OTHER THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA
1.
Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., 3331-4000. Exotic and native
plants, Japanese gardens, rose gardens, xeriscape. Fee. Take the #15 bus
east to York and transfer to the #3 or #24. The garden is on your right.
York is one way so a return trip means the rider takes the bus on Josephine.
Driving: I-70 east to York exit, turn south (right) and go past City Park.
2. Denver Zoo, East 23rd
Ave and Steele Street, near the Natural History Museum, 3312-4100. Fee.
I-70 east to Colorado Blvd., exit right (south) and follow signs; turn
right. Bus: #16 or 44 bus to downtown Denver, then take the #15 bus east
to Colorado and exit; transfer to the #20 or #32. You may also walk from
Colorado, heading north or left after you get off the bus.
3. U.S. Mint, W. Colfax at Cherokee St., 844-3582. Free tours
weekdays. This facility produces 5 billion coins each year. Take the 16th
St. Mall shuttle to Court Place, exit here. Walk south (right) to Colfax.The
Mint is west of the City and County building.
4. Water World, 88th and Pecos, Federal Heights. 427-7873. Innertube
rapids, waterslides, ocean-like wave pools, etc. Late May-early Sept. Fee.
By car, take I-70 east to Pecos and turn left (north), following Pecos
until you reach 88th. Bus: #44 east to Federal, transfer to #31 going north,
then transfer to #80 at 80th Ave. and to #6 at Pecos and 84th. You may
decide to walk from 80th and Pecos.
5. Funplex: located on Kipling between C-470 & Hampden. 972-4344.
Take C47- to Bowles and exit; head east to Kipling, then south to Coal
Mine Rd., left turn. 9670 W. Coal Mine Ave. Bowling, roller-skating, video
games, Laser Storm (light tag game ), 18 hole miniature golf courses.
6. Indoor swim pools, located in Arvada, North Jefferson County
Park & Recreation District. Open year-round; swim during public sessions.
Classes are offered. Meyers Pool: 80th and Carr: Take I-70 east to Wadsworth,
exit at Wadsworth and head north; turn left on 80th and head west to Carr,
turn left on Carr and go one block, turn left. 7900 Carr, phone 420-2838.
Ralston Pool: 64th and Simms: I-70 east to Ward; exit at Ward
and go north (under the freeway) until you reach 64th Ave., also called
Ralston Road at this point. Turn right and go about 3/4 miles to Simms,
turn right; turn left at the first driveway.
7. Ice skating:
- North Jeffco Ice Arena (indoors) 9101 Ralston Rd., 421-1774.
I-70 east to Kipling, go north and turn right on 58th. Fee. Call for public
times.
- Hyland Hills Ice Arena, (indoors) 4201 W. 94th, Westminster,
426-8912. I-70 east to Sheridan, north to 94th, turn right. Call for public
times. Fee.
- Evergreen Lake, outdoors in the winter. I-70 west to Evergreen,
follow the signs to the lake. Fee.
8. Roller Skating: (indoors, open year round.)
- Skate City: W. Bowles & S. Lowell 795-6109
- Fun Plex: 9670 Coal Mine Road (see above, under FunPlex)
- US on Wheels, 64th and Sheridan. 423-0616 (I-70 east to Sheridan,
exit and go north to 64th, turn left.)
9. Rock climbing:
- Take lessons at REI, 429-1800. 8991 Harlan, Westminster. (I-70
east to Wadsworth, exit, go north to 88th & turn right, then left at
Harlan)
- Indoor walls: See Golden Rec Center,
- Paradise Rock Gym, 6260 Washington. I-70 to I-25. north on I-25,
exit at 58th Ave. and turn right, turn left on Washington. Public sessions,
lessons.
- Supplies: Bent Gate, 1300 Washington, Golden.
- Lessons: the Leading Edge, 826 Cheyenne St., Golden, 279-0841.
10. Hang Gliding/paragliding:
- Golden Wings, 1103 Washington, Golden. 278-7181. Seminars, lessons,
rentals.
- Colorado Hang Gliding School: 278-9566.
11. Coffee Houses:
- Paris on Platte Street, 1533 Platte, Denver, 455-2451
- The Market, 1445 Larimer, Denver, 534-5140
- Higher Grounds, Golden, 803B 14th St., 271-0998.
- Golden Grind, one block west of Foss Drug, across the street.
Golden.
12. Discos: a few suggestions. These places may change names,
locations, etc. Always call before you plan to go. If you are 18-21:
- Cactus Moon (alternative music), Tuesdays, 451-5200, Thornton
Town Center, Thornton. I-70 east to I-25, exit north onto I-25 toward Fort
Collins; exit at 104th, go east to first right turn.
- Marquee Club in Boulder (techno music) Wednesdays, 1109 Walnut.
Take Hwy 93 to Boulder, to Broadway, turn right on Baseline, then left
on 28th, then left onto Walnut. Phone 447-1803
- Cactus Moon (country) Fridays (See above.)
- Rock Island (popular) Saturdays Until 11:00 p.m., 16 and up,
then 18 +. 1614 15th St., Denver. I-70 east, exit to I-25 south, exit at
2nd Speer exit, then east to Lawrence, left turn on Lawrence, left turn
onto 15th.
Marquee (techno) Sundays. 16 and over (See above.)
Over 21: These clubs may be reached by taking I-70
east to I-25, south on I-25, exit at the second Speer exit.
- Gate 12, 2301 Blake, Denver, 292-2212 From Speer, exit left
onto Lawrence, left on 20th, right on Blake. 3 blocks. Look for parking.
- The I-Beam, 1427 Larimer, 534-2326. From Speer, exit left onto
Lawrence, left on 18th, left onto Larimer. Look for parking.
- Industry, 1222 Glenarm, Denver, 620-9554 Speer to Colfax, left
on Colfax, right on Glenarm.
- It's Greek To Me (restaurant, bar, dancing), 165 Steele, Denver,
333-4553. Take 6th Ave. east, (NOT I-70), turn right on Steele, between
1st and 2nd.
- After the Gold Rush: 5255 W. 6th Ave., Lakewood. 232-7874. East
on 6th Ave.
13. Country Western Dancing:
- Grizzly Rose: 5450 N. Valley Highway (I-25) 295-1330 I-70
east, exit north onto I-25 at exit #215. Restaurant, bar, concerts, dancing.
Nightly dance lessons available Mon, Wed., Fri. 7-8 free.
- Stampede: 2430 S. Havana, Aurora. 337-6906
14. Comedy clubs:
- Wit's End: 8861 Harlan, Westminster. 430-4242. I-70 east to
Wadsworth, exit at Wadsworth and go north, turn right at 88th and left
at Harlan. Evenings.
- Comedy Works: 1226 15th St., Denver 595-3637 I-70 east, I-25
south, Speer Blvd. exit; left at Lawrence, head north.
TICKETMASTER:
Buy your concert, theater, ball game tickets here.
Recording of information about concerts, etc. 595-4636.
To buy tickets by phone: 290-8497. Credit cards accepted.
15. Performing Arts:
At theDenver Center for the Performing Arts complex:
(SEE ALSO: TICKETMASTER for purchasing tickets)
Phone: DCPA 640-2862, Box office 640-7539. Location: Colfax and Speer
Blvd. I-70 east to I-25, take I-25 south to second (south) Speer, exit
in right lane and loop around, exit Speer in left lane at Lawrence and
turn right at second street. Parking garage available.
- Theaters: the Temple Hoyne Buell Theater, the Auditorium Theater,
the Boettcher Concert Hall, the Helen Bonfils Theater with Ricketson theater,
The Space, The Source, and The Stage.
- Denver Center Theater Company, 893-4100. Season is from September
through May.
Denver Center Productions (theater) 893-4000. Robert Garner/ Center
Attractions, with Broadway shows, etc.
- Colorado Ballet: 837-8888
- Colorado Symphony Orchestra
595-4388
- Opera Colorado
778-6464
(all of the above are performed at the DCPA)
- Germinal Stage: 2450 W. 44th Ave., 455-7108. 5 plays annually
in a converted North Denver storefront. Usually avant garde productions.
- Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.,
Arvada. 431-3080. Year-round indoor and outdoor theater and concerts. I-70
east, exit at Wadsworth in left lane, north on Wadsworth.
- Dinner Theaters: dinner and musical theater at one price.
- Boulder: 449-6000
- Country Dinner Playhouse: 799-1410. I-70 east, exit and go south
on I- 25, take Arapahoe exit, east on Arapahoe to 21nd stop light, turn
right.
16. Music: (concerts) See also: TICKETMASTER for buying tickets.
- Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater, late May through late September.
From ILC, go south on Illinois and turn right on 19th; turn left at
the stop sign (Hwy 6); turn right on Hwy 93 at the next stop light; go
past Heritage Square, get on I-70 heading east (go under the overpass).
Follow signs.
- Fiddler's Green outdoor amphitheater: late May through late
September. 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. See map for F. Green and R. Rocks.
- Colorado Symphony Orchestra (see above)
- Opera Colorado (see above)
- Arvada Center for the Arts (see above)
- Central City Opera 292-6500 for information, 292-6700 for box
office.
JAZZ :
- Catacombs: Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13th St., Boulder
- The Mall Exchange: 1585 Lawrence, 573-1400, Denver.
- Bull & Bush: Sundays, 4700 Cherry Creek Dr. S., 759-0333,
Denver.
- Observatory Cafe: I-70 and El Rancho exit. 526-1988, near Evergreen.
- Paris on the Platte: 1553 Platte, 455-2451, Denver. I-70 east,
I-25 south, exit at 23rd, left on Water St., under the overpass.
POP/ROCK:
- Buffalo Rose: Golden, 1119 Washington, 279-5190.
- After the Gold Rush: 5255 W. 6th Ave., 232-7874. Tues-Sat.,
with big band; music on Tuesdays. East on 6th Ave.
- City Spirit Cafe: 1434 Blake St., 575-0022. (I-70 east, exit
south on I-25, exit at 2nd Speer exit, then left on Lawrence, left on 15th,
right on Blake.
- The Aztlan Theater: 974 Sant Fe Dr., 573-0188. East on 6th Ave.,
take Santa Fe, exit (left) and go north.
***See the Friday Rocky Mountain News "Spotlight" section
for more ideas about jazz, rock, and other entertainment.
16. Virtual Reality: Boardwalk USA, 6601 W. Colfax, Lakewood,
238-7811. Take 6th Ave. south out of Golden, turn left onto Colfax and
continue east on Colfax, past Wadsworth. Near Casa Bonita.
17. Lazer tag: Lazer Tech Take Hwy 93 north to Boulder, turn
right on Table Mesa, at Foothills Parkway, turn right; to Arapahoe, turn
right, beyond 55th and Arapahoe take 3rd left to Burning Tree Office Park.
Unit A-1.
CASINOS/GAMBLING: in Central City and Blackhawk (near Golden) and
Cripple Creek. YOU MUST BE 21 TO GAMBLE or to enter the casinos. Proof
of age (picture ID) will be required.
Listed here are routes to drive but also buses you can take to get to
the casinos.
Cripple Creek: to drive, take I-25 south to Colorado Springs,
take exit #141 and go west on Hwy 24 to Divide, turn left on Hwy 67 and
go 18 miles to Cripple Creek. There are sometimes special buses which take
groups to Cripple Creek. For example, the Gold Rush Hotel & Casino
advertises these. Call 1-800-235-8239. Day trips or overnight stays can
be arranged. Wheels to Fortunes is another bus company. Call 933-0125.
Central City:
Buses can be taken from the Golden area. The fare usually includes coins
to use in the casino and often includes a dinner. Bus reservations are
suggested.
- Harrah's: call 936-1117. Bus from Villa Italia area, beginning at 6:40
a.m.
- Jazz Alley free shuttle ride. Call 277-1000. Departs from Quality Inn
at I-70 and Ward Road.
- Bullwhacker's: bus service is located in Golden near Hwy 40 and Hwy
6. (Colfax and Rooney Road) Phone 271-2500. To get to the bus service,
take 19th Street to Hwy 6, turn right, turn right again onto Colfax.
- Other casinos: Harvey's, Central Palace, Lady Luck, Golden Rose, etc.
If you have come all this way and still don't know what to
do, check out these other online sources for information about what's going
on in the area.