You shouldn't expect to see cowboys roaming the streets of Denver. What you will see is one of the most active, educated, and healthy populations in the United States. We are known for having a lower average age as well as the lowest obesity rates in the country. These are just a few of the reasons that visitors may enjoy the most popular spectator sport in the world, People Watching. If that is your game, I recommend the following venues:
From the State Capitol to Lower Downtown Denver entertainment district (known as LoDo), the 16th Street mall attracts all types, all day long. From the big wigs at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank to the Bar Scene in Lodo, you will see find people dressed to impress in an otherwise casual town. On the other hand, you will also find plenty teens trying to hard to stand out while hanging out.
This would be Denver's version of Beverly Hills, if only one could find a $500 t-shirt here. What you will find is Denver's most upscale mall, bordered by a pedestrian and bicycle path on the south, and an outdoor shopping district to the north. See Denver's elite fight for parking spaces in the BMWs and Range Rovers. Enjoy a steak at Elway's, who's owner is the legendary Denver Broncos quarterback himself. Inside the mall, watch the offspring of Denver's finest loudly frolic on over sized sculptures of bacon, eggs, and toast. There, you can reflect on either how wonderful your children are, or how glad you are that you don't have any.
Denver has no shortage of urban parks, however Washington Park seems to draw the attractive crowd from the surrounding upscale neighborhood. Walkers, cyclist, and rollerbladers do laps around car free loop road, while everyone else plays soccer, frisbee, or sunbathes on grass inside. When you have had enough of the outdoors, head over to the Wash Park Grill at nearby Old South Gaylord St., where the patrons are often mistaken for the cast of "Friends".
On Market St., Downtown between 19th and 21st Streets a vibrate bar scene has been developing for over a century. Whether you are enjoying cool jazz at El Chapultapec or draft Guinness at Scruffy Murphys, you are sure to see some interesting sites every weekend. Outside, cruising is alive and well as the locals compete to boast the nicest car, or the loudest motorcycle.
Less grown up, and twice wacky as Denver's 16th St. mall, the Pearl Street pedestrian mall in Boulder can be quite a trip. If you haven't heard by now, Boulder is a unique place dominated by hippies, intellectuals, athletes, and entrepreneurs. You can expect to see the unexpected here as Boulder's eccentric population struts it's stuff. It is almost enough to keep your eyes off of the towering mountains just west of town.
Denver is the home to the oddly named grocery store chain King Soopers. Located near Cheeseman Park, in the heart of the city's gay community, the "Queen Soopers" is a Denver fixture. Here you will realize that whether gay, straight, bi, or trans, people of all lifestyles must go somewhere to purchase food.
Denver is blessed with scenic beauty, predominately sunny weather, and high visibility. When you visit Denver, be sure to enjoy some of the breathtaking views in and around the city.
On the east side of the park near the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, you can look west and enjoy one of the premier "postcard" views in Denver. In the foreground is the lakes and trees of City Park with the Skyscrapers of downtown Denver emerging behind them. In the backgrounds is a 180 degree view of the Rocky Mountain range.
Lookout Mountain Road in Golden is one of those winding roads that you see in sports car commercials. With several hairpin turns and scenic overlooks, Lookout Mountain road culminates with the gravesite of Buffalo Bill, the famous cowboy and showman. From his gravesite, you can look west and see the entire Denver metropolitan area. On a clear day, even Denver International Airport is visible, over 30 miles away.
From 23d Avenue, just west of I-25, you will be on a hill overlooking the Platte River as it flows through downtown Denver. From here, you will see a panorama of many attractions such as the Elitch Garden's Amusement Park, the Pepsi Center arena, Coors Field, and the rest of downtown Denver
Just a few miles west of Golden, on I-70, you will get to exit 254 in the town of Genesee Park. From here you can see deep into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. In addition, there is an overlook where you can see a heard of American Bison, otherwise known as the Buffalo. To see the Buffalo heard, head west on I-70 and pull off the highway just west of exit 254. Signs will indicate the location of the overlook.
I prefer the view from the upper deck, in the outfield, along the first base line. Not only are these seats cheap, but from there, you can watch the baseball game while enjoying a view of the mountains that are the namesake of the home team, the Colorado Rockies. During an evening game, you can also enjoy watching the sun set from this part of the stadium. If you are sitting above the row of purple seats, that means you are actually a mile high!
From the Chautauqua Park in Boulder, you have a fantastic vantage point from which to see the Flatirons, the mountain range that looms over Boulder. Traveling west from the park on Flagstaff Mountain Road, you will experience a view out of your car window that is more like the view out of an airplane. From Flagstaff mountain, you can look down at the red roofs on the campus of the University of Colorado and the town of Boulder. On a clear day, Denver is visible, and perhaps even Denver International Airport.
You don't necessarily visit Denver to go boating, but you can here. From the shores of the Cherry Creek Reservoir, you can see the Rocky Mountains in a rare nautical setting.
Ok, it is only a hardware store, but the first time I visited it, I was simply amazed by the view of the mountains from the parking lot. I called up everyone I knew and told them that Denver was so scenic, even the Home Depot parking lot has a million dollar view.
At the Rocky Mountain Regional Airport (formerly known as Jeffco), you can have lunch overlooking both the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains while enjoying the thrill of general aviation aircraft take offs and landings. This airport is so scenic that airplanes are frequently flown here to be photographed for publications and marketing material.