The Mile High City
“The Mile High City - where urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure”
Denver is an outdoor city known for it’s cultural attractions, thriving craft breweries, chef driven dining and red hot music scene all within easy reach of the Rocky Mountains.
It would have been criminal to end my epic American National Parks adventure in Denver and fly straight home so naturally I booked myself a hotel room and decided to work through the checklist of Mile High Must Do’s, a slight diversion to my typical weekend wandering ventures.
From the time we drove to the airport and saw the blue stallion with red glowing eyes I knew this city was definitely different and yet so worth exploring. Armed with a list of must do’s I set out to make the most of my Friday evening and Saturday in this beautiful city.
“Feel Like what it’s like to be one mile high” - the 13th step of the Colorado State Capital is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level - one mile high. The step actually has a mile marker but when you are alone that is one thing that you can’t accomplish in a selfie, standing on the step and getting the mile marker below your feet. Unfortunately being Saturday the building was closed to visitors but I did enjoy exploring this exclusive Capital Hill neighborhood which is one of the oldest and yet vibrant neighborhoods in Denver.
The City Council Building faces the State Capitol building across the Civic Center Park. Designed in a beaux-arts neoclassical style, the façade features two curved wings with ionic columns and a carillon tower topped with a golden eagle. It is a beautiful building which took 26 years and 39 architects to complete.
In fact as I walked around the complex in search of the US Mint I heard the melodious ringing of the bells.
The Lindsey Flannery Courthouse building provides a bold modern contrast to the State Capitol and City Council buildings.
The United States Mint was created by Congress on April 2, 1792. President George Washington placed the Mint under the supervision of the Department of State. The Mint was made an independent agency in 1799, and under the Coinage Act of 1873 became a bureau of the Treasury Department. The bureau was named the United States Mint in 1984.
The Mint manufactures and ships all U.S. coins for circulation to the Federal Reserve Banks and branches, which issue coins to the public and the business community through depository institutions. Being a Saturday this was another building that while usually open to visitors was closed.
I have discovered that I don’t have a good sense of direction even following google maps since I ended up taking a circuitous route to the mint which as you can see I did finally locate.
On to the 16th Street Mall which is a one mile pedestrian promenade in the heart of downtown Denver. Lined with flowers, public art, outdoor cafes and a wide variety of shopping options it is served by a free hybrid shuttle that stops at every street corner that bisects the mall making it convenient to rest your feet.
A renovated 1914 beaux arts train station, Denver Union Station is downtown’s transportation, dining, shopping and entertainment hub. I visited it twice, once to check off the top 10 things to do in Denver and the second time to take an Amtrak train through the Rocky Mountains on the last leg of my epic journey.
The 40 foot high Blue Bear (officially named “I see what you mean” by local artist Lawrence Argent) in front of the Colorado Convention Center is one of the many public art sculptures around town.
I hugged the bear and then had one of the groups of people taking pictures take one for me as well. No selfies here.
The D & F tower that features Night Lights Denver, a digital art projection on the tower. I had decided to go to 54 Thirty a roof top bar which ended up being closed due the high wind that had started to blow by the evening. Instead I found myself at the Peaks Lounge in the Hyatt Regency across the street that is actually higher than the roof top bar where I enjoyed watching the sun set and the city light up.
At one of the street corners of the 16th Street Promenade was an open air market selling all manner of goods. This whimsical cow with it’s facts and figures about Denver is such a perfect representation of the whimsical nature of this city.
When your Uber driver gives you a restaurant recommendation and then your hotel front desk names the same restaurant it’s best to take the recommendation and visit. I did for some excellent tacos and margaritas and the atmosphere was definitely eclectic. Dare I say a welcome change from the beef and burgers that had been standard fare along the national parks trail.