Y'all ever been to Denver? a few (large) pics of my trip...

[OriginalGeek]

We went there last week and had a blast! My friend got us cheap standby plane tickets for 35 bucks so we flew out and stayed with him and his family. We went to a King Diamond concert



and then the rest of the time he drove us all over the mountains and shit. Toured and ate at the Tommyknocker brewery (had more brewery tours planned but just ran out of time). Great beer, great food and they went out of their way to show us around (and even sample some experiments)(I think they should do them if my vote counts).


Toured the Stanley Hotel (where Stephen King stayed and got inspired to write The Shining) and Estes Park area



Went from 60 degrees in Denver up into the mountains where it was freeeeeeeeeeezing



Saw Buffalo Bill's grave, some amber waves of grain and an empty mansion


And we took a run almost to the top of Pike's Peak (last 3 miles were closed due to icy roads)


but I got to be a mountain man for a few minutes
(And then i got back in the truck where it was warm)

It was a completely different experience from what I'm used to. Out of breath from the altitude a lot and from the beauty some too. Cool, dry air is not what I get here in Florida. Can't wait to go back. Lots of beer there left undrunk. I need to fix that.

[Suich]

1. Nice pics!

What's the story on the empty mansion?

[Scuba]

2. It's one that John McCain forgot he had.

[OriginalGeek]

14. Thanks! As far as I can figure

It was at a place where cattlemen came together to to do cattlemen stuff. I think it was lived in by the head cattleman but nowadays it's just a fancy house you can tour on a couple days a week (we were there on the wrong day to go inside but it was mostly empty from I could see through the windows). Somebody is keeping the lawn up pretty nice though. My friend that was taking us around wasn't real clear on why it was no longer in use as a house.

[Initech]

3. Denver is awesome!

I went there back at the end of September for the Great American Beer Fesitval. I try to go there every year.

[OriginalGeek]

15. I saw a lot of signs for that and/or

other beerfests...There seems to be a craft brewery on every corner which is a pretty fine way to live if ya ask mel. Most of the places we ate had some link to a local brewer so in addition to shitty Coors they always had something fun and new to try even if it wasn't a brewpub.

[Initech]

25. GABF is *THE* beer festival.

It's the beer festival by which all other beer festivals could only ever dream of coming close to. Hell even Triumph The Insult Comic Dog made an appearance a couple years back:

[OriginalGeek]

27. Ooooooooh! Apricots!

LMAO! Yeah, I'm gonna have to add that to the list.

[Initech]

30. Did you come here on your antique trycicle?

[Hotler]

4. Born a rasied here ask me anything. Was tha mansion in

the Denver area? I kind looks like the Phipps mansion.

[OriginalGeek]

16. It was on the backside of Highlands Ranch

My friend we stayed with lives in there and he took us around. His wife's family were one of the first people to move in there so she grew up there. He's a Florida boy like me so he and I were pretty much in awe of the mountains and such. I know he told me the name of it but I don't remember.

[Arugula Latte]

5. I've spent a lot of time there.

Last edited Sat Nov 7, 2015, 08:43 PM - Edit history (1)

I find it an interesting mix of gorgeous and ugly scenery (it can get pretty monotonously brown there). The weather is freaking NUTS. A snowstorm could roll through in June, then it's back to 75 the next day. The altitude and dry climate dehydrate me to the point where I feel like an old piece of leather. I'm a coastal girl and I need my ocean, but I usually enjoy spending time in Denver and the surrounding areas. If you ever get a chance to see a concert at Red Rocks, take it. Amazing venue, the best in the US of A, I believe.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. We saw James Taylor there the last time we were down.

Great concert, and the acoustics were fabulous.

[OriginalGeek]

17. Yep, he warned us before we came out

so we had tons of water on hand and I still don;t think it was enough. The scenery we saw pretty much made up for the altitude and dryness though. But I could see where vast fields of nothing can get pretty brown in the winter - but then they'll probably get covered in snow and be ok lol.

We drove by Red Rocks but there were no shows scheduled to see. The band I actually went to see (King Diamond) played Red Rocks a few months ago as part of a bigger summer touring show but this time they were solo so they played at the Fillmore.


My friend has seen quite a few shows at Red Rocks though and he agrees that it's pretty much the best place in the US. I hope to go back many times for many shows and many beers.

[fizzgig]

6. glad you had a great time

it certainly is something else here. husband and i tried to go up pikes in late september but wussed out a few miles from the summit. the drive was killing us.

thanks for sharing your pics

[OriginalGeek]

18. Thanks and YW!

There was no wussing out with my buddy - one he's on a trek he ain't stopping. He's huge into hiking mountain climbing and stuff so I'm just glad he agreed to bring me up the mountain in his 4WD instead of making me climb it.

At the farthest point up where we could go and they had the road blocked and were making everyone turn around (Devil's Playground) a group of folks in Green Bay Packers gear walked across the road in front of us and my buddy told the park ranger there that they were sure brave walking in front of him like that. The ranger said "I woulda said I didn't see anything." Broncos fans don't play lol.

[niyad]

7. so glad that you had such a great time. yes, cool dry air is a specialy here (where we consider

"high humidity" anything over 15%. do come back soon.

[OriginalGeek]

19. Got off the plane at home and walked out into Orlando, FL air and

thought I needed scuba gear. We're definitely going back - there was too much left undrunk - err, I mean, unseen.

[niyad]

33. lots of good microbreweries and wonderful wineries.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Denver's a great city.

I lived there for a year in 1968-69, and since my daughter lives down there in Littleton now, we go visit every few years. The only thing missing in Colorado is the ocean. I love the mountains, though.

[OriginalGeek]

20. Having never been in mountains before

I thought the ocean was all I needed.

Now I gotta figure out how I can have both.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. Alaska!

Our mountains come right down to the water. It's a little cold for swimming and sun bathing, though.

[OriginalGeek]

28. lol, yeah not sure if that ocean counts

I love the idea of it though. We have been thinking of doing an Alaskan cruise some day.

[Blue_In_AK]

29. You would love it.

Most of those cruises are in Southeast Alaska which is absolutely glorious. We were down there a few years ago riding the ferries, which works best for us since we can take our car. Drive 700 miles to Haines and then ferry to Juneau and Sitka.

[UrbScotty]

10. Nice! My brother got married in Lyons this summer!

And my aunt lives in Littleton!

[OriginalGeek]

21. We probably walked right by her!

I know we burned a couple tanks of gas running around everywhere so it is possible lol.

[mnhtnbb]

11. Looks like a fun trip!

Cool photos. $35 airfare! What a deal!

I have two nephews--the oldest one got married in Denver about 10 years ago-- who live in Ft. Collins.

[OriginalGeek]

22. My friend's cousin is a pilot

and he got us stand-by tickets

It was kind of scary not knowing til we got to the gate if we get on the plane but it all worked out pretty well - no problems going but we intended to come back Sunday morning but got bumped to the night flight which didn't leave Denver until midnight. so with the time difference and all we ended up not getting into our own bed at 6am. THAT part was rough but luckily I have understanding bosses.

[abbeyco]

12. I live in a Denver 'burb, c'mon back & visit again!

You did get to see some awesome stuff and I love your pix! If you come back again, holla at a Denver DUer and let's meet up - maybe for a Stranahan's tour or another of the great craft brew places around town. Cheers!

[OriginalGeek]

23. For sure!

we already know we want to go back. lol, 5 minutes after we landed my wife texted our friend and asked if we could come back. The humidity was wearing us down.

[kwassa]

13. I love Colorado ...

though I've only passed through on half a dozen trips. Went skiing there as a kid. Have driven all around Boulder, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, roads north and south, down to Durango.

I think the most scenic interstate in the country is I-70 between Denver and Grand Junction.

I have often said that I will only live on the east coast, the west coast, or Colorado.

[OriginalGeek]

24. I never even thought about moving before

but that grandeur makes it something to think about now. Can't wait to go back.

I just wrote a letter to restaurant we ate at thanking them for a wonderful meal. I've been home for over a week now and can't stop thinking of this dish - some kind of cheese and pear-filled pasta in a sage and balsamic reduction. Even if there were no mountains or beer or beautiful scenery, this dish is something to move for lol. Mama Roma if any of you are ever in the neighborhood. It was an outstanding meal.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

31. You forgot this picture:

[OriginalGeek]

34. ha! Yeah we watched that the night before we left

just so we could remember it when we toured the Stanley Hotel. I didn't realize the movie was filmed elsewhere until we got there. Now I'll have to look for the TV mini-series because it WAS filmed at the Stanley. I don't think I watched it back when it was on.

[PasadenaTrudy]

32. I've never been to CO

I love northern NM so I'm sure I'd love it. Looks really beautiful!