Fast Facts

Lodging:

Name:     Radisson – Denver Stapleton Plaza

Address:  3333 Quebec Street Denver, CO 80207

Pluses:     Inexpensive rooms.  Close to some shopping.

Minuses:  Hotel is a bit run down.  Our room on the hotel’s west side and top floor was way too hot all the time.

Price:        Depends on room, but they average about $89/night.

Overall:   Not bad, but I’d look for something else if I were in Denver.

Restaurants:

Name:     Rocky Mountain Diner

Address:  800 18^th Street Denver, CO 80202

Pluses:     Great décor, great service, great food.

Minuses:  A bit tough to find parking.

Price:       Most dishes are in the $7-$10 range

Overall:   Excellent.  Would love to go there again.

Name:     Lexie’s Mesa Grille

Address:  216 E.17^th Street Cheyenne, WY 82001

Pluses:     Incredible food.  Quick service.

Minuses:  None that I saw.

Price:       Most dishes are in the $7-$12 range

Overall:   A can’t miss restaurant in Cheyenne.

Name:     Boulder Bookstore

Address:  1107 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302

Pluses:     Great muffins, wonderful atmosphere

Minuses:  Service was a bit brusque

Price:       Muffins are around $3.  Hot chocolate was about $2.

Overall:   For a light breakfast, one can’t beat the food and the ambience.

Name:     Woody’s Woodfired Pizza and Watering Hole

Address:  1305 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401

Pluses:     Excellent pizzas.  Very good service.

Minuses:  Non-smoking section is outdoors.

Price:       Large pizza cost $13.95.  A great value for the size.

Overall:  Worth visiting…if one either doesn’t mind the smoke or doesn’t mind being outdoors.

Name:     The Villa World Bistro

Address:  75 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO 80133

Pluses:     Very good food.  Deserts to die for.

Minuses: Décor is a bit dark for my tastes.

Price:      Don’t know because it was all paid by someone else.  But, I’d imagine it’ll cost                between $10 - $15/entrée.

Overall:  Great.  I’d like to try it outside of a wedding environment.

Name:     Dozen’s

Address:  236 W. 13^th Street, Denver, CO 80204

Pluses:     Large breakfasts.  Amazing service

Minuses:  Not much parking.  May have to wait a while for a table.

Price:       Omelets were $6.95.

Overall:  Should be sought out.

Name:     Cool River Café

Address:  8100 E. Belleview, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Pluses:     Huge portions.  Great atmosphere.

Minuses:  Pricey…that great interior didn’t come for free.

Price:       Most lunch entrees were in the $10-$15 range

Overall:  Great food…but there are cheaper alternatives nearby.

Attractions:

Name:     Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Web Site:  http://www.nps.gov/fola/

Pluses:     Incredible sense of history.  Interesting exhibits.

Minuses:  Tough to get to. 

Price:       $3/person

Overall:  Worth the drive.  A must visit.

Name:     Buffalo Bill Gravesite and Museum

Web Site:  http://www.buffalobill.org

Pluses:     Great sense of history.  Beautiful vistas.

Minuses:  Cell phone towers and television antennas detract from the site.

Price:       $3/person for the museum.  Gravesite is free to visit.

Overall:  Not a must see.  But, if one is nearby, it's worth visiting.

Name:     Mother Cabrini Shrine

Web Site:  http://www.den-cabrini-shrine.org/

Pluses:     Great vistas.  Interesting relics.

Minuses:  Not a lot of spirituality present. 

Price:       Free

Overall:  A die-hard Catholic will love it.  Otherwise, not worth visiting.

Name:     Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Web Site:   http://www.redrocksonline.com/index.tml

Pluses:     Only an incredible natural amphitheatre made from the red sandstone rocks 

Minuses:  Parking is a bit scarce. 

Price:       Depends on the show.  Free to enter the park.

Overall:  It doesn’t matter who’s playing.  Seeing a concert here is a must if one is in Denver.

Name:     Denver Botanic Gardens

Web Site:   http://www.botanicgardens.org/pageinpage/home.cfm

Pluses:     Beautiful flowers and gardens

Minuses:  Very pricey.

Price:       $8.50/person

Overall:  Price makes the garden worth visiting only if one has seen everything else.

Name:     Garden of the Gods

Web Site:  http://gardenofgods.com/

Pluses:     Great trails, magnificent red rock formations, beautiful mountain scenery

Minuses:  Can be a bit crowded, particularly on more popular trails

Price:       Free

Overall:  A definite must visit.

Name:     U.S. Olympic Training Center

Web Site: http://www.usoc.org/12181_19092.htm

Pluses:    Interesting displays.  A bit of a rush knowing that one is walking where gold medal champions have tread.

Minuses:  A bit commercial.

Price:       Free

Overall:  Worth visiting if one is in the area and has some extra time.

                                                                                                             Home