I stayed in downtown Denver, at Hyatt Regency Denver near the convention center (with a big blue bear on the front entrance) and 16th street mall. The hotel has a lounge on the 27th floor with large windows - perfect for enjoying sunset over the Rocky Mountains.
Near downtown is the Colorado State Capital, with its gold dome. A few blocks from the capital is Colorado History Center which shows Denver in the 1800s, life in Colorado, and artifacts from Colorado's past.
Day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park
Experienced all of Colorado's seasons during this tour. Started off sunny and warm, and as we went up the mountains saw colder temperatures, heavy wind, rain, and even snow. Lots of great views, plus waterfalls and mountain lakes (like New Zealand). Highest elevation is around 12,200 feet, at Alpine peak.
Also saw some Colorado wildlife, most notably elk. At the Stanley Hotel at Estes Park, we got close encounters with elk.
Denver Foothills Tour
This tour went along the Lariat Loop connecting the Red Rocks Amphitheater to Evergreen to Golden. Climbing the amphitheater steps is a real workout, and lots of people jog through the seating area. Evergreen is a small western town with a nice lake, cafes, and restaurants. On our way to Golden we spotted buffalo. At Golden is the Lookout Mountain, with views of the Table Mountains, Continental Divide, and downtown Denver. On a clear day, you can see the golden dome of the Colorado Capital.
