TX to CO trip ??'s (Denver, Colorado Springs: 2009, dangerous, mall)

[j96g]

I'm planning a trip to Pueblo, Co from McAllen, TX on May 15th and mapquest shows two possible routes, one through Abilene/Amarillo and one through Roswell, NM. I would like to travel the NM route as it would be through another state and possibly more scenic, but it's 100 miles more, would it be worth it or is it dangerous considering it's mostly desert and i will be making the road trip with my brother a 17-18 hour straight drive? I also want to know:

What can i show my brother there while in Colorado on Saturday and Monday?
What can I do in Denver?
How's traveling to Monarch mountain that time of year?
Garden of the Gods?
IS Pueblo mall that different than Colorado Springs Mall?
Is the Riverwalk open that time of year?
Costs of various activities?

[Lupulin]

Can't answer all your questions, but the roads in SE New Mexico will drive a man insane. Totally flat. Totally boring. After a few hours of seeing nothing but grassland and cacti (while driving in the area last year), I wanted to stick a fork in my eye. IMO, it's not worth the extra 100 miles. That is, unless you're a UFO nut.

Garden of the Gods? Yes. It's worth a pass through, in the least. Amazing rock formations.

[j96g]

Thanks for the response. Just saved me 100 miles. I'm really wondering since Monarch Mountain is closed, do people still drive up there? Is there something to do there if we went on Saturday MAy 16th. Roughly what's the temp. difference from Pueblo to monarch? Would the drive in itself be scenic? Or is there another alternative, perhaps the scenic drive north of Cañon City to Cripple Creek? I remember a train ride in Cañon, how would rate that? What about whitewater rafting?

[j96g]

Just to let you all know, I decided on whitewater rafting on Saturday, so my only questions are about Monarch Mountain. will there be anything to do there on May 17, 2009 Sunday?