How would you sell some one on Denver? (Colorado Springs, Estes Park: rent, best hotel)

[Bench Warmer]

I'm just wondering...

If you had a 3-5 days to sell some one on Denver.. What would you do/see, and why? Also, you have to stay budget friendly!


I'm thinking about booking a trip to Denver.. I'm pretty sure I'd like to make Denver our next home. My girlfriend isn't to fond of the idea, and really doesn't want to hear it.. I didn't think much of Denver until I really started researching it.. Now I can't wait to see the place...

Should I make it up to Denver.. Probably in or around August.. What should I plan to sell myself, and my girl on to Denver?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Where do you want to move from? What does Denver have (or not have) compared to your current location? What is your girlfriend interested in?

Honestly, if she's not ready to move, you can't really sell her on any city.

[David Aguilar]

Take her there during winter, when there is snow on the ground and it's not snowing, rent a nice vehicle, fill your days with activities (Colorado State Capitol, US Mint, Red Rocks, Coors Brewery, 16th Street Mall, Denver Zoo, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, (the last two are near Colorado Springs) etc, etc, etc), spend lots of money, stay in the best hotel for your buck (I'm thinking DTC here), and by the end of the trip, she won't want to leave and she'll be ready to move there. Make sure you catch the first flight out before the blizzard hits.

It worked for me. Two years later, and a month after moving away from Denver she (my GF) still wants to live there.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Where do you want to move from? What does Denver have (or not have) compared to your current location? What is your girlfriend interested in?

Honestly, if she's not ready to move, you can't really sell her on any city.

I think both are from Phoenix, AZ (http://www.city-data.com/forum/9057165-post1.html)

I like Davids idea... but for the OP, I am basically in the same type of situation (along w/ wife). But I highly recommend taking here out to Denver during the summer months. That way she would apperciate the cooler summers then what Phoenix has to offer .
If you take her in the winter and "if" she's not enjoy the cold, she'll hate you for taking her there. I mean CO got down to + / - 10 degees in the winter. That will crack your windshield . If you do go in the winter.... please button-up

So.... if you sucker her to giving you the nod / ok to move. Do it while its in the summer. Then when it comes into the winter, get her a early xmas present (ok maybe closer to Halloween) and buy her a scarf.

then...
Gloves,
Jacket,
long johns,
beanie,
............ just layer up (for the winter).

Oh, I am a fan of Gore-Tex

[80skeys]

Spend some time in the neighborhoods around downtown, particularly to the west of downtown. These are nice, older, established neighborhoods with coffee shops and things.

spend some time on the 16th street mall. It's a neat mall.

Take a walk or bike ride on the bike paths by the river (also close to downtown.)

Drive out to Winter Park or Rocky Mountain National Park. Get out and walk around or do a little hike. Absolutely beautiful.This alone may sell her on it.

[Mike from back east]

When the OP said 3-5 days, I take it literally, that he/she will be here for 3-5 days. Thus it's feasible for a day-trip circle tour up through Estes Park (ride the tram up to hilltop), then into RMNP (see the Elk, etc), take her over Trail Ridge Road, down through Grand Lake (late lunch on the lake), then down through Winter Park, over Berthoud Pass on US-40 and back to Denver. Time permitting, I'd spend a night up in the high country, nothing like it in the world.

Downtown / LODO area. See a Rockies Game at Coors Field, a very friendly ballpark; walk around LODO; eat at any fine place (we like Denver Chop House, there are tons more, for seafood try the McCormicks in the old Oxford Hotel, a block from Union Station); take in a show at the Pepsi Center or a comedy act at Comedy Works. A ton of other things to see/do down there.

Perhaps a show out at Red Rocks Amphitheater on the s.w. side of the metro area.

Visit some of the neighborhoods, see the Photo Tours in the index.

Check the thread with all the event listings.

[Bench Warmer]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Where do you want to move from? What does Denver have (or not have) compared to your current location? What is your girlfriend interested in?

Honestly, if she's not ready to move, you can't really sell her on any city.

We currently reside in the Phoenix area of Arizona.. We originally came from Boston Massachusetts... We made the move out here to enjoy the better weather, lower cost of living, and to be outside more!!

We are interested in almost anything.. We love urban amenities such as bars/clubs, fine dining, live music, coffee shops, microbreweries, ect....

We also enjoy the outdoors... Hiking, Walking, dog parks, lakes, rivers, mountains...


I'm just trying to figure out the best itinerary to give the best impression of Denver.. I know Denver has everything we are looking for... But I think when she thinks of Denver, she thinks of being on a mountain with constant blizzard.. I thought the same thing until I actual researched Denver...lol

[Bench Warmer]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

When the OP said 3-5 days, I take it literally, that he/she will be here for 3-5 days. Thus it's feasible for a day-trip circle tour up through Estes Park (ride the tram up to hilltop), then into RMNP (see the Elk, etc), take her over Trail Ridge Road, down through Grand Lake (late lunch on the lake), then down through Winter Park, over Berthoud Pass on US-40 and back to Denver. Time permitting, I'd spend a night up in the high country, nothing like it in the world.

Downtown / LODO area. See a Rockies Game at Coors Field, a very friendly ballpark; walk around LODO; eat at any fine place (we like Denver Chop House, there are tons more, for seafood try the McCormicks in the old Oxford Hotel, a block from Union Station); take in a show at the Pepsi Center or a comedy act at Comedy Works. A ton of other things to see/do down there.

Perhaps a show out at Red Rocks Amphitheater on the s.w. side of the metro area.

Visit some of the neighborhoods, see the Photo Tours in the index.

Check the thread with all the event listings.

Something like this sounds like a lot of fun! Where would you guys suggest we stay.. Like I said, we aren't millionairs.. We don't want a presidential suite somewhere... Just a decent hotel in good location would be great!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

We currently reside in the Phoenix area of Arizona.. We originally came from Boston Massachusetts... We made the move out here to enjoy the better weather, lower cost of living, and to be outside more!!

We are interested in almost anything.. We love urban amenities such as bars/clubs, fine dining, live music, coffee shops, microbreweries, ect....

We also enjoy the outdoors... Hiking, Walking, dog parks, lakes, rivers, mountains...


I'm just trying to figure out the best itinerary to give the best impression of Denver.. I know Denver has everything we are looking for... But I think when she thinks of Denver, she thinks of being on a mountain with constant blizzard.. I thought the same thing until I actual researched Denver...lol

Denver sounds like a great place for you. It's got the urban stuff and outdoor recreation (trails, parks, etc) mixed in throughout nearly every neighborhood and suburbs, plus the Rockies are close by. You'll get the 4 seasons you're might miss from Boston but without being as harsh in winter or as blazing hot in summer as Phoenix. Show your girlfriend a topographic map of Colorado that shows how Denver is on the plains, not the mountains.

I'm sure she'll enjoy the relative cool August compared to Phoenix but the real closer will be if you go back in January. She'll be expecting 10' of snow on the ground and she'll see a dry, brown, landscape with deep blue skies and little snow. Unless of course you get unlucky and walk into a blizzard. Even then, she'll probably be amazed that 95% of it's gone within a couple of days.

[Mike from back east]

BenchWarmer, only stayed at one place in Denver, back in 2003. It's the old Oxford Hotel, in LODO, a block from Union Station, and walking distance to Coors Field, Pepsi Center, all that stuff in LODO.

Oxford is near one must-see place I forgot to mention, the Tattered Cover Bookstore, amazing place, stop in for coffee/snack.

Oxford Hotel has all-valet parking. An old place, and IIRC, has wooden floors and lots of old-time stuff, not one of the newer sterile stack-o-cubicles type hotel. Quaint, but also classy and worthy of a visit to the lobby if nothing else. IIRC, shower pressure and temperature fluctuates if someone flushes, all part of the quaintness and charm, really.

Beyond the Oxford, I guess any of the major places would be okay.