Things to do in Denver....
 

I will be having a day in Denver after a weeks skiing in the middle of February. I will need to check in at the airport at about 3.00pm but I am wanting to see a little bit of Denver before then.

So two questions

1 - Which area of Denver would be a good place to stay on the night before I fly back.

2 - What are the things worth seeing in the time I have. (eg. any museums or galleries, or retail experiences!! or are there any particularly good bars or clubs worth visiting on the Friday evening or any good places to eat.)

As this is my first trip to Colorado and Denver any advice would be well received.

Many thanks to anyone who can help

Great things to do in the winter:

Museum of Nature & Science -- see the museum, IMAX, or both
16th Street Mall -- lots of shopping
Art Museum
Ocean Journey -- an aquarium
Not sure how nice the Botanic Gardens are in winter, although they always have some great indoor exhibits.

Great places to eat:

Vesta Dipping Grill or Sambuca -- upscale places in the LoDo neighborhood
Denver Chophouse -- low key, also in LoDo
240 Union -- upscale place in Lakewood
Watercourse -- great vegetarian near Capitol Hill
There are some great ethnic places around town, too.

For proximity to all this, seems to me the best place to stay would be downtown. Hope you have a great trip!

Have A Beer
 

Well, considering that this is a city which elected the owner of a brewery to be its mayor (John Hickenlooper of the Wynkoop brewpub in LoDo, not anybody named Coors) and that Colorado's microbreweries have won more awards for their beers than any other state's, you might want to try some of the products made by some of the locals.

There are several places worth visiting in Denver, but the one I'd especially suggest to someone on a short visit is the Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake Street, near Coors Field in LoDo. The food is basic pub grub, but it regularly makes lists of best places in the U.S. and even in the world to drink beer, both within the beer-lover's press and those compiled by mainstream media such as USA Today.

Falling Rock's website is at:
www.fallingrocktaphouse.com

Try the beers from such local breweries as Avery and Great Divide (among others) either at Falling Rock or wherever you go.

I'd also agree, if you only have a day or so, that you should spend it downtown or in the LoDo area, getting around either on foot or using the free 16th Street shuttle bus service.

There are numerous places to stay in the area for prices ranging from moderate to stratospheric. One useful tip I was given some years ago by a travel agent friend is that there's a Comfort Inn on 17th Street across from the legendary Brown Palace Hotel, one of the most luxurious lodgings in the U.S. This Comfort Inn is also owned by the Brown Palace's owners, it's connected to the Brown Palace by a skybridge, and although the Comfort Inn's rooms themselves obviously aren't as nice, guests there have access to all of the Brown Palace's facilities while paying less than half what a room at the Brown Palace costs.

There are several similar threads on the Denver area in the West forum. Consider skimming for additional ideas.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=456

Places to stay..
 

I'm currently staying at the Hampton Inn Cherry Creek which is right off of Colorado and semi-easy access to downtown.

There is also a Residence Inn on the cusp of downtown, on Zuni, right off of I70 and you can just ride Spear right into downtown. There is also a JW Marriott in Cherry Creek Mall, near the HI.

Thanks everyone, some really useful tips. I particularly like the sound of the Falling Rock for Friday night.

Excuse my ignorance but I am assuming that LoDo stands for Lower Downtown Denver?

Correct; LoDo is the local slang for "lower downtown". It's an area that has been revitalized in the last decade or so, as century-old warehouses have been turned into trendy clubs and restaurants and high-priced loft condominiums.

That's exactly what went through my mind.... I know the screenwriter to that movie well.

Stole my thunder, too! I LOVE that movie... Treat Williams and Christopher Lloyd are priceless! ^

If you are into classic bookstores, go to the Tattered Cover bookstore by the Cherry Creek Mall.

DallasBill beat me to it, I second the Tattered Cover bookstore suggestion.

We usually stay at the Brown Palace when overnighting in Denver on the way to ski, but are looking for something nice that is nearer to the airport. We don't get in until 9pm and leave mid-morning, so don't need to go into the city. Does anyone have any good ideas/experiences re hotels?

Bruiser, there are some hotels off Peña Boulevard (the expressway that runs out to the airport) but I've never stayed at any of them. I just noticed them driving past last week.

For the OP asking about downtown hotels my company typically books us into the Magnolia Hotel, a block off the 16th Street pedestrian mall. I've also stayed at the above mentioned Comfort Inn across from the Brown Palace.

I enjoyed visiting the Colorado State Museum which is located not too far from the State Capitol building. Lots of interesting exhibits and artifacts relative to Colorado's history.

Thanks for all the input.

I have researched the LoDO and it seems the way to go. It should provide plenty to do the evening I arrive and keep me entertained the following morning and early afternoon before I head off to the airport for my flight home.

I have booked a room at the Westin Tabor Centre as they had a good rate and it seemed to be well situated for the LoDo. I hope this was a good choice. (Time will tell!)

With an arrangement from your congressperson or Senator, there's also the Denver Mint, which has a pretty sweet collection of antique coins (plus, you have to love the internal gun turrets for the gold exchange room). The Denver Zoo is another thing to consider.

A decent slice can be obtained from the Wazee Supper Club, if you're looking for pizza and atmosphere. I shy away from the brewpubs due to the low quality of the pub cuisine, otherwise.

Timothy