Denver, Colorado

[bgpro611]

I'm going to Denver in a few weeks for business. My wife and I are going to stay for a week after the meetings that I look foward to so much are over. Anybody have suggestions for interesting day trips? I'm planning on taking a 17-55 and 14-24 with my D-700. Do you suggest a 70-200 also? I'm trying to keep things somewhat light and compact.

[picman]

I would go back to Garden of the Gods - didn't have enough time there.
Garden Of The Gods | Home
About 70 miles south of Denver, close to Colorado Springs.

[danchez]

Flatirons of Boulder are gorgeous, there's a nice aquarium in Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, tour of the Coors facility, Pikes Peak, you can do some gambling up at Cripple Creek or Blackhawk, 16th street mall, if baseball season has started you can catch a game at spectacular Coors field.

[bgpro611]

Pikes Peak will be on my list along with the Flatirons, I think we're being taken to a ballgame. Any idea what kind of weather and tempatures we should expect?

[Full curl]

Royal Gorge. I would take the 70-200.

[bgpro611]

What is Royal Gorge?

[MRCPix]

just west of Denver is red rocks.
Visiting Red Rocks

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by bgpro611

What is Royal Gorge?

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Canon City, Colorado

Bring your widest angle. Keep yourself hydrated, and bring lotion. It's very dry in Denver, especially this time of the year. It should be pretty cold too, dress warm.

[danchez]

Weather in Colorado in March and April is anyone's guess. You can get snowstorms that dump 18+ inches of snow or you can see temps in the 70's... It truly is hit or miss. Just be prepared for anything.

[Richard DeYoung]

Depends on the snow pack. Having spent many years in Denver Area you learn to expect the un expected in March and April. If it is warm and no snow consider a trip up Mt. Evans just west of Denver. Lots of photo ops including a 2,000 year old Brisel cone pine tree. Further west is the Vail Valley with many photo ops.
All depends on the weather.
Good Luck, wish I were going.

[dmcantrell]

+ 1 for Mt Evans. If I have it right, that's the only chance a person has to -drive- up to the top of a 14k (fourteener) mountain on a nice paved road. The website says that the road isn't going to be open until May 28, 2010 though...
Mount Evans - Highest Paved Road in North America

+1 for Rocky Mountain National Park / Estes Park. This is about an hour or so north and west of Denver. Estes Park is a great little town full of all kinds of shops and stuff, and RMNP is full of Colorado scenery. The main road through the park is called "Trail Ridge Road" and goes up and over the continental divide. The website says that this road will also be closed until May 28, 2010. This is too bad, because the road is closed pretty low on the mountain and some of the best views are not accessible. However, there are still some great views to be had from the bottom of Trail Ridge Road.
Rocky Mountain National Park - Road Status Report (U.S. National Park Service)

On the way up to Estes Park is Big Thompson Canyon. This is a pretty neat area, as it is a very deep canyon that stretches for some distance. There are some neat shops and restaurants in the canyon. I've seen bighorn sheep on the sides of the canyon walls.
Big Thompson Canyon

[ronocnikral]

if you're going to be anchored in denver, here would be my list. I went to school in Golden for 4 years.

if you're in town on april 8th, i would head up to my alma matter for the edays fireworks. Nothing like it. Here's what to expect: a football "stadium" that junior high kids in texas would spit on, more fireworks than the queen of england orders up on her birthday and dynamite. School of Mines Campus-Golden.

as suggested earlier, if you drink or not, coors brewery. Golden.

If you do drink, Golden City Brewery. It's the 2nd largest brewery in Golden, and the bees knees. 12th St, Golden.

Red Rocks, as suggested earlier. I prefer to enjoy on matthews winters. a 4 or so mile loop, excellent vistas.

while you're in morrison, eat at the fort. by far my favorite place to eat in the area. who serves bone marrow besides the mongolians?

i would skip any 14ers. unless you have crampons and alpine boots. and you're in decent shape. 70 degrees at 5000' doesn't mean nice weather at 14k. get any hiking done before noon if you're in the mountains.

all the city stuff denver has to offer. which doesn't interest me much. just going and looking at their rei is amazing, if rei is your thing.

you could try RMNP. not too sure how it will be...

skiing. there's a novel idea. go to colorado and go skiing. a basin is usually good to go until the 4th of july. you can even swing over loveland pass.

that's my quick and dirty. i'm jealous. have fun.

[bgpro611]

Wow thanks. There are some great suggestions here; Mt. Evans in particular. But 18 inches of snow sounds like a major bummer 70 degrees is more to our liking. Its going to be fun if it doesn't snow.

[dmcantrell]

I forgot to emphasize the importance of planning for bad weather. In August we went up to the top of a 11k mountain and it was very, very, very cold. Luckily I knew my visitors wouldn't bring thick jackets so I had extras in my car. And gloves. And hats.

[shutterfire]

There is always is Pennsylvania ave. Historic homes and lots of architecture, Home of the unsinkable Molly brown and just a few blocks from the capital. If you have kids in tow a memorable experience for eating is Casa Bonita they have cliff divers and great margaritas for you.