The Definitive Guide to Denver and Colorado

Author

Ellen Gray - page 6

Ellen Gray has 90 articles published.

Ellen is the Editor and Publisher of Colorado Traveler Magazine and Denver Traveler Magazine.

Mile-High Cocktails

in Front Range Dining & Nightlife by

The Sophisticate’s Guide to the City’s Best HAPPY HOURS!

“Looks like you have a lot on your mind … Do you want to drink about it?”

     Another long day is winding down. Feeling tired, a bit overwhelmed, and plagued by a case of the blahs. But wait. There’s hope. The allure of plush leather. Soft lighting and laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.  And then … wait for it because here’s the best part … the guy on the other side of the counter glances your way, smiles engagingly and asks, “What will it be?”

     Magically, those four words transform your mood, and you feel your spirit soar as the burdens of the arduous day begin to fade. Yes, it’s happy hour, a time for fun and frivolity, innovative cocktails and witty conversation.

     For many of us, relief in the form of a refreshing cocktail is a fabulous way to unwind, kick back, and shake off the day. In a flash (or a glass), memories of a tedious board meeting, a high-stakes business appointment or even a spat on the homefront can dissipate. Yes, it’s Happy Hour, a time to rekindle romance, bare your soul to a friend, or forge a new relationship.

     Now let’s focus on you, weary traveler. After a long day of frenetic business meetings, what better way to chill than in a sophisticated outdoor setting with the sun on your face, a cool breeze, and an ice-cold beverage?  But worry not, happy hour is not just for corporate types. Even seasoned shoppers understand the value of letting their hair down at the end of a taxing day spent visiting the city’s great stores and boutiques – kind of like                  retail therapy followed by lounge therapy.

     So time to raise a glass, have some fun, and enjoy yourself in one of Denver’s many fabulous outdoor patios – where fun and sophistication are top of mind, while the people watching isn’t too bad either!

Elway’s Downtown at The Ritz Carlton

RCDENVR_00088Everyone loves The Ritz, and here in Colorado, everyone loves John Elway. So when it comes to an ideal place to relax at the end of the day, Elway’s at the Ritz-Carlton Denver delivers a winning combination. All summer long, the patio opens at 11 a.m. and remains active until closing. Daily happy hour features great food and drink from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Colorado Rockies home game days, happy hour heats up all day long! Live guitar music is a popular new attraction on Wednesday nights, featuring performances by Colin McAfee, who brings his St. Louis blues roots and acoustic sounds flavored after some of the greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jerry Garcia and Jimi Hendrix.

1881 Curtis St. in The Ritz Carlton

303.312.2800

elways.com/downtown

Del Frisco’s Grille in Cherry Creek North

DELFRISCOS_0102Newly opened and already this is a favorite among locals wanting to see and be seen in the Mile High city. The expansive new rooftop patio at Del Frisco’s Grille is perched nearly three stories above the street, offering up views of the eclectic Cherry Creek North neighborhood. The patio is beautifully appointed, with landscaping, fire features, and a lounge-like atmosphere including community tables and high-top tables. The rooftop patio has its own bar and entrance via elevator or grand staircase. And best of all, Del Frisco’s Grille’s great food and cocktails are available up on the roof!

100 St. Paul St.

303320.8529

delfriscosgrirlle.com/cherrycreek

Shanahan’s Steakhouse in The Denver Tech Center

patioIf you appreciate an original handcrafted cocktail accompanied by great food and great music, Shanahan’s Steakhouse is your bet. It’s upscale, tasteful and full of beautiful people having fun. The huge outdoor space is inviting and gorgeous, with contemporary furnishings, large glass windows that open into the restaurant, and live music all summer long. Propane heaters abound for cooler evenings, and a stunning two-story granite and quartz fireplace provides the perfect setting to gather round and raise a glass.

5085 Syracuse St.

303.770.7300

shanahanssteakhouse.com

The Palm in Downtown DenverPatio Table Cloths

Recently remodeled, The Palm Denver is a favorite of locals, who love the new open contemporary floor plan, large bar, great menu featuring classics and new dishes, and of course, signature caricatures flanking the walls. This summer, make sure you sample the new Summer Lobster special, accompanied by a fantastic new cocktail list. The Mile High Hanging Chad, created by local Palm bartender Chad Skrbina for the 2008 Democratic National Convention is a hit, along with the Bourbon Blackberry Smash. Happy hour takes place Sunday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the gorgeous new bar, with half off all Prime Bites including oysters, calamari, cheeseburgers and more.

1672 Lawrence Street in The Westin Hotel

303.825.7256

The Hyatt Aurora

Hyatt-Regency-Aurora-Borealis BarAurora has a new address, and it’s nothing short of spectacular. The new Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center opened this Spring, and boasts all the modern amenities that you’d expect from a luxury hotel. In additional to state-of-the-art meeting facilities, the hotel also has a beautiful outdoor terrace that accommodates guests and meeting goers. But our personal favorite spot is Borealis, the great restaurant that reflects a variety of culinary styles that let guests embark on a culinary journey presented by the hotel’s award-winning chef, Tim Freeman. Happy hour lives up to its name, where guests can unwind with cocktails or craft beer on the terrace. Every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., this is the perfect summer venue to enjoy a glass of champagne or sparkling wine, a signature cocktail and delicious, mouthwatering hors d’ouevres.

13200 E. 14th Place

303.365.1234

Aurora.regency.hyatt.com

The ART Hotel in The Museum District

Nestled within a one-of-a-kind hotel is a one-of-a-kind venue that is a must-see for tourists desiring a cocktail with an artful twist. This unique hotel, ArtHotel_GardenTerraceFire_v2scentered on an experiential adventure, is part and parcel of what makes the spot so special. Up on the fourth floor is the FIRE Terrace, where patrons can savor cocktails and fare while watching the activity on Broadway Street. The terrace overlooks the city’s Museum District and History Colorado Center, and who can resist the ARTful cocktails paired with delicious nibbles and fun live entertainment.

1201 Broadway

303.534.6400

thearthotel.com

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American Museum of Western Art

in Attractions/Front Range Attractions by

How the West was Won … On Canvas

Sangre de Christo, Ernest Blumenschein, 1926, 50.2x60"
Ernest Leonard Blumenschein, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, 1926. The American Museum of Western Art—The Anschutz Collection.

by Claudia Carbone

ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO,  Colorado entrepreneur Phillip Anschutz began collecting western art. As the private collection grew in the warehouse of his corporate offices, so did his desire to share it with others and provide an educational resource for children. In 1997, the Anschutz Corporation acquired the historic Navarre Building in downtown Denver—a piece of western history in itself — and restored it to become the new home of the American Museum of Western Art, one of Denver’s premiere art galleries.

SandSpringsButte-CHassam
Childe Hassam, Sand Springs, Butte Near the Malheur-Harney Desert (Sand Springs, Butte), 1904. The American Museum of Western Art—The Anschutz Collection.

     The exhibit of original artwork includes more than 300 paintings, drawings and sculptures from the early 19th Century through the age of industrialization and up to present time. Displayed in chronological order, the paintings time travel from American Indian territory of the Old West to the settlements of the New Frontier to the West as we know it today. While the West was expanding, the style and methods used by the artists depicting it was rapidly changing as well, and the exhibits on the gallery’s three floors illustrate this transformation.

     “It’s the most important collection of western art in the country,” said Darlene Dueck, AMWA curator who has worked with the collection for 22 years. “It’s significant because it documents historical development of American art as it pertains to the West. It invokes painters who were involved with the West, who loved the West, and depicted it in their own God-given talent and style. They painted their very inner being. The stories told here are such beautiful examples of how they captured a moment in time that they considered important.”

The artists and their works

GalleryInstallationView
Installation view of the American Museum of Western Art—The Anschutz Collection.

A moment in time, indeed. Artists of the day accompanied military, exploratory and fur trading expeditions of the early 1800’s and captured on canvas what they saw. For example, tribal ceremonies and customs of Native Americans were documented by George Catlin in his images  of the Mandan people. Dramatic depictions of the Old West gave us famous works like The Last Shot by William Ranney and Long Jakes, The Rocky Mountain Man by Charles Deas. Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell and others interpreted the heroism and daring of the western frontier through amazing action paintings. A group of narrative artists illustrated western life with inspiration from the Renaissance and the Old Masters. The beautiful, large-scale landscape works of Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran round out the large array of paintings on the second floor main gallery.

     The third floor gallery displays paintings that once hung in the station of the Santa Fe Railroad, commissioned by the railway to lure passengers to travel west. Artists were members of the Taos Society of Artists, which flourished in Taos and Santa Fe from 1915-1927. They came to “The Land of Enchantment” to capture its pure light, expansive landscapes and lifestyles of the Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures that make up the southwest. Many artists in the west, such as Georgia O’Keeffe and John Marin, were influenced by the modernist movement of the early 20th Century. On this floor are examples of Impressionism and Expressionism, as well as Cubism and Abstraction. During this time, some artists like N. C. Wyeth became famous for illustrating short stories, magazine articles and novels about the Old West that still are intriguing today.

     On the fourth floor, paintings are grouped into themes, such as the dangers of travel in the early west and still-life painting popular in the late 19th Century. In the dark days of the ‘30s, the U.S. Government aided artists through the Federal Arts Projects spawning New Deal Art that appealed to the masses. Farms, small towns and scenery were documented by Regionalists in the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. Finally, Abstract Expressionism is explored in the works of Emil Bisttram and others as well as Ralph Brownell McGrew’s contemporary renderings of the Navajos in New Mexico and Arizona. 

     In an impactful display, all the paintings—many in ornate frames—are hung salon style, close together, side-by-side and above one another from floor to ceiling, a Gilded Age technique in keeping with the building’s Victorian roots. “Many of the artists on view anticipated their art would be hung in this way,” said Dueck. “Visitors can step back in time and enjoy the paintings as they would have originally been displayed.” 

Navarre Building

Built in 1880, the four-story Victorian started out as the Brinker Collegiate Institute for young women and later morphed into the first coed learning center west of the Mississippi. In 1889, new owners turned it into Hotel Richelieu, only to gamble it away to Ed Chase and Vaso Chucovich. This duo started the bordello that made it famous, naming it after French King Henry of Navarre who had a reputation for living large. Stories abound about tunnels built between it and the Brown Palace Hotel, where clientele could pass in secret to their nightly “entertainment.” By 1946, Johnny Ott was running it as a respectable fine dining restaurant, which continued under several more ownerships until The Anschutz Corporation acquired the building and reopened it in 2010 as the American Museum of Western Art.

     Claudia Carbone is an award-winning journalist born and raised in Denver. She remembers going to lunches at The Navarre with her father and his philanthropic organization, The King Bees.

About the Museum

American Museum of Western Art

1727 Tremont Place

Denver, CO 80202

303.293.2000

www.AnschutzCollection.org

Open Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Docent-led tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and self-guided tours with audio guides available any time.

Tickets: Purchased in advance on the website or by phone. Walk-ins welcome; reservations are encouraged. For an intimate discussion with a small group led by a guide on a selected work of art, subject matter or artist, purchase an “Artful Insight” ticket. These special programs are held on the first Monday at 11:45 a.m. and third Monday at 3 p.m. Check the website for topics that change each month.

Finding Colorado’s Bounty of Wildflowers

in Mountain Attractions/Uncategorized by
Fireweed, Crested Butte Colorado
Fireweed, Crested Butte Colorado
By John Fielder

Colorful Colorado is not an inappropriate nickname! Yes, we have purple mountain majesty, the color of twilight on our Rocky Mountains, and aspen and cottonwood trees in autumn boast yellows like nowhere else. Yet it’s summer for which we must be named … our wildflowers represent every color of the spectrum.

     Colorado’s cornucopia of flowering plants follow both season and elevation. Blooming occurs progressively in time as one travels from low to high. Spring blooms begin in May along Colorado’s Front Range and into the foothills at 5,000 – 7,000 feet. Pink locoweed decorate the Pawnee National Grasslands in the plains of northeast Colorado, when spring rains arrive from California. Purple dwarf larkspur hide among the leafing gambel oak trees in the foothills of Roxborough State Park just 30 minutes southwest of Denver.

John Fielder in the aspen sunflowers
John Fielder in the aspen sunflowers

     June brings wildflowers into the high country, but only up to elevations of 10,000 feet. The first to arrive after the snow leaves is the pink and purple pasqueflower. Then sunflowers begin their entrance. Look for several species including arrowleaf balsamroot and mule’s ears blooming on sunny slopes mixed with common sage brush. Check out June flowers in the valley of the Lower Blue River in Summit and Grand counties. Take CO 9 from I-70 north to Kremmling following the Blue to its confluence with the Colorado River. Divert from the highway before Green Mountain Reservoir and head up the dirt road to Lower Cataract.

     July welcomes the state flower, the Colorado columbine. As the snow disappears, purple columbine bloom from 9,000 all the way up to 13,000 feet! There’s even a red variety that perceptive eyes will discover in wet locations in evergreen forests. Crested Butte is the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, where it is not difficult to find profusions of columbine. Check out the Washington Gulch, Gothic, and Brush Creek roads for all of the aforementioned flowers, as well as tall larkspur and shockingly-red scarlet gilia. Here one can drive the countless miles of backroads, or slip on a backpack and head into the Raggeds or Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness areas.

August is peak wildflower season in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The world-famous network of 19th-century mining roads provide 4-wheel drive access to elevations up to 13,000 feet. Monsoon rains are common and keep flowers blooming into September. Lake City, Silverton and Ouray are starting points for discovering magenta elephant head in the boggy areas, and purple sky pilot and columbine that grow among the talus boulders.

Of course, don’t forget to bring your camera! Many of my best wildflower images are made with high-quality point-and-shoots, which I use for both close-ups and “scenics.” Point-and-shoots are compact and easy to carry. The close-up mode (the button on the back of the camera with the flower symbol) lets me get within an inch of the flower. I can get low to the ground and make compositions otherwise difficult to do with the SLR (single reflex lens) camera. For my best photographs, I do use SLRs on tripods with extreme wide angle lenses.

Wildflowers of Colorado smallPick up a copy of my latest book Wildflowers of Colorado. The 100 photographs in this book are among my favorites made over the past 35 years. Though I took some of the images in remote wilderness, many were found right off the road! The book includes descriptions of and directions to some of the most reliable places to find big meadows of wildflowers in northern, central, and southern Colorado mountain ranges and valleys. My travel guide John Fielder’s Best of Colorado is another good resource to help you find the roads that will cut you to the wildflower chase. Or come to one of my photography workshops and I will take you there myself!

Luxury in the Rockies

in Front Range Hotels & Resorts/Hotels & Resorts/Mountain Hotels & Resorts by

Sophisticated travelers know that when it comes to a great hotel, experience goes hand-in-hand with top-of-the-line accommodations and superior customer service. Here we bring you the inside track on some of our favorite Colorado resorts.

By Ellen Gray

Beaver Run

If you’re looking for a getaway that is sheer fun, you need look no further than the fabulous Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. More than a hotel, this is a resort that is always bustling with activity, yet the setting is serene and the scenery stunning.

Whether you’re staying at this mountain paradise for fun or for business, you’re going to find it all – proximity to scenic hiking, great skiing and winter sports; swimming, tennis and pampering at the spa – in short, anything you can dream, you will find at Beaver Run. And the best part is, 008-2014 BR Hot Tuball the fantastic amenities are located under one roof, so getting around is never an issue!

     Travelers who have stayed at the resort come back time and again because this is truly a one-of-a-kind getaway that has it all – the world-class Breckenridge ski area on one side of the property and the charming town of Breckenridge on the other. And that’s what we love … location, location, location!

     The historic town of Breckenridge is actually a genuine old mining town, and its personality shines through at every turn. From unique bars and restaurants to local shops, this is one fun town that is a local’s favorite.

     But back to Beaver Run. The resort is nestled at the bottom of Peak 9 at the base of the Beaver Run Super Chair, and access to top-notch skiing, hiking and biking is steps away. The Base 9 Bar off the lobby is sheer fun, with pool tables, darts, TVs and a popular craft beer program. The rooms are open and contemporary with a mountain flair, and the feel is vastly different from a hotel. Because this is operated as a condo/hotel, each room is a bit unique and accommodations run the gamut from a single standard room to a studio with efficiency kitchen to spacious four-bedroom condos.

     The spa is full-service with all the bells and whistles, and there are pools, tennis, hot tubs and even an arcade and indoor mini-golf on property. Truly anall-around experience for both business and pleasure travelers!

Beaverrun.com

Hotel Boulderado

For decades, the Hotel Boulderado has held a special place in the hearts of Coloradoans, whether they came to know it as a student at the University of Colorado, a transplant to the eclectic city, or a local who grew up in the presence of this well-known icon. Easily recognizable for its distinctive Victorian architecture, this historic hotel recently underwent a substantial renovation that artfully melds past and present.

 Boulderado-031 (1)    Opened in 1909, the Hotel Boulderado has played host to an impressive array of personalities, including conservationist Enos Mills, actors Ethel Barrymore and Douglas Fairbanks, lawyer Clarence Darrow, poet Robert Frost, and Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan. Today the hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a City of Boulder landmark.

     The distinctive building has lost none of its charm, and today represents a unique combination of Old-World dignity beautifully intermingled with contemporary sophistication and amenities. The result is a one-of-a-kind experience, where past and present conjure up memories of the good old days, and adventures that are yet to come.

     The hotel’s elegant Victorian-inspired rooms boast large windows, with stunning views of downtown Boulder, the foothills and the majestic Boulder Flatirons. The newly updated rooms feature a color palette of warm greys, crisp linen whites, rich blues and luxurious camel, complemented by nickel and brass and a touch of leather. Custom millwork handcrafted by local craftsmen adorns the bathroom vanities, and locally sourced artwork hangs in tandem with some of the hotel’s original historical pieces.

     Of particular note is the Presidential Suite, an elegantly appointed large corner suite that boasts living and dining area, premium linens, plush robes, elegant bath and (a personal favorite), gourmet chocolates. All this plus knockout views of the city and the mountains!

     Business travelers will appreciate the newly renovated meeting and event spaces, which were redesigned and updated to offer a more upscale and inviting environment.  Wood-paneled wainscot and traditional moldings were added to the 3,000-square-foot ballroom, and new touches were put into place in the executive boardroom.

     Foodies will love the hotel’s three great dining options, which include Spruce Farm & Fish Restaurant, Corner Bar Restaurant and License 1 Bar. All three are run by Concept Restaurants, Inc., one of Colorado’s most-respected and established restaurant groups.

     Just steps from the fun and fabulous Pearl Street Mall, the “place to be in Boulder,” the Hotel Boulderado is minutes away from great shopping, dining, hiking and sightseeing. This is a jewel that has stood the test of time.

Boulderado.comCOL - Fall Exterior 2

Hotel Columbia

The Hotel Columbia may be one of Telluride’s best-kept secrets. Located just 17 steps from the Gondola, which is the free transportation system between the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, this utterly charming boutique hotel is as unique as it is irresistible. For guests who don’t want to take the Gondola, the hotel is located just two blocks from Main Street and complimentary cruisers are always available.

     Each room is original in décor, design and configuration, and it’s rare for a guest to depart without planning a return stay! Standard rooms and suites may include King beds with pillow-top mattresses and goose down comforters, travertine bathrooms with walk-in showers, fireplaces, balconies, kitchenettes and always a great view. If you’re really in the mood to splurge, consider taking a penthouse suite, replete with a beautiful fireplace in an oversized living room, full kitchen and dining area, spacious baths with travertine-tiled floors, heated towel racks, and oversized glass and travertine shower with rain showerheads. Each of the penthouse’s three rooms has a private bath; two of the rooms have gas fireplaces.

     Staff are all local to the area and highly passionate about the property. In fact, their first priority is to ensure guests have a memorable experience at both the hotel and in the town of Telluride. Prior to their arrival, guests receive a vacation planner which enables the concierge to customize a unique experience, including activities, welcome amenities and dinner reservations. The intimate size of the hotel enables staff to go well beyond the services of a larger hotel or resort, and to treat each guest as family.

     Each morning, guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary European hot breakfast in the COSMOpolitan dining room, which as hailed as “the best breakfast buffet in town.” In-room dining is always an option, and wine aficionados will love the private wine vault, which exudes old-world ambience and is perfect for special occasions.

Columbiatelluride.com

Garden of the Gods Club and Resort

Kissing Camels Club West Course #3

In the thriving city of Colorado Springs, a luxury golf resort beckons visitors who come as much for the setting as for the incredible amenities. Garden of the Gods Club and Resort sits high atop a mesa, and guests never tire of the incredible views of snow-capped Pikes Peak and the natural red rock formation of the Garden of the Gods National Landmark. It’s nature at its finest, and its truly something to behold.

     After it opened in 1951, the Garden of the Gods Club became an exclusive retreat for Hollywood’s elite and a host of public figures, including Robert Mitchum, Claudette Colbert, Gene Autry, John Wayne and Walt Disney. Golf was added in 1961, and the resort soon became a home to a variety of tournaments.

     The resort’s 69 guest rooms and suites all offer up spectacular views, and golfers will love playing on the 27-hole Kissing Camels Golf Course. There’s also workout facilities, tennis courts, a rec center with swimming pool, toddler pool, children’s splash park and playground, and a beautiful infinity adult pool.

     Every guest room includes a private balcony or patio, large powder rooms and closets, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, plasma TVs and high-speed Internet. The majority of the rooms were recently renovated, and were redesigned with beautifully appointed furnishings and updated technology. The historic South Patio King and Double rooms were kept intact, and offer stunning views of the South Patio lawn. The North Club and South Club King and Queen rooms feature a fireplace, flat-screen TV, and oversized dressing area and walk-in closets, while the Master Suites feature wet bar, spacious sitting area,

large powder rooms with double vanities, oversized tubs and separate shower.

     Feel like hitting the links? The championship Kissing Camels golf course, designed by J. Press Maxwell and Mark Rathert, features bunkered greens, towering pines and lush mountain landscaping. The 50-year-old course spans more than 7,000 yards per 18 holes and is open only to private members and guests staying at the resort.

Gardenofthegodsclub.com

Cuba: Opening Up a Hidden Land

in Hotels & Resorts/Uncategorized by

cub8

Vacationing in Cuba could soon become a reality. Here’s what Americans need to know.

By Thomas Forrister and Angela Youngman

Amysterious country that has been closed to Americans for over 50 years could soon be open for travel. In a historic move, President Barack Obama has opened diplomatic relations and begun loosening travel sanctions for Americans visiting Cuba.

What’s more, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded six domestic airlines to begin scheduled air service to Cuba from five U.S. cities. While service to Havana is currently off limits, Cuba’s nine international airports in other cities will be open for business. Most authorized airlines plan to begin their services in the fall and winter of 2016 and 2017, with tickets likely available much sooner.

But don’t rush to buy a plane ticket – you could find yourself prevented from boarding the plane. You need permission from the U.S. and Cuba to travel. Each approved airline must follow the laws and regulations still in place regarding travel from the U.S. to Cuba. Always check with the carrier directly if you’re thinking of buying a ticket. The six approved carriers are: American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines. So far, travelers will be able to fly to one of Cuba’s nine approved airports from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Philadelphia. 90 daily round trips are approved, with more to come if Havana flights are later allowed. The decision on flights to Havana will be announced later this summer.

So, what are the travel limitations, and how should you navigate them? General tourism to Cuba is strictly prohibited; and travel is limited to specific categories with individual and group tourism still banned. The outcome of the next presidential election may determine how fast this situation changes – whether travel restrictions will continue to loosen, or whether the airline services will cease due to the current non-legally binding arrangement.

Currently, travel is limited to 12 categories, including religious, educational, journalistic or cultural visits. Family visits for Cuban Americans are easier to arrange, but you have to use agencies approved by the U.S. Treasury. Every U.S. citizen needs a visa to enter Cuba. Bringing back $400 worth of Cuban goods is allowed as long as it is for personal use, with just $100 accounting for alcohol and tobacco. Travelers from the U.S. should also pay in cash for expenses while on the island, using the Cuban peso– while U.S. debit and credit cards are legal, they do not yet function in Cuba. Visitors must also keep records and travel receipts for up to five years after returning home.

Despite all of the restrictions, many Americans are optimistic. A U.S. traveler to Cuba no longer needs a specialized license from the government to go, as long as the traveler fits one of the 12 categories – one only needs a general license, which is not a piece of paper, but more or less an honor-based presumption. And with a wide array of categories, travelers are happy to schedule educational and cultural excursions – meeting with Cuban people, visiting historic museums and exhibitions – as main events in their itineraries. However, it is still tricky to travel to Cuba as an individual, so your best option for traveling legally is to go as part of a small guided trip tailored to your interests – authorized travel agencies can help you navigate the limitations smoothly and arrange people-to-people interactions so that you need only relax and enjoy your stay.

So what can you expect to find when visiting Cuba? This is a land that to some extent is still in a time warp. The pace of life is much slower. Technology and property development have only just begun to affect the Cuban landscape.  You can take private tours of Havana in a 1950s Chevy without feeling out of place.

frankk

Only 90 miles from Miami, Cuba was once the playground for the rich and famous, and U.S. citizens swarmed to the island. Organized crime even set its sights on the casinos and hotels, with the likes of leading mob bosses Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano. Havana was a haven for mobsters under the Batista regime, which profited from the extensive fees the crime lords paid for the privilege of running casinos. The American Mafia’s infamous Havana Conference in 1946 ran under the cover of a gala party with singer Frank Sinatra as its entertainment. Others in attendance included Sam Giancana, Albert “The Mad Hatter” Anastasia, Carlos Marcello and the Fischetti brothers, who delivered a suitcase containing $2 million in cash to Luciano.

In 1959, when then Prime Minister Fidel Castro gained power, Castro abolished gambling in Cuba and sent the Mafia scrambling.

Now, among other possibilities should the U.S. and Cuba relations succeed, Cuba could see a return to U.S. executive-owned casinos – all legal, of course!

“The most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen,” is how Christopher Columbus described Cuba when landing on its shores for the first time in 1492. Little has changed since then. Many of the beaches and mountainous, forested interiors would be instantly recognizable. This is a land of incredible beauty, of crystal clear waters and sun-drenched beaches, of massive green rivers winding through forests to quiet beaches covered in sand of every color from pale pink to sparkling black. This is a tropical paradise perfect for romantic celebrations, relaxing vacations, as well as adventurous exploration.

Cuba is a land of contrasts, from the tropical rain forest of the Sagua-Barocoa Mountains to the Zapata Peninsula, which is the largest wetland in the Antilles. The Cays house the second-largest coral reef in the world, and at Cayo Largo del Sur, one of the most stunning sights of the natural world can be seen when hundreds of turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. There are miles of shimmering beaches protected by coral reefs.

At night, the historic cities and towns of Cuba come alive with music and dance. There are clubs, cabarets and street side salsas. Cuba’s capital city, Havana, is the largest city in the Caribbean, possessing a stunning historic neighborhood of Vieja Habana complete with castles, cathedrals and mansions. Numerous resorts can be found mainly within the Varadero, Jardines del Rey and Herradua Keys areas. Most hotels are owned by the Cuban government, or by overseas businesses such as Spanish resort groups.

Located on a long narrow peninsula stretching out into the Caribbean, Varadero has been attracting visitors (including Al Capone!)  since the 1870s. The soft, white sandy beaches are fringed with palm trees, and the azure blue sea perfect for scuba diving into stalagmite caves.

Royal Service Paradisus Varadero is one of the most luxurious hotels in the area. The stylish Hispanic architecture has its own special charm, with its canopy-edged beds and cream-and-brown décor with subtle splashes of color creating an oasis of tranquility. Choose the Royal Service option for the services of a personal butler and a private pool. When dining, guests are spoiled for choice since the restaurants cook up a plethora of a la carte cuisines from Cuban to Italian, Mexican to Japanese.

Sited directly opposite the expansive Varadero beach, the Iberostar Varadero is characterized by low-slung, tropical Cuban-styled buildings. The bright sunny interior décor in yellows, apricots and terracottas reflect the lively Caribbean style. Take a dance class; try your skills at archery, horseback riding, waterskiing or golf. Dine a la carte on gourmet food, sample Cuban delicacies, sushi, burgers or dishes from around the world. At night, enjoy the music of live bands, dance in the disco or enjoy a spectacular show

or two.

Over on Cuba’s North Coast, the Jardines del Rey archipelago is the site of the Meliá Buenavista. An eco-friendly, adults-only resort, it offers total luxury, impeccable service and exclusivity. Even the three beaches are exclusive to the resort. Each elegant suite is set within pretty, two story bungalows built on stilts with views over the beach, garden or pools. Paintings and prints by prestigious Cuban artist, Zaida del Rio, adorn the walls of the Hispanic-styled buildings.

The crystalline waters and sparkling white beach of the Cayo Ensenachos, part of the Herradua Keys, are among the most beautiful in Cuba. These are quiet, uncrowded beaches surrounded by stunning scenery. Iberostar Ensenachos is a luxury resort built in a colonial style of architecture. The welcoming, sophisticated décor is beautifully cool and fresh with hints of blue and green enhancing the predominant white and cream. Balconies and terraces provide views across the gardens and sea. As dusk draws in, the charming pool area with its grand staircases becomes a fairytale setting, perfect for a romantic evening.

Take a trip from Cayo Ensenachos to discover the other Cuban Keys. Roads link the network of islands, allowing visitors to explore the forests and hidden beaches. Swim with dolphins at Cayo Santa Maria, go sailing, or relax with a camchánchara made from eau-de-vie, honey, lemon and mint at La Estrella.

A paradise island, Cuba is a perfect destination for relaxation and fun, where sports and exploration on land and sea offer superb experiences for everyone – once the restrictions are fully lifted!

Educating the Public About Terrorism: The Cell

in Attractions/Front Range Attractions by

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by Melanie Avner

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. We all remember the morning of 9/11/01… the devastation that took hold of our country and the staggering realization that our lives would be forever changed.

    The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab® (CELL® ) was created in response to 9/11 and is the world’s only exhibit devoted entirely to terrorism education and prevention.

    The CELL is located on the southeast corner of the Denver Civic Center Cultural Complex across from the Denver Art Museum at 99 West 12th Avenue. This state-of-the-art exhibit was developed by world-renowned counterterrorism experts and offers a dynamic, interactive experience that addresses the ongoing threat of terrorism and educates individuals on how they can play a role in enhancing public safety.

A New Reality

“The September 11 terrorist attacks changed how our country – and the world – manage security and safety,” said Melanie Pearlman, executive director of the CELL. “Unfortunately, the tragic events of Orlando, Paris and San Bernardino remind us of the threats we continue to face. The CELL exists to empower our citizens to help enhance the community safety and we are honored to work with first responders and community activists on a daily basis to help prevent future atrocities such as these. We must continue to look within ourselves as citizens to find the strength and determination to prevail in the face of evil, and we look forward to working with citizens across the country to ensure a safe and secure future.

Education Leads to Empowerment

The CELL is dedicated to preventing terrorism through education, empowerment and engagement. Before we can prevent terrorism, we must understand it, and the CELL exhibit addresses its roots, objectives, funding and more. The CELL’s related programs teach individuals how to recognize and report suspicious behavior, empowering them to take an active role in community security and safety.

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The CELL Exhibit

Visitors to the CELL experience a multimedia, interactive journey. The tour is self-guided, and it is recommended that visitors be at least 14 years of age. Tours with the CELL’s expert guides are available and must be scheduled in advance. Tour guides provide a framework for discussion about the exhibit, as well as a comprehensive look at ISIS, today’s most prevalent terrorist network, and other current threats.

Defining Terrorism

The tour begins by defining terrorism – a challenge since there is no definition that has worldwide acceptance. However, the CELL believes it is important to define terrorism in order to begin a constructive converstaion about it.

September 11, 2001

Inside the CELL, visitors come face-to-face with a powerful artifact: a two-ton piece of twisted and burned steel from the World Trade Center. Images on the exhibit’s walls tell the story of the World Trade Center steel’s journey to Denver, and a discussion of the terorrist attacks provides a historical context; the world is now divided into two distinct time periods: before and after.

Myths and Facts

The exhibit features an interactive exercise that addresses the Myths and Facts of Terrorism. The answers to commonly asked questions shatter stereotypes and uncover surprising details about how terrorism develops, both domestically and around the world.

A Delicate Balance

Throughout the 20th century, terrorism has affected policy development in many countries. Interactive touchscreens allow visitors to learn about the different approaches nations take to balance security and civil liberties.

Preventing Terrorism

In addition to educating visitors through its exhibit, the CELL offers tangible ways for citizens to get involved in keeping their communities safe.

     The CELL’s Community Awareness Program® (CAP® ) trains citizens on how to identify and communicate the risk of terrorism and criminal activity to the appropriate law enforcement channels. These trainings are open to the public and are held several times throughout the year. The CAP also can be customized for different organizations and events.

    During a CAP training, private citizens learn how to:

  • Define terrorism
  • Understand the tools and methods used by terrorists
  • Recognize the signs of terrorism and criminal activity
  • Identify today’s terrorist and criminal threats
  • Report suspicious activity, while preserving civil liberties
  • Assemble a disaster preparedness kit 

     Through the CAP, the CELL has trained more than 20,000 people across the country. Staff and volunteers have been trained to secure events like the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the USA Pro Cycle Challenge, the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the Republican National Convention and the Indianapolis 500.

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Public Engagement

To complement its exhibit and training initiatives, the CELL has developed a renowned speaker series that addresses the most salient issues facing national and global security today. These forums provide the community unprecedented opportunities to engage with the world’s leaders in security and defense policy including The Hon. Leon Panetta, former U.S. Secretary of Defense; The Hon. Janet Napolitano, former U.S. Secretary of Security; His Excellency Husain Haqqani, Ambassador of Pakistan (2008-2011); The Hon. John McCain, U.S. Senator for Arizona; and political strategist Donna Brazile, among many others.

Educating Future Leaders

Because educating future leaders on terrorism is so critical, the CELL also partners with local high schools and universities to offer in-school presentations with subject matter experts in various fields, such as international relations, public affairs and national security. These events give students in-depth exposure to today’s most relevant global issues.

     The CELL is committed to partnering with various organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, to develop and implement programs and curricula geared toward educating today’s youth on important public safety and national security issues. Through these relationships, the CELL is empowering the community and establishing future leaders who will be armed with the knowledge to help improve community safety and prevent terrorism.

Learn More

Knowledge is power, and in today’s new reality, the CELL works to prevent terrorism by educating and empowering citizens to keep our communities safe. Learn more at thecell.org.

Home Away From Home

in Front Range Hotels & Resorts/Hotels & Resorts by

One-Bedroom Suite

At the JW Marriott Cherry Creek  

By Monica Parpal Stockbridge

You may already know a thing or two about the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek. It’s an urban conference center, a modern social hub, and a comfortable haven in the heart of one of Denver’s most walkable neighborhoods.

     Indeed, its excellence is no secret. The hotel was voted one of the “Best Hotels in the West” in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2014 Reader’s Choice poll, and at a glance it’s easy to see why. The hotel offers 8,400 square feet of meeting space, including the 3,150-square-foot Grand Ballroom and the recently renovated Fireside event space — complete with a 2,400-square-foot terrace, outdoor fire pits, and lounge seating — perfect for weddings, mitzvahs, and other private events year-round.

     The JW Marriott has all the luxury amenities you’d expect. We needn’t tell you about the 24-hour room service, the modern fitness center, or the adjacent full-service spa and salon at Antoine du Chez. Or that the $5 million renovation in 2011 elevated all 196 guest rooms to a luxurious new standard. Or even that the recent Griffin View Executive Lounge serves gourmet breakfast, snacks, and happy hour appetizers to guests staying in rooms on the top two Concierge Floors.

     What we will tell you is that there’s so much more to the JW Marriott than meets the eye. And that it’s these unexpected attributes that we love most — the parts that truly speak to its Denver roots and continuous evolution.

SH ladies   

COMFORT FOOD ABOUNDS AT SECOND HOME KITCHEN + BAR

This time of year, we start craving summery cocktails on the patio. And heck, we’re always jonesing for some southern fried comfort food. Or maybe you’re looking for a spot to bring the whole family for brunch. Regardless of your motivation, Second Home Kitchen +  Bar from Sage Restaurant Group has you covered.

     Enter the dining room through the bar to a world of wood, stone, and gleaming golden chandeliers. The open kitchen adds a vibrancy to the dining room and red market umbrellas shade the chic outdoor patio adjacent to the Fireside event space.

     Breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner are served every day, with upscale but approachable menu items categorized into shareables, salads, seasonal dishes, and stick-to-your-ribs home favorites. Second Home is probably best known for its stellar Chicken + Waffles served with Stranahan’s whiskey maple syrup. It’s also well-loved for its Second Home Burger with 7x Colorado Wagyu beef, Haystack Mountain green chile, jack cheese, and chipotle mayo.

     Certain menu items will change seasonally, and the menu currently features the locally inspired Colorado Lamb Barbacoa with crisp-fried plantains and Mexican rice, and the Alamosa Striped Bass with spring vegetables, tomatoes, and mushrooms in a delicate saffron and fennel broth.

     Second Home Kitchen also serves different “Daily Dish” specials, including smoked barbecue beef brisket on Wednesdays and a Friday fish fry with freshly shucked oysters, juicy shrimp and meaty mahi mahi. Second Home is particularly proud of the fresh catch program, focused on sustainable seafood delivered to their kitchen within 36 hours of the catch.

     Of course, the bar menu leaves little to be desired with a mix of classic and modern cocktails, local craft brews, and a wide selection of wines (as evidenced by the modish wine wall in the far end of the dining room). General Manger Brandon Wilson recommends the Sidekick Margarita (Herradura Silver, Cointreau, agave nectar, lime, passionfruit purée, and a dash of chipotle pepper) and the Maserati (Woodford Reserve Rye, Sombra Mescal, yuzu, maple, and ginger beer).

Second Home’s motto is “like a big hug at the end of a long day,” so go ahead and let yourself fall into their embrace. And order another cocktail while you’re at it.

A FAMILY FRIENDLY RETREAT IN THE CITY

Although set in an upscale, urban environment, the JW Marriott is surprisingly family friendly. That goes for fur babies, too; well-behaved dogs are welcome inside the hotel and guest rooms. The hotel rolled out new many new kid-centric amenities last summer, like kid-sized terry robes, child-friendly in-room dining options, and even JW Marriott Denver Coloring & Activity books with scavenger hunts, coloring pages, and crayons.

     Keep reading, parents. Second Home Kitchen + Bar also offers Pajama Brunch every Sunday when kids under eight eat free — if they wear their PJs. The best part? You can leave them to enjoy supervised movies and activities while you dine in an adjacent room, lingering over leisurely breakfast luxuries like Eggs Benedict, Berry Pancakes, Challah French Toast, or Mediterranean Frittata — and even a mimosa or two.

     What’s more, families can now enjoy Sunday Game Night from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. every Sunday at Second Home Kitchen + Bar, complete with family-style appetizers and entrées alongside board games and good old-fashioned family fun.

JW Lobby 2016

AN ENVIABLE LOCATION IN CHERRY CREEK

All these elements make the hotel a welcome retreat to enjoy any day, but the location in the heart of Cherry Creek makes it an attractive home base for exploring the area. After all, Cherry Creek is a shopper’s paradise with more than 320 shops and boutiques all within a few blocks.

     Not a shopaholic? Don’t worry — other

area attractions are just a few minutes’ drive, like the Denver Art Museum, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Denver Zoo, and downtown, each within a three-mile radius. Plus, the 46th Annual Cherry Creek North Sidewalk Sale (on July 14th) and 8th Annual Cherry Creek North Food & Wine event (on August 13th) are prime opportunities for all-day enjoyment.

     Even if you’ve stayed at a Marriott before, the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek is in a league of its own. This summer, take some time to explore all the possibilities — whether you’re staying the night or not.

Monica Parpal Stockbridge
Monica Stockbridge is a Denver-based writer and editor who has covered the food and dining scene for publications like DiningOut magazine and Moon travel guidebooks. As a contributing writer for Colorado Hotel Magazine, Monica writes chef profiles and hotel stories that reveal inspiring mile-high experiences for visitors and locals alike.

Family Fun

in Activities/Mountain Activities/Mountain Attractions by

In Vail, CO

Over the Mountains and Through the Woods

By Rebecca Treon

Insider’s tip: the best time of year to visit Vail isn’t necessarily during the winter. It’s in early summer, a virtual shoulder season the locals jockingly refer to as ‘mud season’. Vail’s appeal is really year round, but take away the crowds that flock to the alpine-style mountain village in the winter and summer months and you’re left with a family friendly high-country getaway without the traffic and the hassle. Even better – many places in town offer special pricing during the off-season on everything from lodging to happy hour and activities; just ask around for the details. Below, our suggestions for an unforgettable mountain family weekend.

STAY
The Solaris residences are located right in the heart of it all, and the complex has created its own mini-epicenter of activity. The luxe, spacious suites are welcoming and include a kitchen for those evenings you want to stay in for dinner, (you can even bring in a chef to make your meal, or teach a cooking class), making it the ideal hub for the family’s activity. In winter, an ice-skating rink is right out the door, while in summer it becomes a green for kids to run around (or free morning yoga!). The Solaris complex is also home to CineBistro, where you can catch a movie and a meal, and Bol, a restaurant with a bowling alley in the back. Best of all, each residence comes with its own personal concierge, who will stock the fridge before your arrival, arrange everything from children’s day camps to spa visits, and even schedule family excursions for mountain biking or rafting trips!
www.solarisvail.com

EAT
Sometimes a big diner breakfast is just the thing to stave off the ailments of altitude sickness, and The Little Diner does just that. With epic portion sizes, classics from pancakes to omelets to huevos rancheros, and fast service, the made-from-scratch breakfasts are totally satisfying. It’s tiny and tucked away, but nevertheless, it’s a popular spot and there’s usually a wait. Ther specialty is the Dutch Baby, a giant pancake-like soufflé.
www.thelittlediner.com

Root & Flower is a little wine bar tucked away on a side street in the center of town near the creek. The ideal place for a pre-dinner aperitif – their carefully crafted cocktails (made with one of the locally distilled spirits like 10th Mountain vodka from up the valley) will hit the spot before you have your evening meal. Owner Jeremy, a friendly sommelier, also offers weekly wine classes on Wednesdays and Sundays. The wine list is simple but carefully selected, and the menu is small but full of noshable bites like charcuterie and cheese plates.

Southern food is having a revival, and Mountain Standard rises to the occasion. (Beloved Vail staple Sweet Basil is a sister restaurant). The no-frills menu focuses on wood-fired options, like the hangar steak and the rotisserie chicken. Pair it with the “Standard” wedge salad, topped with crisp prosciutto and crunchy puffed rice with garlicky dressing. The must-order menu item though? Mountain Standard’s addictive southern pimento cheese appetizer, served with bacon jam and pickled celery on toast.
www.mtnstandard.com

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The Four Season’s resident restaurant, Flame, offers groups of six or less a totally mind-blowing burger experience. The Back of the House Burger Bar is a square table located right in the center of the bustling kitchen. While the chefs run around, you’re treated to an intimate view of the inner workings of a restaurant from behind the scenes. First build your own ultimate burger (with everything from fried jalepeño coins to avocado and sriracha aioli), then be treated to DIY milkshakes with all the add-ins from marshmallows to oreos, including boozy add-ins for mom and dad.
www.fourseasons.com

PLAY
Just down the valley in Wolcott lies 4 Eagle Ranch, offering a slew of activities for everyone in the family. If a western experience is your thing, they host a monthly western dance, weekly family nights (think steak dinner, wagon rides, lawn games, and s’mores) and rodeo (bull riding, bronc busting, barrel racing, and mutton bustin’); but they also have horseback riding and are home to a zipline adventure. With six ziplines that whisk you through forests, canyons, and over creeks, it’s an adrenaline-pumping ride of a lifetime. Insider tip: 4 Eagle Ranch is also a boutique winery that sources grapes from California for their Vines at Vail label, and offers tastings to their guests – the perfect way to end a long day of western adventure with the kids!
www.4eagleranch.com

There are great science programs in the high country at Walking Mountains Science Center. They offer nature walks for all ages focusing on learning about the local flora and fauna, and they even have free evening program night hikes to explore the area when wildlife becomes more active; some culminate with s’mores around a campfire. Bonus: Their kids’ science day camps are full of adventures and ecology, and keep the kids busy learning about mother nature for hours.
www.walkingmountains.org

The family that’s fit together stays together, and nowhere in the Valley makes it easier and more fun than the Vail Vitality Center. They have a full schedule of fitness classes from weights to indoor cycling and even outdoor options (join a group trail run). They offer pilates, yoga, and meditations for grownups seeking Zen, and they have Vail’s only indoor climbing wall. People of all ages can hop on the wall to climb for a couple hours, or take a climbing course. Best of all – the full-service spa offering everything from facials to massage. For a truly decadent afternoon, get the Nature, Body & Spirit treatment – 100 minutes of bliss. It includes a foot bath, dry brushing, a massage with pure essential oils and a scalp treatment for a head-to-toe glow.

Family Ties

in Attractions/Front Range Activities/Front Range Attractions by

BEST OF DENVER WEEKEND

An insider’s guide to Denver’s best family-friendly things to do this spring

By Rebecca Treon

The Mile High City has been ranked the Number One place in the country to call home by U.S. News & World Report, which is no secret to the folks who have long called it home. Denver Hotel Magazine has collected the best family activities in the metro area from locals in the botanic gardensknow—just think of this as your little black book when doing Denver with the kids.

BOTANIC GARDENS AT CHATFIELD

We love the downtown Botanic Gardens (their Seedlings class, designed for tots, and the Mordecai Children’s Garden are a don’t miss), but the Southwest Metro outpost of the Gardens is worth a visit, too. Near Chatfield Reservoir (where there are miles of walking and biking trails, picnic spots, and even a ‘beach’), the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield is home to the historic Hildebrand Ranch, where you and the kids can experience what it was like to live on an 1860’s farmstead. There’s plenty of space to run around, picnic, and play amid the working farm.

www.botanicgardens.org

DENVER ZOO

Springtime at the Denver Zoo means babies—the nursery just welcomed a new (endangered) lowland mountain gorilla baby named Whimsy Adepa to its family, who can be visited in the Great Apes building. Wander the plant-lined paths of the zoo, where peacocks roam free, or check out exciting feeding times. Interactive exhibits will both educate and entertain, and kids can get in on the action with the chance to feed a giraffe or pet a rhino.

www.denverzoo.org

DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE

The next-door neighbor of the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a classic destination. From the saber-tooth tiger that roars when fed coins to the mummy exhibit, the museum is stuffed full to bursting with things for families to do and experience. The new discovery zone features a water park, there are wildlife exhibits that span the globe, a planetarium, an IMAX theatre, dinosaur bones (including one of an ancient wooly mammoth recently excavated near Aspen) as part of its permanent collections. The museum also features exciting and interactive temporary exhibits, like Chocolate, which explores the history of everyone’s favorite treat from the ancient Aztecs to today.

www.dmns.org

PUNCH BOWL SOCIAL

Denver Museum of Nature & Science in Denver, Colo., on Thursday, October 22, 2009. (Chris Schneider/Chris Schneider Photography)
Denver Museum of Nature & Science in Denver, Colo., Chris Schneider Photography

Everyone has to eat, and at Punch Bowl Social you can nosh on updated versions of American diner classics while you play at the same time. On the playtime menu: bowling, billiards, vintage arcade games, darts, ping pong, shuffleboard, and marbles.

www.punchbowlsocial.com

ADAMS MYSTERY PLAYHOUSE

This funky theater, located in a Victorian mansion in Denver’s historic Highlands neighborhood, has been the city’s best interactive theater for more than 20 years. If one of your clan is a budding gumshoe, they’ll love Adams Mystery Playhouse’s mysteries for kids—all G-rated and great for kids over five—a fun and entertaining cooperative performance where your kid gets to solve the mystery.

www.adamsmysteryplayhouse.com

DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM

Just because we’re landlocked doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy creatures from the sea, thanks to our world-class aquarium. With exhibits that feature ecosystems from around the globe, there are plenty of, ahem, fish in the sea to observe. Favorites include the shark tank and the underwater tunnel filled with stingrays fluttering overhead, but an insider tip is the Aquarium’s mermaids. These lovely ladies (who really do hold their breath the whole time they’re underwater) swim at select times and days in a choreographed underwater dance with an educational message. Bonus: The aquarium also houses exotic animals, including a sloth named Aspen and a pair of trained Sumatran tigers.

www.aquariumrestaurants.com

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Denver’s Children’s Museum just underwent a multimillion dollar revamp, with a host of new exhibits both indoors and out. Kids can explore role-play with exhibits like the fire-engine, the supermarket and kitchen, the giant tree with animal costumes, and the veterinary clinic. Science-minded kids will love the bubble exhibit, the kinetic ball exhibit, and the water exhibit. There’s a new park outdoors, too, that replicates Colorado’s landscape and lets kids climb, dig, zipline, and splash.

www.mychildsmuseum.org

STIR COOKING SCHOOL

One of Denver’s favorite cooking schools, Stir teaches recreational cooking classes that make a popular date night, help you brush up on your knife skills, or teach you about an exotic cuisine. But they also offer a list of family-friendly classes where kids and their grown-ups can get cooking together. Classes like ‘Mastering Mac and Cheese’ and ‘Stuffed STUFF: International Filled Bites’ are a fun and interactive way to create something delicious as a family (plus, your kids will go home knowing how to make a meal … an added bonus!).

www.stirtolearn.com

DENVER MINT

The Denver Mint is one of only a handful in the United States and tours allow for a unique experience to learn how our country’s currency is produced. Here, you can learn about the craftsmanship involved in each step in the process, then take a tour of the facility, where you’ll see coins being pressed. At the gift shop, you’ll be able to buy collectible coins made onsite. Note: tours are free, but by reservation only, and they fill up fast.

www.usmint.gov

DENVER FIREFIGHTER’S MUSEUM

Denver’s original Station House 1, which dates back to 1909, houses select exhibits exploring the rich history of area firefighters.  An array of antique fire trucks, displays that delve into the lives of minority firefighters and firefighter artists, hands-on activities that engage kids to dress as firefighters and practice fire safety—they’ll even get to slide down the fire pole! www.denverfirefightersmuseum.org

20150804_childrens-museum_042DENVER ART MUSEUM

The multi-level, dual building DAM is anything but stuffy. With one of the largest collections of Western art and Native American art and artifacts, the Denver Art Museum also features compelling temporary exhibitions, like this spring’s Samurai exhibit. The permanent collections range from Pre-Columbian artifacts to contemporary painting and sculpture. To engage kids, get a Family Backpack, geared to match up with a collection full of art-making, games, and puzzles. Galleries also feature boards with I-Spy, Bingo, and Memory-like games designed to engage kids with the artworks, and there are a number of art-making stations throughout the museum. Some galleries include dress-up clothes and building materials that relate to the art. A number of community events happen year-round, from a Native-American Pow-Wow to Día del Niño, celebrating children, in April. Pro tip: Don’t miss the intricate sand mandala in the Asian collection.

www.denverartmuseum.org

MOLLY BROWN HOUSE

Visit the onetime home of Titanic survivor, philanthropist, and Denver society dame Molly Brown. Tour the restored Victorian home and learn about her rags-to-riches story, starting with her marriage to a mine baron. The tour showcases the home’s unique features and trends of the Victorian era, and finishes with Molly’s social activism after the Titanic tragedy. In April, they host special Titanic tours and year round there are several special events, from high tea to a Victorian Halloween party.

www.mollybrown.org

DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Get a little slice of Broadway without heading to the Big Apple—Denver gets a plethora of shows that also are seen on other big-city stages. And many of them are family-friendly. (This year, for example, they’ll have Finding Neverland, while Frozen hits the stage in 2017.) Stage productions have included productions like the Secret Garden. Your kids will gain an appreciation for live theater, and you’ll be entertained, too.

www.dcpa.org

ADVENTURE SCAVENGER HUNT

Denver’s downtown landscape becomes a giant game board with Urban Adventure Quest, a family-based scavenger hunt that is like the hit TV show The Amazing Race combined with a tour of the city. Guided by a smart phone, groups explore both well-known and hidden gems around town while solving clues and learning local history at the same time. Starting at the Colorado State Capitol, you’ll wind through Denver’s centers of arts and culture and through the gardens and courtyards of buildings rich with history. Stop for a bite, some ice cream, and some window shopping along the 16th St. mall on this self-paced adventure.

www.urbanadventurequest.com

SUPERBOWL!

in Profiles/Uncategorized by
Denver Broncos NFL Super Bowl 50 parade in Denver, Colo. February 9, 2016 (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke/ Denver Broncos)
Denver Broncos NFL Super Bowl 50 parade in Denver, Colo. February 9, 2016 (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke/ Denver Broncos)

By Brian Howell

Denver Broncos executive vice president John Elway and head coach Gary Kubiak shared a laugh and a hearty embrace as they stood on the podium and awaited the presentation of the Lombardi Trophy.

As they hugged, Kubiak said to his boss and long-time friend, “You can win it all kind of ways, baby! You can win it all kind of ways!”

On that night, Feb. 7, the Broncos came away from Super Bowl 50 with a 24-10 win against the Carolina Panthers, capping what was truly one of the most unusual championship seasons in NFL history.

With a new head coach, a banged-up quarterback writing his final chapter and an offensive line that struggled to block anybody, the Broncos somehow managed to ride their sensational defense and get just enough from the offense to come away with their third Super Bowl championship.

“I think that the credit goes to the players buying into what we were doing, understanding that we could get it done this way (and) that there’s not just one way to win,” Kubiak said after the Super Bowl. “You can win doing some of the things we’ve been doing. I think it’s just (to) their credit (and) hanging in there. Over the course of this past month, they’ve been committed to getting it done, and everyone has been all the way in.”

in action against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Santa Clara, Calif. July 2, 2016 (Photo by Trevor Brown, Jr./ Denver Broncos)
in action against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Santa Clara, Calif. July 2, 2016 (Photo by Trevor Brown, Jr./ Denver Broncos)

What made this such a unique championship was how the Broncos balanced an all-time great defense with an awkward mess at quarterback. They did it all while adjusting to a new coaching staff, as Kubiak became just the fourth head coach in history to win a Super Bowl in his first season with the team.

The Broncos figured to be in good shape at quarterback with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Manning has more passing yards (71,940) and touchdowns (539) than anyone who has ever played the game.

The 2015 Manning was unrecognizable, however. Instead of carrying his teams to victories and slicing up defenses, the 39-year-old Manning was more of a liability. Through eight games, the Broncos were 7-1, but Manning had thrown just nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Game 9, at home against Kansas City, was supposed to be a celebration for Manning, who picked up the last three yards he needed to become the NFL’s all-time leading passer. The rest of the game was a nightmare, though, as Manning threw four interceptions. After the fourth pick – his league-leading 17th – early in the third quarter, Manning was benched for the first time in his career.

Various injuries led to Manning’s poor performance and benching, Kubiak said, and the Broncos handed the keys to the offense to young Brock Osweiler.

“I’ve prepared for this moment, obviously, for a very long time,” said Osweiler, who had, to that point, spent his entire three-and-a-half-year career as Manning’s backup. “I never wasted a single day. It’s a dream come true. It really is.”

Over the next six weeks, Osweiler guided the offense and led the Broncos to a 4-2 record, including a win against the undefeated New England Patriots. While not spectacular, Osweiler was better than Manning.

Manning spent most of those six weeks working by himself as he nursed his injuries and prepared to play. Many people questioned whether Manning would ever play again, especially as Osweiler appeared to lock up the job.

Manning, however, wasn’t about to let that dreadful game against the Chiefs be the final image of him as a player.

For the Week 17 finale against San Diego, Manning was again in uniform, this time as a backup for the first time in his career. Osweiler and the offense sputtered that afternoon, and Kubiak added a bit more drama to the situation. Osweiler was benched in the third quarter, and Manning rallied the Broncos to a 27-20 victory.

As the drama at quarterback unfolded during the regular season, the defense was Denver’s saving grace. Led by charismatic linebacker Von Miller and veteran coordinator Wade Phillips, the Broncos had the best defense in the NFL in 2015. The Broncos led the league with 52 sacks and gave up fewer yards than anyone.

It was the defenses’ knack for making game-winning, game-changing and game-saving plays that was most remarkable.

action against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, February 07, 2016. Photo by Gabriel Christus
action against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, February 07, 2016.
Photo by Gabriel Christus

Cornerback Aqib Talib had a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown that keyed a Week 1 win against Baltimore. In Week 2, Bradley Roby scooped up a Kansas City fumble in the final 30 seconds of the game and ran it back 21 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Interception returns for touchdowns keyed three other Broncos wins. Twice, the Broncos secured wins by forcing fumbles in the final minute of regulation or overtime. Seven times, they held the opposition to 15 points or less.

“We almost led the league in every category, so we’ve got to say this is a special, all-time defense,” Phillips said.

After a stellar regular season, the Broncos defense was eager for the postseason. So was Manning, who had been declared the starter once again.

 “Any time something is taken away from you due to health, it does (mean more to get it back),” Manning said before the playoffs began. “When you’re not out there playing, it certainly does remind you how fortunate you are when you have the opportunity to be healthy and be ready to play.”

Manning wasn’t brilliant during the playoffs, but he did his part to help the Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-16, in the divisional round, and the Patriots, 20-18, in the AFC championship game.

The defense was exceptional in both games, forcing a pivotal fumble against the Steelers, and battering Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Somehow, the Broncos had cooked up a recipe to return to the Super Bowl for the eighth time in franchise history.

For Kubiak, it was his sixth Super Bowl with Denver. As Elway’s backup quarterback in the late 1980s, Kubiak got to three Super Bowls. In 1997 and 1998, Kubiak was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator. Those late ‘90s teams, led by Elway at quarterback, were exceptional on offense and defense and won both Super Bowls.

This Super Bowl, played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., proved to be a perfect microcosm of Denver’s season.

The Manning-led offense struggled – gaining just 194 yards, the fewest total ever by a Super Bowl champion – while the defense turned in a dominating performance.

Against the top-ranked Panthers’ offense, the Broncos registered a Super Bowl-record seven sacks, with Miller, who was named the game’s MVP, getting 2.5 of those. On Miller’s first sack, he stripped the ball from Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, and the Broncos’ Malik Jackson fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. On Miller’s last sack, he again stripped the ball from Newton; the Broncos recovered and set up the offense for one last touchdown.

“It’s so surreal,” Jackson said of winning the championship. “I was here two years ago when we lost it (to Seattle in Super Bowl XLVIII). Just to have that feeling from this to that, it’s just awesome. It’s truly a blessing just to be with these guys, be a part of this and be able to kind of go out there and dominate like we did today.”

action against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, February 07, 2016. Photo by Gabriel Christus
action against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, February 07, 2016.
Photo by Gabriel Christus

Ultimately, it was Manning in the spotlight. After 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts – including a victory in Super Bowl XLI – he was released in 2012 because the Colts were unsure if he could recover from a neck injury that caused him to miss the entire 2011 season. Manning knew he could still play, though, and he came to Denver in 2012.

For three years, from 2012-14, Manning put up insane, record-breaking numbers, but he and the Broncos always fell short of that championship goal. Finally, he and the Broncos completed their quest together in 2015.

No, Manning didn’t play well this past season, but his final moment as a player, clutching the Lombardi Trophy in his hands, was befitting a man who had been sensational for so long. One month after the Super Bowl, Manning announced his retirement from pro football.

“It was extremely gratifying to finish with a world championship,” Manning said. “There’s no question this was a unique season and it had plenty of ups and downs.”

For the Broncos and their fans, though, the season finished on an up, and for the first time in 17 years Denver celebrated a Super Bowl championship. And, boy, did the fans celebrate. Two days after the Super Bowl, an estimated 1 million Broncos fans flooded the streets of downtown Denver for a victory parade.

“In terms of raw emotions from fans and raw passion, there’s really nothing like it,” Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said. “We are very, very lucky to have the support of this entire region, this community and the best fans in the NFL.”

In 2015, the Broncos had not only the best fans, but the best team, as well.

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