"Something for everyone"; except affordable housing or decent paying jobs for working class individuals, families, and those unfortunate enough to be trapped below the poverty line.
Stay away from our city, please. We'll ask nicely on the internet...but we aren't so friendly on the streets.
20
Elways, a restaurant at DIA makes layovers there something to look forward to. If there's a better place to eat in a US airport I'd like to know about it.
The comments below are incredible. The article is titled 36 Hours in Denver not, Hiking the Rockies or The Complete Compedium of all that is Denver. It is a notice to the rest of us that denver might be a fun place to visit - for a weekend or, at one wnd of a hiking, biking or ski vacation. The author hasn’t claimed that there is nothing else worth seeing or doing much less that the itinerary in the article is the only one worth following. For the locals worried about overcrowding and water, vote for a managed growth slate if candidates the next time you have an election. And maybe put a initiative on the ballot to fund new infrastructure. In the meantime, for those of us who might visit, we are happy to learn that Denver has some tasty craft beer.
15
What? No mention of Casa Bonita? A truly one-of-a-kind only-in-Denver experience.
1
I visited Colorado last year with my grown children.
We explored Colorado Springs, Boulder, Estes Park. We didn’t hit a single one of the watering holes mentioned in this article.
I hope this doesn’t sound arrogant, but we live in the New York City metro area. We can eat any kind of food, go to any type of bar, and see museums that rival the Louvre or the Hermitage.
But we can’t see the Rockies, Pikes Peak, or other natural wonders. That’s why we visited. If the Times is going to recommend a destination, maybe it should detail why it’s a great destination. And it’s not because of the bars.
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@David G
The article is 36 Hours in Denver, not 36 hours in hiking in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. That is a different article. I would be tgat the people who live in Colorado have found a way to enjoy both the mountains and the city. Anyway, if you don’t want to experience Denver, stick to reading trail guides.
14
A seriously flawed piece. I can't figure out whether the target audience is (1) a 30 year old hipster from Brooklyn with a serious alcohol addiction or (2) some jet-set type who flies into cities, skims a few places just like wherever they're from, and then believes they've "been" to somewhere. Seriously - no normal adult American would have an insightful "36 hours in Denver" at most of these places (and I LIVE and work in LoDo & RiNo!).
Don't get me wrong. If you're type 1 or type 2, please do visit and enjoy yourself. (Maybe get out of Denver and see something in Colorado.) And then leave. Denver is not Death & Co. Disneyland but rather a sunny city with views of mountains with some of the worst income inequality, overcrowding, underfunded educational system, clogged roads, and dysfunctional mental health anywhere in the U.S.A. Having survived the threat of Amazon HQ, it would be great if someone realized that by now multiple states have pot, not just Colorado. The best thing that could happen would be if folks realized that Iowa City, Iowa, was tragically hip and that Boise is the next hidden gem that the NYT will trumpet 10 years from now.
16
I wonder if there's a "Rocky Mountain High" space for Neal Cassady in the new Denver ...
3
The intern at my doctor's office is moving to Denver soon as he graduates from Harvard. He told me everyone is or wants to move there. Sounds as if it is attracting a lot of young, talented people. Denver is the new Seattle. It may be a world class city in no time if it continues to progress as it is.
3
I have to say I am at a loss to understand the purpose of these articles in the New York Times. The world is filled with places to eat food, get drunk and visit art museums. Denver is not unique in this regard.
The area known as “RiNo” occupies a cleaned-up toxic waste site. If you suddenly called Three Mile Island or Chernobyl an “arts district” I still would not want to visit. No amount of “art” available for purchase could induce me.
After the legalization of marijuana, the Denver 16th Street Mall became one scary place, chock full of junkies and homeless people. It was never as bad as say skid-row in LA and maybe it has gotten better since then (with improved policing) but even today I would never voluntarily go there. I would never suggest to a tourist that they go there either.
11
@sguknw
The premise of 48 hours has been the same since at least I started reading it 15 years or so ago: the traveler is going to want to have at least 2 meals a day, enjoy a cocktail somewhere, get in some exercise and take in some culture. it's supposed to "mimic" the bare bones essentials of a short trip and all these articles satisfy this model. More and more I am seeing commenters complain about these articles when it's clear they don't understand their basic premise. Then again - I do agree with the rise of the internet 48 hrs is less and less relevant.
11
Denver is overcrowded. Colorado is reaching capacity.
Honestly I think the coastal exodus should start to focus on Idaho and Wyoming. These are great underpopulated states with lots to do. Go there. Move there. Colorado is nearly ruined.
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@Chris:
I suggest the same to Coloradans who come to the coasts for similar reasons.
Go elsewhere.
5
@Chris
Wyoming has no infrastructure and isn’t friendly. Do not come here.
5
@Valerie Most people (perhaps too many) seem to be voting with their feet, leaving California for Colorado. Not too much flow in the opposite direction.
I wonder if they’ll be able to rent out all that new construction, now that HQ2 is not (fortunately) coming to town. Amazon certainly scored a double win with major tax concessions in two cities, and a great deal of sensitive planning data from the 240 others. I think we were ALL taken in.
1
A few other places worth checking out in the RiNo area, since that’s where I live and work: Ironton Distillery, Park Burger, Matchbox, Larimer Lounge, Colorado Sake, Miller’s & Rosi, Improper City, and Finn’s Manor.
Here would be my weekend game plan for a visitor:
Rent a car the night before. Wake up early, like before 5:30. Make yourself a small breakfast and hit the mountains. Climb a 14er during the summer (if you’re capable), or shred the slopes. Plenty of options within two hours of downtown. Expect a ton of traffic on your way back, but don’t be a jerk about it. Stop in a mountain town and grab a coffee or beer. Go home, get some rest, shower up and hit the town. Start your night in north RiNo, and meander your way towards LoDo along Larimer. Stop in the many places the author and I have identified. By time you get to LoDo, you’ll be sufficiently boozed up and able to enjoy the massive late-night crowds.
Hit up a recovery brunch the next morning. Enjoy the city- check out REI and the confluence park area. Walk over to the museums. Take a Lime scooter and check out south broadway or Colfax. Go to a dispensary because you can- get the mom & pop experience as well as a corporate shop. Find a movie at the theater on 16th st. Mall. End the night at Larimer Square.
There’s so much to do here, the only way to experience everything is to live here. You might want to consider it after a weekend of the above.
12
A very weak list of things to do in a great city.
10
I was there for the first time —for fun—two weeks ago. I wanted a 4 night trip and I love visiting American cities that I otherwise would probably never get to. Easy, direct flight. We left Saturday morning and were at the Denver airport at 10:15 AM (thanks, 2-hour time change!) Tons of great food from the trendy restaurants (make your reservations well ahead of time—the hot places book up fast, just like any other city) to the food trucks. Plus great local Mexican and Vietnamese. Plus some great ice cream. A very casual city, even for the fancier restaurants, I only packed sneakers and snow boots. Easy public transportation and plentiful, inexpensive Lyfts and Ubers. (Um, between $7 and $15 to go just about anywhere in the local area.) Easy to walk around (although the areas such as LoHi, RiNo, and LoDo can get a little confusing — even for the local people!) Vineyards and breweries plus cool dispensaries to "visit": you've never seen such a variety of edibles. As usual, there was a homeless population but the folks were not aggressive like say, Portland. Plus the fabulous views and surroundings....you are 20 minutes from the foothills and some spectacular nature and sights. A fun city to visit. It's a shame Bezos didn't truly consider it for Amazon HQ2.
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There are so many fantastic breweries in town and you recommend Our Mutual Friend? Hard pass.
3
I just visited Denver - definitely worth the trip! I woudld highly recommend the Crawford hotel in the old union statoin. Perhaps the best thing about it is you can reach it from the airport via public transportation.
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@Joe
There is also the Oxford and Brown Palace.
3
While there are a few good things on this list, the writer seriously misses the mark like many others suggested. This list contains almost no points of cultural interest, except for white culture. Glad to see Nocturne and the museums get some shine, but if you are visiting Denver and you want more than watered-down white bars and restaurants, you can mostly scrap this list.
No mention of City Park, Cheeseman Park, or Washington Park. All incredible and world-class parks. No mention of the great libraries, book stores, pools, shops and record stores. Record collectors should put Twist n Shout and Wax Trax at the top of their list. No mention of Colfax, arguably the most unique and diverse aspect of Denver. You can just walk down Colfax in either direction and not be bored. The street and surrounding neighborhoods have grit, unlike the newly gentrified RiNo and Lo-Do areas. While Baker has also recently gentrified, it's at least worth a stroll. The best ethnic food can be found west, on Federal Blvd, and east in Aurora. Some of those restaurants rival spots in larger American cities.
While the public transit system is improving, Denver is a city built around the automobile. You will most likely need to rent a car, or rely heavily on Car2Go, bike share, or scooter share.
I've never seen anyone ski the Cherry Creek trail. I've never seen someone on skis in the entire city of Denver.
Ditch this article and do a little more digging. Your visit will be much more rewarding.
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@Ryan 40+ years ago you'd see people cross country skiing downtown and in Boulder. This article looks like the author was paid to play because you're right there are so many other places not mentioned. I got out of town (and state) in '79 and don't miss it!
2
@Susanyou might want to come back for a visit! The Denver of today is a far cry from the Denver of 1979.
4
36 hours in Denver and the author couldn't find any time to dine at the Buckhorn Exchange? Sacrilege.
7
I’m a native Coloradan, having grown up in what was then the west-end suburbs. My husband and I raised our daughters near the foothill community of Conifer. We rode horses on Highlands Ranch when it was still a ranch, and on many other locations now lost to a maze of look-a-like suburban housing developments. These days, roads are bumper to bumper even in mid-day. Pot-heads laze about downtown, and gangs roam nearby. Needless to say, I have no desire to go to downtown nor to frequent even one of the ‘hip’ establishments mentioned in this article. Instead, I live in the farthest south reaches of the now overcrowded Metro Denver. There are still lovely parts of this state, but they’re being overrun by crowds. One on the most serious issues here is water availability, but politicians and developers will keep kicking that can down the road until we end up like Capetown, South Africa. There’s only so much water, folks, and we hit maximum carrying capacity years ago. Please don’t move here! Our reputation for friendliness? Well, especially on the roads, that’s a thing of the past. Colorado is full. We hear Kansas has openings. Or perhaps Nebraska.
13
And yet we live in Capitol Hill right on Cheesman Park, and we walk nearly everywhere. My wife has put about 10,000 miles on a car she has owned for 10 years. Stores, and restaurants from 17th to Cherry Creek, are a walk away.
The omnipresent homeless are a continuing issue that is not related to gentrification, but a severely defective mental health care system, and until Denver establishes a legal system of guardianship and commitment, the homeless will terrify visitors, and remind us of our responsibility to others.
18
They were talking about the water problem when I moved to Denver in 1985, and they continue to build.
7
The article is called "36 hours in Denver," not "Spend the Rest of Your Life" in Denver.
18
I had an unexpected 24 hour layover in Denver this summer. Ubered from hotel near airport to Meininger's Art Store downtown and shopped, walked to Denver Art Museum and enjoyed though some was closed and under construction. Followed sound of a live band to a great get-down open air performance. Then stumbled into the 16th Street walking mall area and walked for seemed like miles past chain and local stores, restaurants, street performers, families, singles, tourists. Ended up at SoKo Sushi Bar for dinner. The Denver Library is monolithic in size to say the least. There are homeless and junkies here and there but no panhandlers. Could not figure out the train system (newbie and need a strong visual to go by). Uber was fast and for just a few trips, not too expensive. Will go back again to explore.
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@PinkFlowers I travel 2500 miles round trip to shop at Meiningers (and visit my Mom) 3 times a year.
1
What's an explosive culinary scene? Sounds dangerous.
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My wife and I spent a week in Denver last May, arriving by Amtrak at Union Station, and it was a totally different place than in the 80s. We bought transit passes, and traveled all over the area on the light rail, and to the airport which seeing it from a distance reminded me of OZ. We also took the Flatiron Flyer to Boulder, and was amazed at the number of bicycle trails that appeared to follow the major highways, and transit routes. The downtown bus on the mall is all electric, but what seemed unusual was that the handicapped ramp was raised and lowered manually, rather than mechanically.
5
Having lived in Denver since 1987, it’s amazes me how much the entire metro area keeps growing and growing. These days, any time a new construction project begins, odds are it’s either “Luxury Apartments” or “Storage Units”. Credit to former mayor Frederico Penã for having the foresight to build Denver International Airport so far east of Denver. That entire area of prairie grassland is already being populated by hotels, retail, and housing, and will eventually become the same Urban Sprawl that’s around Los Angeles, the irony being that people are coming from California to Denver to get away from the very same thing that’s happening here.
22
I love Denver - great climate and big-ish city things to see and do. I'm thankful to have lived here for 18 of the last 20 years.
Anyplace, folks, has its ups and downs. Currently, the only major downs are the cost of housing for most humans and the increasing traffic load.
4
@Paul Merrill, Anyplace *desirable* to live today has increased cost of housing and traffic load.
3
As a Denver resident, I always appreciate the NYT write-ups of our great city, and I agree with a good amount of places worth checking out in the article.
That being said, my wife and I stayed at one of the hotels mentioned in the article (The Ramble). For the price we paid, it was not a great stay, and I'd recommend against that hotel.
7
If you come to Denver and don’t enjoy yourself? That’s on you! Frankly, I think you’d have to put in some effort to have a bad time.
Denver has a great cultural scene, tons of parks and activities, pro sports, the Rockies, wonderful restaurants and gorgeous weather. But the best part, for me, has been the people. For the most part, they’re open, friendly and down-to-Earth. Even the hipsters.
5
My family visited Denver (and other parts of Colorado) two summers ago, and as avid baseball fans a Colorado Rockies game was a must. What we didn't expect was how friendly and warm the people working at the ballpark were - they really made us feel welcome and added so much to the experience of visiting the city. Even if you are not a baseball fan, we highly recommend it! We also had great Korean BBQ at Dae Gee ("Pig").
3
I’ve lived here for 38 yrs and never imagined skiing on the Cherry Creek bike path or seen anyone else doing so.
17
I am a native NYer who has lived in Denver for almost 30 years. Your summary of the City is very slanted towards LoDo and RINO. Why mention the art museum and the Kirkland and not mention the Clyfford Still museum or the galleries along Santa Fe? Why briefly mention the Cherry Creek Bike Trail without mentioning the parks system? There is a lively music and theater scene here, as well as drinking. This is not a good description of Denver at all.
17
I never much thought of Denver as a happening place until I recently re-read Jack Kerouac‘s ‘On The Road”. Denver is prominently featured in that book as a sort of Beat Central gsthering and partying point, with its main character Dean Moriarty always searching for his long lost skid row father on Larimer Street. Now it is one of those places I would like to visit.
2
The Times has unaccountably failed to mention the Central branch of the Denver Public Library. Voted the best library in American several times, it is an architectural gem designed by Michael Graves. Not only is it stylish, dramatic and whimsical, it actually makes the neighborhood nicer and more approachable (and incorporates the old library building without overwhelming it.) The interior has lots of warm golden wood, beig and blue slate, and room for many community events.
That branch also has what I feel is the best bookstore in town. It is small enough to browseable, and the books are beautiful, always changing, and incredibly reasonable. It is staffed by volunteers, and all the income goes to support the library.
36
Speaking as a Denver resident, your author missed an opportunity.
The story highlights several alcoholic experiences that they sampled but not one mention of cannabis.
Alcohol is available in every major city in the U.S. Legal cannabis is the potential attraction that might bring a visitor to our Mile-Hi city, not a brewpub.
Someones' bias is showing. Yes we can(nabis)!
36
Speaking as a Denver resident as well, I noticed this as a positive attribute of the piece. Everyone knows that cannabis is abundantly available here with exciting options for consumption and responsible use. Can we please be known for the other many strengths of the city? Kudos to the author for NOT mentioning cannabis.
14
My niece goes to medschool in Denver, so I visit often. She used to live in the historic Baker district, a block or two from Broadway which has a 1960-70 gritiness which I like (I'm 68). That being said, Denver looks rundown. I lke the fact that no two houses look alike (vs suburban Maryland). And Denver rent is high. If I sold my house here to move there, I'd still need a sizeable mortgage. So I like Denver but ...
7
As a Colorado / Denver Native, I’ve watched it his city grow from comfortably western to chique and urban. Not necessarily a bad thing, except when poor reporting like this comes into play! NYT— you absolute missed the vibe here! You managed to visit a few of our newer restaurants and bars, but completely missed the boat on real Denver destinations. — I can’t tell if you’re tailoring specifically towards a cuisine/location cautious, wealthy millennial type- or if your reporter simply failed in their research. I’d love to see an article about Denver- sadly, this article is about our scene post-2000s boom.
42
@Joseph Colorado/Denver native here as well (a kind of old one, too) and I could not agree more. it is as if the writer went from Cherry Creek directly to RiNo, missing everything in between, which is a lot
7
Agreed, the Americanization of Denver is nearly complete. It will soon be no different than Portland, OR or Austin, TX. Overpriced restaurants and bars and all the post 2008 urban renewal development that comes with it.
15
Glad to see my city's dining scene get some love in the NYT, but this article misses a couple of must-visit Denver restaurants. (I know, Elaine only had 36 hours, but still).
Annette, at the Stanley Marketplace on the Denver/Aurora border, is a gem. They serve simple, wood-fired and seasonal fare, and have a particular touch with seasonal vegetable dishes and house-made brunch biscuits. It's not downtown, but as an added bonus for the NYT-reading, jet-setting set, it's perfectly located for a stop on your way to or from the airport!
Stowaway, down in RiNo just a block from Death and Co, has amazing breakfast, lunch and coffee with Australian, Japanese and Israeli influences. Welcoming people, Japanese lunch specials every Friday. Hard to describe, but not to be missed. Honestly the best breakfast and lunch in the city.
9
@Nelophone Thanks for the additional suggestions. I personally love Root Down in Denver, but as you say Elaine only had 36 hours.
2
I have lived in Denver for over 40 years and have seen many changes good and bad. Like most major cities, it has become affordable mostly to the upwardly mobile, and developers rule the municipal government. If I didn't have a patron saint for a landlady, I would be forced to take my fixed income to a small town out on the plains probably. But I live frugally, not patronizing most places in this article, and still love the Mile High, especially the climate, which is the best.
21
Radiolab had a segment once about the tempo of urban cities. Every city has their own sort of pace as measured by foot traffic. How fast do people walk? Do they walk at all? You can gauge how much you love or hate a city by these simple measures. I'm sure humans can get used to almost anything but Denver never had the right pace for me. The entire Colorado front is pretending to be something which they really haven't quite figured out yet.
Please, go visit. The area is nice. I'd prefer you visit there rather than here. However, Denver is rarely the right fit for a long term stay. I'd rather slalom sidewalks in New York. For all the beauteous wonder in the Colorado Rockies, Denverites don't really venture out as much as they'd have you believe. You're left with a moderately attractive city a few hours drive from anywhere interesting. Added bonus, you inherit an absolutely obnoxious youth culture. No thanks.
Even before legalized marijuana, Denver was the failed landing site for wanna-be and would-be hipsters. I could subject Utah to a much more verbally abusive critique. However, I won't tell you why this place works for me. Scarcity is what makes things valuable. If I told you, everyone would know. That's the opposite of hip. Which is exactly where Denver is trying to position themselves.
Unhip...
8
What I have noticed ugly urban sprawl, traffic congestion at all hours, and a heavy layer of smog over Denver blocking out the sun and blue sky! Denver and the surrounding area needs a massive transit rail system!
22
@antiquelt While I don't disagree we need a better public transit system our "brown cloud" is often weather related.
"...the brown cloud. Denver's location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains make it prone to temperature inversions in which warm air traps cooler air near the ground, preventing pollutants from rising into the atmosphere."
6
@antiquelt Denver has had a light rail, heavy rail, and bus transit system for decades. It covers 2,337 square miles. They also recently approved via the ballot the FasTracks transit expansion that will add 122 miles.
You're only six hours away. May I suggest another visit to the Denver metropolitan area?
4
I'm a Denver native who moved out for work and couldn't afford to move back after the legalization of pot pushed housing prices out of reach. I go back often and find my old neighborhoods dense with new condo projects and as much traffic as Los Angeles without the highway infrastructure to handle it. There are a ton of new, trendy places to eat and of course drink, but the Denver I grew up and loved for the open spaces and recreational opportunities is long gone. It is heartbreaking. Worse, Colorado was always known for super friendly, down to earth people. I think many of them may have left too or are just fed up with the massive influx of people. I find the friendliness quotient diminishing rapidly as well.
28
@Robin Oh There's no factual evidence that the legalization of pot has pushed housing priced out of reach. Denver and her suburbs have many affordable neighborhoods.
Our state is the has the fourth fastest growing economy in the nation and experienced 3.6% growth in 2015. In 2017, the growth has slowed a bit closer to a 2% increase in GDP, which is still very healthy growth. These statistics are a major contributor as to why many new people are choosing to move to Colorado. The primary industries that have experienced growth over the last couple years have been construction, information/IT, oil fracking, and wholesale trade.
Downtown Denver is also a 30 minute car ride to the Rocky Mountain Foothills. People move here for the lifestyle, not the legalized pot.
11
@Robin Oh How long have you been out of Denver? The continued myth that legal weed caused an influx of people to move here is frustrating. We've lived downtown for the last 25 yrs, owning homes for 18. Our property values (even during the recession) have only grown
and LONG before we legalized it. The Denver housing market and economy continues to grow because CO is a nice place to live and work not just to get high in. Constantly repeating that mantra debases what a wonderful place our state (not just Denver) is.
15
Any traffic engineer or urban planner can tell you that more "highway infrastructure" is a terrible way to move people around in dense urban areas.
If more highways reduced congestion, then LA would have have fastest commutes in the country, but the opposite is true. In reality, highways just enable sprawl and encourage people to drive.
Of course, in lieu of highways, you need to actually invest in transit. Denver is doing this with fastracks, but has a long way to go and a lot more progress is needed.
8
This article confirms what I’ve always suspected about this series: It’s intended for the tragically hip. I live in the Denver metro area, and yes, the art museums and The Source are worth the visits. However, for less-hipster visitors, the remaining 36 hours might include the following: shopping at Rockmount western wear shop, walking around Larimer Square (and eating at the Rio Grande with its great Mexican food and even greater margaritas and checking out Cry Baby Ranch), or attending almost any show (listed from large to small venues) at the Ogden, Bluebird, High Dive, Three Kings, or Lion’s Lair followed by a late-night breakfast at the Denver Diner or Pete’s Kitchen. Denver’s a great place to visit, even for non-hipsters.
55
@lch I agree- as a long time native - NYT has totally failed to grasp the picture here. Denver diner, Pete’s. All the good places, lost in a long list of expensive, hip, modern mishmash
17
I agree. The choices listed are mostly what you could find in any city. Why visit if it’s the same old?
11
I accompanied my spouse when she attended a regular conference in downtown Denver during the summers over three years. Had lots of time to look for interesting things to do. I found it quite a drab, boring city. Airport WAY out of town. Obviously lots to do if you want to go out of town to the mountains and went to some very good restaurants. Although I am no prude, seeing very large numbers of young people at any time of day lying around the streets stoned out of their minds was also not that appealing. Going to a 7/11 around midnight in the downtown was right out of a Fellini movie. The conference has been recently moved to Nashville and that is an interesting city.
12
Is the not mentioned elephant in the room here legal pot? There is numerous mentions of the terrific abundance of the other(and far more dangerous) legal drug, alcohol, and all the micro breweries.
That being said, what see here is a booming, terrific city, that has not been tainted by legal pot - it has flourished. No mention either of the new, fantastic revenue stream for the state government from legal pot, and the reduced enforcement costs - win win.
The obvious question to our federal government.
- anybody home?
7
Decent places to see and play are mentioned but you forgot Denver's greatest attraction, the Falling Rock Tap House. Consistently rated as one of the best tap houses in the US.
1
Two of the best meals I had in Denver, and the two best meals I've ever had at any airport, were at Root Down.
10
Ha ha ha. This article never mentions recreational mj as a reason for the 100k new residents or that many tourists come to Denver for that reason. Just acts like it doesn't exist.
8
@RAH Although there may be some people who moved here because they could get anti-seizure medicine for themselves or their children and others because they were tired of being criminals for smoking pot, the fact is there are a lot of high paying jobs that have opened up here. That said, it is good to see revenue from marijuana sales boosting our state revenue, and our jails not crowded with people who were dumb enough to get caught smoking pot. I'll acknowledge that the kids migrating here with no jobs in hope of staying stoned have mostly found they stay cold this time of year, and should go home to Moms and Pops.
The old saw 'the pot smokers did it' is wearing thin with many of us in Colorado. It's usually the older, extremely conservative Trump voters who see the doom and gloom, and wouldn't be happy with any change of any kind. They are the unfriendly people you meet in the lines at stores and shows. God help you if your first language is not English when speaking with these folks...
No place is perfect, and I believe Seattle is far more beautiful and more fun, but I'm happy to have had life events bring me to Colorado. Having been raised in Texas, Colorado is refreshing and forward thinking and far far far more beautiful than my native state, which I left many many years ago because of bugs, bigotry and the extreme heat. Colorado is a great place to live, and I'm happy to have been here for almost twenty years. Come visit anytime. Most of us will welcome you.
6
@RAH The recreational use of cannabis is legal in 10 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington). You're comment is not based on the facts. We don't see 100K residents moving to Alaska, Vermont, Nevada, and Taxachusetts for the legalized pot.
4
After 10 years in Denver, I moved back to my native Chicago about seven years ago but I have been back on several occasions. Denver has changed exponentially since I first lived there. I used to have food sent to me. You couldn't get a decent loaf of bread in Denver in 2000! Now look at it. Change is good but I hope things don't get more crowded. The hype has already pushed out a lot of artists and natives. I hope Denver can slow down a little.
13
Metropolitan Denver's leadership, going back to Mayor Pena and the RTD in the 1980's, thoughtfully invested in public infrastructure projects, are now paying big dividends. A medium sized metropolitan area with accessible, well thought out entertainment & recreation venues, so very consistent with that wonderful climate.
19
@GLO While you right a lovely comment, I've lived in Denver for 40 years and what you describe is not what anyone who lives here would say about our transit system. It is inadequate and overcrowded due to the rapid population expansion in the last few years. A weekend daytrip to a mountain town 60 miles away can take 2-3 hours one-way with a considerable amount time sitting immobile in a traffic jam on I-70. We no longer downhill ski because it is such a hassle getting to and from the slopes.
As others have pointed out, there are no skiing trails in Denver; not certain what the author is talking about.
Cheers!
5