Denver in May

[darbs]

Hi All! I am travelling to Denver in May and have never been before. We are flying in early Thursday morning and flying out Sunday around lunch. We have a conference all Thursday and Friday until lunch, after that we are just on our own. Since you guys are from all over and such worldly travelers, I thought I'd pick your brains a little bit. So any things we shouldn't miss while in Denver? Places to eat? Things to see? Anybody know what the weather is like mid-May? I am so excited about our trip! Oh, and if there is something great you can only do during the week (while I should be at this conference), tell me because really the BF is at the conference and since we work for the same company, they are letting me go even though it doesn't pertain to my job. I'll take any excuse to dip out of boring due diligence meetings!

[TavaPeak]

May in Colorado can be glorious...or snowy. Will you be in downtown Denver? You will want a jacket or sweater or polar fleece for cool evenings...or if you're downtown you can buy a warm layer if you get cold. Rockmount Ranch Wear

Otherwise, it will likely be sunny and in the 60s and 70s during the day? Sometimes we get a late-season snowstorm, but it's been a dry year. Coloradoans dress in layers, especially in spring.

I'm not an expert on Denver. But we love the Denver Natural History Museum for its gem and mineral collection - you can see the amazing plate of crystals found at the Sweet Home Mine. The Art museum will have the "Read My Pins" exhibit from Madeleine Albright by then, I think. ;-) People love the LoDo area and the 16th Street Mall (which has a free trolley that shuttles back & forth). Tea at the Brown Palace Hotel is really fun. You might enjoy driving to Boulder and exploring that on Saturday, or finding one of Denver's great walking/hiking trails.

[WhiteStar]

Anybody know what the weather is like mid-May?

Well it will "probably" be quite nice and springlike, cool in the evenings. But we have had our fair share of snow in May too, so just be prepared!

As for what to see in Denver, quite honestly from my perspective it's just another city like most other cities and I don't care for cities. And unfortunatly, unlike Colorado Springs which sits at the very base of the mountains, Denver is far enough away from them that it doesn't even feel like the Rockies. I'd suggest getting in your car, heading out on 70 West and drive until it's beautiful (which will only take half hour or so). Stop in Breckenridge (which is a little further) or go all the way to Vail and walk along the river. Soak up the gorgeousness....

[TavaPeak]

LOL I guess I should have suggested a Saturday drive to Colorado Springs! You can walk in Garden of the Gods, eat at The Margarita at Pine Creek, visit Palmer Park or the Olympic Training Center. Or hike up Barr Trail on Pikes Peak, haha. Just be sure not to conflict with Air Force Academy graduation weekend -- traffic is terrible then. ;-)

[Moose]

I grew up in Colorado Springs. TavaPeak is correct under no circumstances to you want to conflict with Academy graduation weekend. Barr Trail is beautiful if you're used to the altitude, if not, might avoid that one. Again as TavaPeak said, you do want to be prepared for weather. You can, and often do, see all four seasons in a day.

In Denver if you have a car head west to Idaho Springs and have a pizza a Beau Jos, be sure to get the wholewheat crust. I love the Denver Botanical Gardens. If you need shopping head to Park Meadows south of Denver.

If you go to Boulder walk the Pearl Street Mall. It's a street shut off to vehicles. Its not an indoor mall. You can see some pretty interesgting stuff there. Estes Park is one of the most beautiful places in the state. If the Trail Ridge Road is open its well worth the drive.

Take some ibuprofen or something like that with you. Take it at the first hint of a head ache and drink at least twice as much water as usual. The altitude can get to you if you're not used to it. Sounds silly, but it really does bother people.

Enough jabbering, hope you have a wonderful time,
Moose

[AVService]

I love the Denver area and concur with all of the suggestions and have a few more.
You didn't mention your interests though so it makes it kind of tough to zero in on ideas?

The weather in general is nice but as has been said all of Colorado requires being ready for anything at all times or being sorry about it.

I like the Cherry Creek area if you stay in the Denver area and there is always the Tattered Cover that you can take some time to browse through.
The Hammonds Candy Company gives tours through the factory and it is pretty interesting really and of course Tasty too.
The food in Denver is great and there are plenty of little ethnic spots. I especially like the Jerusalem Cafe on Colorado Blvd. and trust me you can not judge that book by its cover.

All throughout the University Park area there are great places to eat and see and LODO is a popular area for good reason too.
There is nothing like Boulder anywhere I have been and the Springs is very interesting too but both can be very crowded at graduation as has been noted already.

Denver has the 2nd most days of sunshine in the country and the most Parkland of any other city too and there are trails all over the place and decent maps around to get an idea about where to go if that is what you want.

I stay in Cherry Creek and between the shopping,Eating and Walking or Riding it is easy to spend a few days on foot I think.

Have Fun

Ed

[TavaPeak]

Ed, I haven't eaten at the Jerusalem Cafe since I was in grad school! Loved it. Had no idea it was still there. My fave Jewish deli on Colorado Blvd. is gone now, though.

[TavaPeak]

I grew up in Colorado Springs. TavaPeak is correct.... Moose

Dear Moose, Please tell me you did NOT attend Mitchell High school. Love, Ms. Thunderbird

[AVService]

Ed, I haven't eaten at the Jerusalem Cafe since I was in grad school! Loved it. Had no idea it was still there. My fave Jewish deli on Colorado Blvd. is gone now, though.

We are in Denver every Thanksgiving and it is the only place open that night! Last year we walked in and the 5 tables were all filled(a first for us to see) ad they asked if we wanted to sit "Upstairs"? We looked puzzled and said sure so they walked through the Kitchen and up 3 stairs to the sort of covered new deck they put outside,it was FREEZING and windy but the food was great as always.

We spend Thanksgiving morning at the Broadmoor Brunch with relatives from Santa Fe and then drive back to Denver and always end up that night at the J Cafe.

The best Deli I have found is on Hampden at Monaco and I always try to stop there too.

Too much food too little time!

[Moose]

Dear Moose, Please tell me you did NOT attend Mitchell High school. Love, Ms. Thunderbird

Heaven forbid such a tragedy, go Thunderbirds.

As for AVService's Tattered Cover suggestion, absolutley, I completely forgot about it. Next to Chinook (if it still exists) it's the only real book store on the planet.

Take care,
Moose

[apbailey]

Everyone is missing my favorite Denver attraction - Red Rocks! It's worth the short drive to see an amazing view of the city and surrounding areas. Also see: Botanic Gardens, walk around Lodo (lower downtown) and Platte River area, drive up to Boulder or just get lost in the foothills.

What kind of food do you like? I have too many favorite restaurants to mention. Top on my list is Linger (great views of downtown), Root Down, TAG (Larimer Square), Fruition (tiny restaurant that has some of the best food in Denver), Biker Jim's Gormet Dogs (cheap yet amazing), Snooze (brunch, be prepared to wait), Steuben's Food Service (50s interior comfort food), ChoLon Modern Asian Bistro (pan Asian)... I eat out too much

[TavaPeak]

Chinook of blessed memory is gone. The owners retired and didn't find suitable successors to take it over. Argh!

Re: Mitchell. I'm so relieved, Moose.

[kcarroll55]

Chinook of blessed memory is gone. The owners retired and didn't find suitable successors to take it over. Argh!

Re: Mitchell. I'm so relieved, Moose.

Oh dear - I graduated Mitchell class of 73. Does that mean I'm not allowed here anymore? Which school are the T-birds from? Surely not Wasson!?!?!?

Sorry to hear Chinook closed. Was a heck of a place.

[TavaPeak]

Dear kcarroll55,
Tom Bihn World is all about camaraderie, mindfulness, community, unfettered adventure. Encouraging cross-cultural exchange and world peace through thoughtful gear and diversity in portable culture. So let me put away my class ring and my "Mangle the Marauders" pin, and extend the warm hand of friendship to you. --Ms. Wasson Class of 'XX

[Moose]

kcarroll55, Personally I'm a class of cough-cough T-bird. Here's one for you, my daughter is a Palmer grad. Yeah, I know...

Back on topic for a moment, is the Bean Bandit still around? Don't know about today but they used to have the best Mexican food to be found. I ate there, well, let's say a few times.
Oh, and as AVService mentioned, I second the Broadmoor, my mother used to cook there. Drive up the hill to the Will Rogers Shrine or the zoo. Its a short but pretty drive.
Take care,
Moose