Denver, A Mile High… and Climbing

Denver is the world's largest and most alluring après ski town. Located less than two hours from a dozen world class ski resorts, the Mile High city is in the midst of a cultural and culinary boom that has insiders talking. From celebrated restaurants to world-renowned museums, from notable shopping to remarkable entertainment, Denver's renaissance has travelers flocking to this iconic western city to find out what the buzz is all about.

The culinary scene in Denver continues to draw national attention, as some of the nation s hottest young chefs gravitate here to open their own visionary venues. In chic neighborhoods like the Highlands, LoDo (Lower Downtown), Golden Triangle and Cherry Creek, culinary pioneers are serving all varieties of cuisine, from Asian-Latin fusion to South American haute cuisine, not to mention their passion for using local Colorado ingredients.

Restaurants, galleries and shops pepper Denver s 20 diverse neighborhoods. From the stately Victorian mansions of Capitol Hill and the rich African-American culture of historic Five Points, to the quaint, tree-lined streets of Old South Gaylord and Old South Pearl, Denver s blend of laid-back attitude and sophistication is exemplified in the art districts and communities surrounding downtown.

Meanwhile, the heart of downtown Denver is the 16th Street Mall, a mile-long pedestrian promenade lined with restaurants, outdoor cafés and shops. Free hop-on-hop-off hybrid shuttle buses leave either end of the Mall every 90 seconds, making everything downtown easy to navigate.

At the northern end of the Mall is LoDo, a hip historic district with a vibrant nightlife and endless energy. LoDo is overflowing with more than 200 bars, lounges, brew pubs, jazz cafés, restaurants and music clubs. In 2007, the neighborhood welcomed the stunning new Museum of Contemporary Art | Denver, attracting some of the nation s top talent and offering a staggering rooftop view of the Denver skyline.

Nearby, the Cherry Creek Shopping District is a village within the city, filled with nearly 500 shops, independent boutiques, cafés, restaurants and galleries. It s where Denver comes to browse, to sip, to see and be seen.

You may also want to check out Denver s music scene, with some of the best sounds that can be heard across the nation, from top acts to independent artists. Open year-round and celebrating its 68th year, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre welcomes a new music season each summer along with outdoor films every Tuesday night.

For the more sports-minded, Denver also offers MLB s Colorado Rockies who play at the centrally located Coors Field in LoDo. Denver hosts seven professional sports team in total, including the NHL s Colorado Avalanche, the NFL s Denver Broncos and the NBA s Denver Nuggets.

For great hotel rates, calendar of events and more info on Denver, log onto VisitDenver.com or call (800) 2-DENVER

1) Denver truly is one mile high. The 13th step on the west side of the State Capitol Building is 5,280 feet above sea level.

2) Denver was born during the great "Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush" of 1859 when some flakes of glacier gold were found where the South Platte River meets Cherry Creek.

• Eldora

Museum of Contemporary Art | Denver - With a spectacular new building designed by David Adjaye, Denver s newest museum offers five galleries with changing exhibits. The 27,000-square-foot facility, located in LoDo at the corner of 15th and Delgany streets, promotes environmental sustainability and direct connection between artist and visitor. www.mcadenver.org or 303.298.7554

Denver Art Museum - The Denver Art Museum doubled in size with the addition of the astonishing new Frederic C. Hamilton building, designed by world renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind. Founded in 1893, the Denver Art Museum has the largest and most comprehensive collection of art between Kansas City and the West Coast with more than 30,000 objects, including what many regard to be the ° nest collection of Native American art works in the country. www.denverartmuseum.org or 720.865.5000

Denver Museum of Nature & Science - The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is one of the largest museums of its kind in the country. See incredible dinosaur exhibits, experience an IMAX film, view amazing gems and Egyptian mummies, explore Space Odyssey and enjoy the world' s most advanced digital planetarium. www.dmns.org or 303.322.7009

The First Friday of each month is a remarkable time lovers, when galleries all over the city in neighborhoods as Santa Fe, Golden Triangle, Tennyson, RiNo, and Highlands keep their doors open late and treat visitors to special food, and music. For more details on what's happening Denver, visit the events calendar, Denver365, on www.VISITDENVER.com.