Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2008 - (Page 13) Denver skyline ©Roy Ooms/Masterfile Denver Regional Overview Broomfield Brighton Northglenn Thorton 76 270 TheDraw Denverites have a lust for life that is matchless among American cities. This passion is seen in the city’s expansive open-space parks where residents ride bikes and bask in the everpresent sun. It is also seen in the cutting-edge galleries along Santa Fe Drive, in the crosscultural events that take place year-round and in the ever-changing dining scene that dominates local discussions of what’s hot and what’s cool. Mix in four top-notch shopping complexes, a dozen fashion-boutique districts and a nightlife scene in LoDo fit for MTV’s The Real World: Denver 2006, and you’ll quickly understand why Denver’s the place to be. 70 Westminster Wheat Ridge Golden Morrison Denver 225 TheCulture With a metro area comprised of nearly 2.5 million people, Denver has emerged as the cultural capital of the entire Rocky Mountain region. Fine arts are a priority for the populace, as evidenced by the new expansion of the Denver Art Museum, and by the world-class Denver Center for Performing Arts. Pockets of the city are enclaves for Hispanic, African American, Japanese, Italian and Greek culture, which naturally translates into a diverse culinary experience for foodies. Lakewood Englewood Littleton Aurora Highlands Ranch 25 Sedalia Parker Franktown Castle Rock Denver Metro TheLand While Denver itself is not in the mountains (a common misperception), the city is so close that the Rockies’ presence is always felt. This city has the best of both worlds — easy access to the high country (just a 20-minute drive from the city center) and a mild climate that sees on average 300 days of sunshine a year. To the west, at the foot of the Rockies, lies a chain of ocher sandstone ridges — best seen at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and Roxborough State Park — which acts as a primordial picket fence to Denver’s backyard, the Rocky Mountains. ©Red Rocks Amphitheatre ©Matt Inden/Weaver ©Jack Olson ©Jack Olson ©Jack Olson The State Capitol in Denver Dinosaur tracks near Morrison Cinco de Mayo celebration at Civic Center Park. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre Town of Golden 1-800-Colorado | www.colorado.com 13 http://www.colorado.com
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