By Nikki Bayley
Known as Mile High City as it's exactly 5,280 feet - yup, a whole mile - above sea level, the most important thing to know about Denver is that it's a big city with a small town feeling. There's a very warm welcome waiting for you in the mountains. Single women should also be aware that thanks to its three-to-one men to women ratio, Denver also gets the nickname of 'Menver'! Temped? You should be. Here are our top five reasons to visit
Copyright Nikki Bayley
Brews Cruise
The craft brewing capital of the world, Denver boasts an amazing 90 craft breweries in its downtown area. "Mountains and beer go hand in hand" declares Brent, my guide on a Brews Cruise around some of the city's finest yeasty establishments. This is a brilliant way to spend an evening. I learned more about brewing than I'll ever need to know and can now dazzle with my know-how of how ales and lagers are brewed, what an 'IBU' is and what 'lacing' is (if you swirl your glass around, it's the foamy bits that are left if it's a good brew, that will move down slowly). We started at the Strange Brewing Company, a small brewery in what looked like a garage and ended with a trip to Breckenridge, one of the city's largest, with its own BBQ and a blue-collar crowd. My favourite was the Renegade - an in-between sized place that rocked a modern, exposed brick, hipster vibe and I loved its Five o'Clock Blonde brew. Fun in a group, or by yourself.
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Black cowboys
Of course there were black cowboys. It's just they were never represented in the movies and so why would you know they existed? I love quirky private museums, and the Black Cowboy Museum is definitely worth a visit to find out more about the black history of the wild west. Started by Paul W Stewart, a Denver barber who loved cowboys and collected black western memorabilia, the museum is in the former home of Dr Justina Ford, Colorado's first black woman doctor. Learn about characters like Nat Love, aka Deadwood Dick, an ex-slave who earned his nickname at the Deadwood City Rodeo, and Walter Jackson, a black cowboy who rode with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. There's a small exhibit of the Buffalo Soldiers too, yup - the ones that Bob Marley sang about. Fascinating.
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16th St Mall
Head on over to 16th Street to flex your wallet. Unlike most American malls, the 16th Street Mall is a mile-long pedestrianised shopping street with a free eco-friendly electrical shuttle bus running from the beautiful Union Station through to the Capitol Building, stopping at every corner. You'll find everything from big name chains to quirky one-off stores. I loved the I Heart Denver shop with its selection of local artists' crafts and collection of all things Denver-ish. Quirky fact: the architect who designed the mall did it in the pattern of a snake - get high up and you'll see its curves and the diamond snake-skin paving.
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Theme park
Boasting the only downtown amusement park in all North America, every city should take note and get its very own Elitch Gardens. I love that you can take a 10-minute walk from the centre of town or hop on the RTD bus or Light Rail to get to the park. It's pleasingly old-timey with a western theme and features plenty for adrenaline junkies and scaredy cats alike. So no matter whether you like roller coasters or more sedate rides, you'll enjoy yourself. Perfect for sunny days, Elitch Gardens has a water park too. Rent a cabana, cool down in the huge wave pool and ride the flumes!
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Copyright Nikki Bayley
Rockmount
Like the shirts the cowboys rocked in Brokeback Mountain? Well, you can get the look in Denver at the Rockmount Range Wear shop. Papa Jack Weil founded the store way back in 1946 and pioneered the snap button Western shirt. Why snap buttons? Well, the regular kind kept getting caught on barbed wire and sewing buttons back on just isn't cowboy-ish. You can also get amazing cowboy boots, fringed jackets, bandanas and stetsons while you're there. There's a small museum upstairs at the store so hey - this isn't shopping, this is culture!
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