how bad the snow can get in Denver this ‘accidental' street plotting is just one of those interesting little bits of info that those traveling to and through Denver may find interesting. It is tiny facts like these that may not seem important at the time when there is no snow, but is likely to be something worth commenting upon to those who may be worried as the snow begins to pile up during their visit. Cars, trucks and buses can travel with a bit more confidence down the streets of Denver knowing that the streets themselves are helping keep them clear of snow.
Denver, Colorado is a blend of city-country lifestyle, situated on the western High Plains and eastern Rocky Mountains. It is the capital city and considered the most populous in the entire Colorado State with more than 2.5 million residents. The fact that it is one mile above sea level, in elevation, has earned the place a nickname of Mile-High City, and it is a famous outdoor recreation hub. With leisurely urban lifestyle and cultural attractions, Denver City keeps increasing its stature among other cities in the United States. The historic mansions in the Capitol Hills combined with modern apartments and condominiums gives the place an impression of a young eclectic community. The Colorado State Capitol's exact address at 200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado 80203; it acts as an anchor for the hilltop neighborhood, with the 210-feet Immaculate Conception Gothic Cathedral as its focal point. The city houses five main divisions such as the Fire Department, Police Department, Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Local Government. A public library is also found in the city where people can have free access to any informative materials they need. For easier access, one can visit their website at www.denverlibrary.org. A rich history of culture, people, arts and nature is evident in the six impressive museums available in Denver, Colorado, including the Children's Museum of Denver where children gain knowledge while playing. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science highlights the natural sciences category. The Molly Brown House Museum located in 1340 Pennsylvania St, Denver, CO 80203 showcases the memoirs of Titanic survivor Molly Brown, who was a respected American philanthropist, activist and socialite. Founded in 1918, the famous Denver Art Museum housed a massive collection of over 68,000 artworks from all over the world and the distinct American Indian arts. People may also opt to visit the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art and the Forney Museum of Transportation which holds a collection of contemporary arts and historical vehicles and transportation pieces, respectively.
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