DENVER / GETTING THERE / UPON ARRIVAL

That’s the duality locals love about the Mile High City. With snowcapped peaks providing a spectacular backdrop, Denver is as refined as it is laid-back. It’s a place where aerospace engineers rub elbows with rock climbers at local brewpubs, at art festivals, or while strolling their favorite pedestrian mall. And with 300 days of sunshine per year, it’s easy to see why people fall in love with Denver the first time they visit.

Denver's Neighborhoods. From the stately Victorian mansions of Five Points, rich in African-American culture, to the hip restaurants and nightclubs of historic LoDo, to the quaint, tree-lined streets of Old South Gaylord and Old South Pearl, Denver’s laid-back attitude is exemplified in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. The 210-foot high French Gothic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception towers above turn-of-the-century mansions in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, while the adjacent Colfax Avenue has some of the best music venues in the city.

Three diverse commercial districts make Highlands Denver’s largest neighborhood, and this community with its distinct Hispanic heritage has been featured in Travel + Leisure Magazine as well as National Geographic Traveler. Just south of downtown is The Art District on Santa Fe, showcasing the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado, and the nearby Antique Row is a popular haunt on South Broadway. There is a wealth of Asian culture and food throughout the city -- click here for a detailed overview.

Denver’s premier shopping and dining neighborhood is Cherry Creek North, with 320 independently owned shops, galleries, boutiques, and spas. The spectacular new wing of the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library are just two of the many architectural marvels located in an area of the city known as the Golden Triangle Museum District. A vibrant mix of urban culture, Capitol Hill and Congress Park's historic mansions share space with newer condos and apartments, resulting in an eclectic young community.

Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, the Children’s Museum, and Downtown Aquarium highlight the Riverfront, a neighborhood bordering the South Platte River. In recent years, LoDo has been reborn as one of the city's liveliest areas, with shopping, nightlife and dining options galore. Larimer Square is Denver's trendiest block, with upscale shops and boutiques. Uptown is packed with hip stores and dramatic views of downtown and the mountains. Just north of Downtown, you'll find the River North Art District (RiNo), with a host of art galleries, cafes and creative types.

A short drive northwest from Denver is the quaint town of Golden, home of Buffalo Bill’s grave, while a quick trip to the southeast lands visitors in Historic Downtown Littleton, featuring a charming “Main Street” America, lined with turn-of-the-century buildings that now house some of the metro area’s most unique, independently owned businesses. Visitors will also be charmed by Olde Town Arvada.

Denver’s newest neighborhood, Stapleton, offers a diverse mix of dining and retail. In all, Denver’s neighborhoods boast a diverse collection of local eateries, sidewalk cafes, art galleries, wine bars, neighborhood pubs, and independent shops, adding flavor and charm to the Mile High City. Don't miss Belmar, Lakewood's exciting new downtown, a vibrant entertainment, shopping and dining district.

Denver Trivia.  Peruse some interesting facts and get the tidbits of information you need before you visit. Details like Denver is one of only two cities in America with eight professional sports teams. And essentials like where to locate the exact elevation of 5,280 feet (1 mile) above sea level (a round brass cap embedded in the western entrance stairs of the State Capitol marks the spot). The more you know before you get here, the more time you can spend taking it all in.

• Local boosters named the frontier mining camp on the South Platte River “Denver” after Kansas Territorial Governor James Denver in hopes of gaining political favor. Unfortunately, Denver had retired by the time they named the town.
• There were originally three separate towns, with three separate names, where Denver now stands. In 1859, the other names were dropped in return for a barrel of whiskey to be shared by all.
• Fittingly enough, the first permanent structure in Denver was a saloon.
• Despite being warned by Indians not to build there, early settlers didn’t listen. In its first few years, Denver was destroyed twice, once by fire and once by flood.
• Denver is one of the few cities in history that was not built on a road, railroad, lake, navigable river or body of water when it was founded. It just happened to be where the first few flakes of gold were found in 1858.

Fun Things to Do

• Denver Zoo
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Elitch Gardens
• Lakeside Amusement Park
• Argo Gold Mine & Mill
• Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
• Denver Museum of Miniatures Dolls & Toys
• Cussler Museum
• Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
• Downtown Aquarium
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science

For more on available activities, shopping and entertainment, visit www.denver.org.

Weather
The biggest surprise for visitors to Denver is the climate.  The arid conditions bring only 8 to 15 inches of annual precipitation and locals wake up to more than 300 days of sunshine a year.  That’s more annual hours of sun than Miami and San Diego.

In summer, Denver enjoys low relative humidity, making for beautiful, sun-filled days and cool, comfortable evenings.  The average daily high temperature in June is 83 degrees Fahrenheit while the average low temperature is 49 degrees.  The mild weather is due in part to the city’s altitude: 5,280 feet above sea level, or exactly a mile high.

Getting There/Upon Arrival

The Denver area is serviced by the Denver International Airport, open 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week and served by most major airlines and select charters.  The airport provides nonstop daily service to more than 130 national and international destinations.
The hotel is located about 35 minutes from the airport or 24 miles. 

Airport to Downtown to Airport Transportation
SuperShuttle Service
Service is available from the baggage claim area of the Denver International Airport by Super Shuttle.  When you arrive in Denver you will take the train from the gate areas to the terminal and proceed up the escalators to Level 5/Baggage Claim.  Claim your luggage, and then proceed directly to the SuperShuttle Denver counter (open daily 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.) across from the water feature under the Ground Transportation signs.

The Association is providing the convenience of making reservations for SuperShuttle service for Conference attendees at a discounted rate.  Reservations can be made while registering for the Conference or can be done as an add-on at a later date.

If you would like to learn more about SuperShuttle’s services, visit www.supershuttle.com.

Taxi Service
Taxi service is available from the baggage claim area of either airport for an average fare of $40 each way.

Parking at the Sheraton Denver Hotel
Valet parking is available to hotel guests for $26.00 per day with in-and-out privilege.  Overnight self-parking is available is available for $20.00 per day with in-and-out privileges. Covered and open parking lots and garages are available in the surrounding area with daily and hourly rates.

Driving
From the East
Take Interstate 70 West to Interstate 25 South; Take the Exit for Colfax Avenue; Turn left on to Court Place; Turn left and continue to the hotel

From the North
Take Interstate 25 South; Take the Exit for Colfax Avenue; Turn left on to Court Place; Turn left and continue to the hotel

From the West
Take Interstate 70 East to Interstate 25 South; Take the Exit for Colfax Avenue; Turn left on to Court Place; Turn left and continue to the hotel

From the South
Take Interstate 25 North; Take the Exit for Colfax Avenue; Turn right on to Court Place; Turn left and continue to the hotel.