FUN IN THE SNOW AND SUN

COLORADO HAS MANY THINGS TO DO BOTH IN THE SUN AND THE SNOW. MY DAUGHTER DATES A GUY WHO LOVES TO GO UP AND BACK COUNTRY SNOW BOARD NEAR LOVELAND PASS WHILE SHE BASKS IN THE SUN OF DENVER. I ENJOY RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE AS LONG AS THE SNOW IS NOT FALLING AND THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE ZERO. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT LOVE TO SKATE BOARD IN THE NUMEROUS SKATE BOARD PARKS. THE BIKE TRAILS ARE FUN TO DO IN THE SUMMER TIME ALONG WITH LONG ROMANTIC WALKS IN THE PARKS. COLORADO OFFERS IT ALL FOR MANY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM THE EXERCISE JUNKIES TO THE PEOPLE THAT ENJOY THE HISTORY OF SMALL MINING TOWNS NOT TO MENTION THE GAMBLING TOWNS LOCATED THROUGH OUT THE STATE. COME EXPERIENCE WHAT COLORADO HAS TO OFFER.

DENVER PARADE OF LIGHTS

WINTER TIME IN DENVER WITH THE SNOW ON THE GROUND AND CHRISTMAS AROUND THE CORNER THE PARADE OF LIGHT IS FUN  TO DO. TAKE THE FAMILY ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT FOR FUN THAT DOES NOT COST A LOT OF MONEY BUT IT WILL CREATE A MEMORY FOR A LIFE TIME. DENVER HAS BEEN PUTTING THIS PARADE ON NOW FOR SOME TIME AND IT IS WELL DONE WITH MARCHING BANDS, BALLOONS, FLOATS, HORSES, AND THE BEST PART IS THEY ARE ALL COVERED IN LIGHTS. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AT A LOW COST THEN THE PARADE OF LIGHTS IS A PLACE TO DO JUST THAT. TAKE THE TIME TO SEE THE LIGHT SHOW WITH THE FAMILY AND TAKE THEM TO DINNER AFTER THE SHOW IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.

DENVER, COLORADO IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY SATURDAY!

DENVER, CO WILL BE 150 YEARS OLD THIS SATURDAY! IT IS FUNNY HOW DENVER GOT STARTED MOST PEOPLE THINK IT WAS A COW TOWN BUT THAT WAS TRUE A LITTLE LATER IN TIME BUT NOT IN THE BEGINNING! DENVER CAME ABOUT FROM A GOLD RUSH THAT OCCURED IN 1858 A COUPLE OF GOLD MINERS ON THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA STOPPED AND PAN A RIVER THAT IS THE CHERRY CREEK RIVER AND FOUND GOLD. THE WORD GOT OUT AND PEOPLE FLOODED THE AREA AT THE TIME KNOWN AS KANSAS TERRITORY AND KANSAS CITY BEING THE CLOSEST TOWN AT OVER 700 MILES AWAY. IT WAS ROUGH TIMES GETTING TO DENVER IN THOSE DAYS. SOME MINERS FOUND GOLD IN THE SOUTH PLATE RIVER, AS WELL! THEN IT DAWNED ON SOMEONE THAT THE GOLD MUST BE COMING FROM THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND THE RUSH WAS ON TO THE MOUNTAINS. DENVER IS NAMED FOR A GOVERNOR OF WHAT WAS KANSAS AT THE TIME BY THE CITY FOUNDER LAMAR. I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF DENVER TO VISIT THE DENVER HISTORY MUSEUM ON THIS SATURDAY IT WILL BE FREE TO THE PUBLIC FOR ITS BIRTHDAY. IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF COLORADO JUST GOOGLE THE HISTORY OF DENVER, CO AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS! 

DENVER, CO. ROMANCE PACKAGES

Denver, Colorado, with spectacular views of the majestic Rocky Mountains, and the availability of arts and entertainment in the city is a great destination for a romantic getaway. Hotels in the city offer romance packages perfect for Valentine’s Day or a romantic weekend getaway. The following hotels have designed packages conducive to romance. Following is information about Denver hotels currently offering romance packages. Contact the hotels for details and for pricing.

Hotel Monaco Denver, a Kimpton Hotell. This stylish boutique hotel in downtown Denver featuring amenities including complimentary high speed Internet access, morning coffee, Full Service Renaissance Aveda Spa and Salon, fitness room, and a complimentary wine hour. Panzano served Northern Italian cuisine. Pet friendly. has been recognized as one of the “Top 500 Best Hotels is the World” by Travel and Leisure Magazine and holds a AAA Four Diamond rating. Lucky in Love Valentine’s Day Package The package includes deluxe accommodations, full American Breakfast for two in Panzano Restaurant, champagne, Godiva Truffles, rose petal turn-down service, Colorado Lottery Ticket, Goldfish companion in room, morning coffee and tea service. runs February 8 – 18, based on availability. 1-800-990-1308.

Adam’s Mark the Hotel of Denver. Adams Marks is Colorado’s largest hotel. Amenities include an outdoor all season heated pool, underground parking, concierge, and business center. Restaurants: Bravo Ristorante, Capitol Bar, Supreme Court, Trattoria, Players and Tiffany Rose Lounge. AAA Four Diamond.. Romance Package includes deluxe accommodations for two, a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. and full breakfast buffet at Trattoria Colorado, 1-303-893-3333.

Hotel Teatro. This luxury boutique hotel is conveniently located across from the Denver Center for Performing Arts. Amenities include high speed Internet, fitness center,and local car service.. Contemporary French cuisine is served at Restaurant Kevin Taylor. Modern Italian fare is served at Prima Ristorante. AAA Four Diamond. Mobil Four Star. Indulge in Each Other Romance package is designed as a weekend getaway. The Westin Renew for Two Package includes sparkling wine, s and strawberries for two, complimentary breakfast in bed.. 1-303-228-1100.

Brown Palace Hotel and Spa. The Brown Palace is a traditional, historic hotel that over 100 years old. Amenities include The Spa at the Brown Palace, six restaurants, flower shop, business center and concierge. AAA Four Diamond, Mobil Four Star. Brown Palace Light Up the Night Package. This romantic package includes accommodations, breakfast for two, two evening cocktails in the hotel atrium and their signature rose-petal turn down.1-303-297-3111.

Oxford Hotel. The Oxford Hotel is a historic hotel that was originally built in 1891. The building is simple in appearance, but it has an extravagant interior. Oxford is situated in the heart of downtown’s historic district of LoDo. Amenities include McCormicks Fish House and Bar, the legendary Cruise Room, full service health club and the Oxford Club Spa. Romance at the Oxford includes overnight accommodations, in room chilled champagne, rose petal turn down, one long stemmed rose, morning coffee and a Sprinkling of Kisses. 1-303-628-5400.

Magnolia Hotel promises mile high service and hospitality. The Romance of Magnolia Package includes accommodations in a luxurious fireplace one bedroom suite, two cocktails in Harry’s Bar, Signature Magnolia plush his and her robes, chilled champagne, bed time cookies and mile and Continental breakfast served in the Club Room. 1-303-607-9000.

The Warwick Hotel Denver. Located in the trendy Uptown neighborhood, near the State Capitol, Amenities include a fitness center, year round heated rooftop swimming pool, business services and Randolph’s Restaurant. Small dogs welcome. Suite Touch of Romance offers relaxation in a King Corner Suites, 50 minute in-room couples massage by Candle Light, after massage revitalizing snack, rose petal turn down and valet parking. 1-303-861-2000.

Information is subject to change. Contact the hotels for details and to make reservation.

IF YOU ENJOY ROMANCE WITH A FLARE AND A SCARE THEN READ ABOUT THIS:

The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa is a grand hotel in Denver, with a sweeping atrium lobby that rises nine floors to a canopy of stained glass. The elegant, grand hotel has been open for business every day since it first opened in 1892.

Ghost Stories

From the years of 1937 to 1985 permanent guests lived in the twenty apartments on the top two floors of the hotel. During renovations the hotel’s historian, Julia Kanellos, conducted a series of historical tours which highlighted the stories of some of these residents. One of the stories was about Mrs. Louise Crawford Hill who lived in room 904 from the years of 1940 to 1955 and who ruled Denver society.

Her story of lost love and heartbreak were recounted on the historical tours. Soon after these sad tales were recounted the hotel’s main switchboard began to receive calls from room 904. The hotel operator would answer and find there was nothing but static on the line. These phone calls were a mystery because the room had been stripped of everything including phone lines. Mrs. Hill’s saga was eliminated from the tour and the strange telephone calls from room 904 ceased.

The hotel’s main dining room is now called Ellyngton’s, but it used to be named the San Marco Room. The San Marco Room was home to big bands and the San Marco Strings. One evening, past closing time, a houseman heard sounds coming from the dining room and saw a quartet of formally dressed musicians practicing their music. The houseman said, “You’re not supposed to be in here.” The musicians replied, “Oh, don’t worry about us,. We live here.”

A hotel engineer on night duty encountered a ghost in an old-fashioned train conductor’s uniform The spirit slowly disappeared through the wall of the former railroad ticket office. The former railroad ticket office in the hotel is now occupied by a United Airlines ticket office.

History the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, Colorado

The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa has been open every day since it opened in 1892. Brown’s Palace is one of Denver’s most elegant hotels.
In the late 1800s people were flocking to Denver, Colorado to seek their fortunes in gold and silver. The fortune seekers stopped in Denver, either on their way to of from the mountains. Whether these people stayed in Denver or were just passing through, they all needed a place to stay.

Henry Cordes Brown was a real estate entrepreneur who was formerly a carpenter. Brown moved from Ohio to Denver in 1860. Brown purchased several acres of land in Denver, including a triangular plot at the corners of Broadway, Tremont and 17th Street. Brown made a name for himself by donating land for the State Capitol building and by giving the first $1,000 for the founding of Denver’s first library. Henry Brown sold off the rest of his land on Capitol Hill and made a fortune.

No expense was spared on the building of the Palace Hotel. designed by architect Frank E. Edbrooke. The Italian Renaissance style building used Colorado red granite and Arizona sandstone for the building’s exterior. A detailed finishing touch was provided by artist James Whitehouse, who was commissioned to carve 26 medallions in stone. Each medallion depicted a native Rocky Mountain animal.

Edbrooke designed an atrium lobby with balconies rising eight floors above the ground, surrounded by cast iron railings with ornate grillwork panels. Onyx was imported for the lobby, the Grand Salon (now the Onyx Room) and the eighth floor ballroom. The hotel building was the second fire-proof building in Denver.

The Brown Palace Hotel cost a remarkable $1.6 million. An additional $400,000 was spent for furniture. Rooms rented from between $3 and $5 per night. The grand hotel featured two banquet halls, a Grand Salon, a smoking room, a ladies lounge, a men’s bar and at least 18 stores.

The Brown Palace Hotel has a triangular shape, which gives the hotel many unique features. All rooms face the street. The hotel water comes from its own artesian well.. A huge carousel oven turns out baked goods on a daily basis/.

Unlike many historic hotels, The Brown Palace Hotel was been open every minute of every day since it opened. The hotel has been remodeled, refurbished, updated and redecorated on an ongoing basis, without closing down..

Today the Brown Palace Hotel boasts a $3 million spa and four distinctive dining experiences. Brown Palace Hotel and Spa is a Four-Star and AAA Four Diamond Hotel.

CHERRY CREEK VILLAGE

THE WEEKEND OF 11-22-08 THE WIFE AND I WILL BE GOING TO CHERRY CREEK VILLAGE NEAR DOWNTOWN DENVER FOR SOME GOOD INFORMATION ON FOOD, GALLERY’S, AND SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAY. KEEP CHECKING BACK ON THE SITE TO SEE WHAT WE FIND!

THINGS TO DO NEAR DENVER

THE WIFE AND I WAS TALKING TODAY ABOUT THE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO NEAR DENVER, CO. MANY OF THE TOWNSHIPS NEAR DENVER HAVE GREAT SHOPPING AND GOOD FOOD WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF HISTORY AND MUSEUMS. ONE THING WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT IS THINGS TO DO ON A SHOE STRING BUDGET AND THIS WE WILL DO AND POST FOR ALL TO SEE IN THE WEEKS TO COME. OUR GOAL IS TO CUT BACK SOME OF THE TRAVEL TIME FOR MORE OF AN ENJOYABLE TIME SPENT TOGETHER. STAY TUNED FOR MORE REVEALING INFORMATION THINGS TO DO IN OR NEAR DENVER, CO. IF YOU ARE MAKING A TRIP TO DENVER IN THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER THEN THERE IS MUCH TO DO AROUND THE HOLIDAY SEASON RIGHT IN DENVER. EVERY YEAR WE LIGHT UP THE CAPITAL BUILDING WITH THE BEST LIGHT SHOW AROUND. THE SHOPS ON THE 16TH STREET MALL HAVE ALL THE CHRISTMAS GOODIES IN THE STORES AND THE STREET IS LINED WITH DECORATIONS OF ALL COLORS FOR ONE TO SEE. DOWNTOWN DENVER HAS MANY GREAT PALCES TO EAT FROM HIGH END PLACES TO MIDDLE OF THE ROW BUT ALL HAVE GREAT FOOD. THERE IS MORE TO DO IN DENVER THAN JUST OUR NUMEROUS SPORT TEAMS SO HAVE SOME FUN AROUND THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE MILE HIGH SEASONS NEAR BY.

GOOD PLACE TO EAT IN DENVER, CO:

1 Denver Art Museum. Outside, it’s a visual symphony of smooth planes and sharp curves, suggesting dynamic mountain peaks. Inside, rooms showcase African, Oceanic, and American Western art, as well as modern and contemporary works.

2 Civic Center Park. For natural beauty and crisp fall air, stroll a few blocks north of the museum, to Denver’s lovingly landscaped park. Bordered by W Colfax Ave, W 14th Ave Pkwy, Bancock St, and Lincoln St.
   
3 Camera Obscura Gallery. One of America’s oldest fine-art photography galleries. Closed Mon; 1309 Bannock St; 303-623-4059.

4 Walker Fine Art. A spacious gallery specializing in contemporary multidimensional works. Closed Sun-Mon; 300 W 11th Ave; 303-355-8955.

5 Palettes. The museum ‘s restaurant, with chef Kevin Taylor at the helm, is a destination in itself. $$$; 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy; 303-354-1455.
         
6 Gateaux. Pop into the patisserie for pretty petits fours and double-fudge brownies. Closed Sun-Mon; 1160 N Speer Blvd; 303-376-0070.

7 Nine75. The trendy restaurant-lounge is best for après-art happy hour. $$$; 975 Lincoln St; 303-975-0975.

8 The Brown Palace Hotel. The destination hotel in metro Denver for more than a hundred years, the full-service Brown Palace wears its age well. You can’t say you’ve been to Denver, until you’ve at least had a cocktail here.

9 State Capitol. You can’t miss its golden dome.  Head up to the 15th step, where you’ll be at exactly 5280 feet – one mile – above sea level.

10 Denver Public Library. Designed in the 1990s by celebrated architect Michael Graves, it holds the largest collection of books between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Welcome to Colorado Get Aways

Colorado Get Aways is put together by myself and my lovely wife Lia. Our goal here is to encourage the people of Colorado to visit more of our wonderful state. Colorado is full of history every where you look. The old coal mine towns, the old gold mine towns, and the old west adventures from the plains to the mountains. This blog will be about little towns with history and great food that most can be made on a days ride. Sit back and enjoy the reading of great new places to visit. If you know of a great place and want to write on here about it then please do.

RECENT TRIP TO TRINIDAD, CO.

This week the wife and I took a trip down to Trinidad, CO. where we found a fun and exciting place surrounded by history. We love to travel off season to many locations like this one where we have a chance to really meet the locals more one on one. Trinidad has such a nice and friendly group of locals that bring a joy to the experience beyond the the history itself. The food that is in Trinidad with forty different restaurant’s to chose from is remarkable in it’s own right. The first night we were there we chose a place called East Peak Pub. We were not real sure what to expect before we arrived but in the pamplet we had gotten early in the day from the Welcome Center, it said that it was a place with many different foods to chose and beers from all over the world, so we thought we would give it a try. My wife loves to try new kinds of food so I thought this would be a good choice she likes new kinds of food while I love beer from Germany, Japan, and Ireland. We were amazed the minute we walk in the door, with waitress being friendly, the over all dinning room apperance, and then what was on the menu. The wife ordered a East Indian dish curry and mango with chi tea and I ordered English style fish and chips with a German Amber beer. It was fabulous, mouth watering, and true to form. We had found a motel (Trinidad Inn) that was well within the budget we had set aside. It was not the best of places but yet no where near the worst either. Total cost was about $54 a night with taxes included, so it was a good price.

The next day we walked all over downtown where we shopped and looked at all the history of the old town. One thing the wife and I enjoy doing is to walk through the cemeteries because here is where you can really get an understanding of the people that settled the area. Trinidad has two major cemeteries which made our day even better. One on one side of town and the other one on the other side of town. One was the Catholic cemetery and the other one was the Masonic cemetery and both of them huge in size.

We had lunch at Black Jack’s Saloon where the food was wonderful and dinner at JoJo’s pizza and this was the best tasting cal-zone I had ever had. Trinidad has four major museums to see plus a retired coal train along the river walk. Trinidad is like a hidden secret of history from Indian raids to coal mine disasters and old train robbers like Black Jack. I think if you want something to do that is fun and exciting this is the place to go.