Steps from the heart of downtown Denver stands the Colorado Convention Center—where the 2019 Joint Statistical Meetings will be held. Downtown Denver offers something extra for all attendees, with all there is to explore and enjoy, but be sure to also visit the different and eclectic parts of town.
16th Street Mall – A mile-long pedestrian promenade lined with outdoor cafés, restaurants, and retail shops. Shuttle buses provide free transportation on the mall every five minutes and pick up at multiple stops throughout.
Photo courtesy of Steve Crecelius and VISIT DENVER
Larimer Square – The block where Denver began, you don’t want to miss Larimer Square. Explore downtown history while sampling some of the best dining, shopping, and nightlife in the city.
Photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER
LoDo – Denver’s downtown hip historic district has more than 90 brew pubs, sports bars, and music clubs.
Capitol Hill/Golden Triangle – A vibrant mix of arts, culture, and Colorado history, “Cap Hill” offers much to see and do. Explore the gold-domed Colorado State Capitol with its “Mile High” marker on the 13th step. Civic Center Park plays host to live music and food trucks on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May until October. Be sure to visit the museums nestled among beautiful turn-of-the-century mansions. And nearby Golden Triangle boasts more than 50 galleries, fine-art studios, museums, specialty stores, restaurants, night clubs, coffeehouses, and bistros, including the Denver Art Museum.
Photo courtesy of Dave Falconer and VISIT DENVER
Tattered Cover Book Store – This iconic Denver store transformed the historic Lowenstein Theater into its home, putting a coffeehouse in the old theater’s lobby and dozens of bookshelves where the stage and orchestra pit once were.
Photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER
East Colfax – Colfax Avenue is the longest commercial street in the US. It first appeared on Denver maps in 1868 as a dirt road and then became a bustling trolley route in The Mile High City in the 1890s. Today, the street is lined with an eclectic mix of eateries, bars, brewpubs, and shops, as well as entertainment and live music venues like the Fillmore Auditorium and the Ogden and Bluebird theaters.
Five Points – One of Denver’s oldest and most diverse neighborhoods, this area was known as the “Harlem of the West” because it was a frequent stop for jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Miles Davis. The neighborhood was also mentioned repeatedly in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Today, it is a fascinating fusion of old and new. Visitors can stop in at innovative coffeehouses and craft breweries, visit museums telling stories from the past, or eat at beloved soul food and barbecue institutions.
Photo Courtesy of Evan Semon and visit denver
Ways to See the City
First, check out the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) website for routes, fares, and other pertinent information. It is easy to get back and forth from the airport using RTD’s A line directly to Union Station, the hub of Denver’s transportation system. Union Station is also home to light rail, regional and local buses, and Amtrak rail services.
Also, the 16th Street Mall has a free shuttle for easy downtown exploring.
Hundreds of miles of dedicated bike paths weave through Denver and its edges. You can, for example, ride from Cherry Creek State Park in southeast Denver to Cuernavaca Park on the northwest side of downtown. The 15-mile paved path follows along Cherry Creek to where it collides with the South Platte River at Confluence Park. Denver B-Cycle is an automated bike-sharing system designed for use by many people for short trips around Denver. You can check out one of the 700 bikes from any of 82 stations and return it to any other station.
Looking for something different? Why not try a scooter? ScooTours Denver offers motorized, Vespa-style scooter rental and guided scooter tours. Never ridden a scooter before? No problem. If you can ride a bicycle, are 18 or older, and have a valid driver’s license, ScooTours will train you.
Deals and Discounts
Be sure to check out the Visit Denver website for extra deals and discounts. You can find discounts on tours, rafting, rock climbing, zip lines, and breweries, as well as coupons for restaurants, museums, and attractions.
Extend Your Trip
Want to see more of Colorado before you head home? Stop by the Visit Denver website to help plan your trip. With information about extended day trips and area sites such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rocks, and Pikes Peak, you will get an idea of where to start and where to end.
Thanks for mentioning us. Please make a reservation for you and/or your significant other for when you have time off. We also have the most fun Guided Tour in Denver. Check out our reviews. Call us at 720-523-3240.
PS. We are right across the street from the Colorado Convention Center so if you need advice from a local about any topic, please ask. We usually wear ridiculous colored safety-yellow shirts.