When your time is up, your time is up. And it has come to pass that The Denver Traveler’s time is up. This is the last post for The Denver Traveler and it is with mixed emotions that we post it. Alicia and I have been so glad to have this time with all of you. We hope you found some topics helpful and others interesting. We did our best to bring you the best of Denver and the truth about traveling through, staying for a bit, or settling down in our town.

Denver may not be a major metropolis or a hot vacation spot, but it has us and charms unique and universal. Its standard of living is good, its economic overview is fair, and it is not a bad place to raise your kids. The sun shines over 300 days a year and the snow melts almost as fast as it falls. There are sports and arts and a tremendous amount of outdoor activities, no matter the weather.

Thank you so much for stopping by during your web surfing adventures. It has been our pleasure to hear from you and meet some of our fellow bloggers. If you feel a void in your daily reading without The Denver Traveler- why not stop by Sirened, The Las Vegas Adventurer, The Hawaii Traveler or The Geeky Traveller, and be sure to tell them we sent you.

Alicia and I may be found in cyber land as well at:
TheBlackFrame.com the best stop for great photography!
Anklevine.com a whimsical spot with a little bit of everything!

Don’t be strangers, there is plenty of room for everyone in The Mile High City and on The World Wide Web.

Thank You & Good Bye,
Alicia and Shawn Marie

[photo-Flickr]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Altitude Sickness

It is no joke. As Denver is situated at 5,280 feet above sea level- many who visit, or have just relocated here, certainly feel the affects of this High Altitude and often get sick. The cause of Altitude Sickness is the thinner air at higher altitudes does not give you the amount of oxygen you need. When this happens it can affect your lungs and brains.

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness include:

Headaches
Lack of Appetite
Feeling Weak and Lazy
Sick to your Stomach
Vomiting
Not being able to sleep
Feeling Dizzy

When visiting Denver- if you suddenly feel hung over but haven’t had a drop of liquor, take care and slow down. Drink plenty of water- do not indulge in libations, eat smaller meals, take an over the counter headache medicine and get plenty of rest. If the symptoms subside, and this can take several hours to a few days, gently go places that have higher altitude. If you feel any symptoms come on again, get to a lower altitude and take care of yourself. If they are persistent- go see a Doctor.

A good plan when coming to Denver is to drive or take a train- flying sometimes exacerbates altitude sickness- and to take it easy the first few days you are here. Ease into higher altitudes slowly and with care.

[photo-SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

The Cyber Sidewalk Sale works like this- businesses, restaurants, and stores have partnered with radio stations to offer gift certificates for full value but at half price! So you can buy a 50 dollar gift certificate for $25.00. There you have it- it is that simple.

If you are planning a trip to Denver on a budget, this is a great resource that you can take advantage of before you even leave for the airport. Click on over to the following links and stock up. Do not wait too long as some offers are only for a limited time.

KOSI & KEZW Cyber Sidewalk Sale

KIMN- Mix 100.3 has a similar sale they call Meals and Steals. Every Thursday morning at 9:00am they present a new restaurant that you can dine at for half the price of the gift certificate value.

Perhaps the best part of these deals is that you don’t have to think up a crazy stunt, keep your hand on a car for a week or be the 9th caller. All you have to do is cyber shop.

[photo-SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Dennis is a favorite son of the Mile High City- Heck, he even works at the University of Denver!

Have you got a question about Denver, chances are Dennis has an answer. Having lived the majority of his years right here in Denver Town and vowing never to leave, Dennis is a walking encyclopedia of Denver Trivia, Facts, Fiction and Lore. Ask him about the summer he built a hotel with a rock, or about his brick in Coors Field, or about his father’s adventures of being a cab driver. If you are really nice he just might tell you about how he liked to chase fire engines down the road as a toddler.

When Alicia and I asked him what he believed the one thing everyone should see while in Denver- he answered, The Purina Dog Food Factory. He said it with such affirmation and conviction that we are still uncertain if he was kidding. In case he was serious, why not check it out in his honor: Purina Pet Care Company.

Hey, someone thought it would make a great episode of Dirty Jobs.

In either case- Happy Birthday Denver “The Dad” Dennis!

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Denver’s Union Station as shot by Flickr User mre770.

[photo-Flickr]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

If you have always watched MTV and wondered, “Hey, how can *I* get into a music video?” – we have the answer. That is, if you love the Flobots as much as we do!

We told you about the fantastic local band the Flobots just last week, and today, they are shooting the video for their new single “Rise”. They are looking for locals of all ages, shapes, sizes and kinds for the video. Today at high noon they will be at the Gothic Theater, located at 3263 South Broadway in Englewood, CO.

What do you have to do to be included in the music video?

Show up!

No, really. All you have to do is show up and make sure you are wearing plain clothes – this means NO corporate logos of ANY kind (IE: Nike, Adidas, Other Bands, Products) or any obscene/objectionable language/pictures. Flobots t-shirts are okay, of course, as are local schools or non-profit groups (IE: PeaceJam, Dumb Friends League). Be prepared to stand around for long periods of time, bring some water/snacks with you, sunscreen, and your sense of community! The Flobots want to show their community, and they want YOU to be a part of it!!

Hope to see you there!

[photo-Flotbots from Wikipedia]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

It has been a hundred years since Denver hosted a Democratic National Convention. The last time being 1908 where William Jennings Bryan took the nomination to go on to lose the race for the presidency to William Taft. It was the third time Bryan ran for the highest office and the third time he failed. You may recognize William Jennings Bryan as one of the lawyers in the Scopes Monkey Trials as well. The Convention of 1908 was the first National Convention to be held in a western state. It was also the first convention to accredit women. The Mayor of Denver in 1908, Robert Speer, had a fountain built in City Park to welcome the convention attendees. For this year’s convention- that fountain is being rebuilt. For those of you who want to devour the history of the 1908 DNC, The Rocky Mountain News has developed a great compendium of their archives from the hottest news of the time. Not only are the texts of the articles preserved but they also have pictures of the actual newsprint.

The bare bones of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver are as follows:

Monday August 25th through Thursday August 28th
Pepsi Center
1000 Chopper Circle
Denver, CO 80204
303-405-1100

Click here for Transportation and Parking Information

Tickets are distributed by The Democratic National Committee and by invitation only, tickets are not available to be purchased. Contact your State’s Democratic Party for more information. Colorado Resident’s may call: 303-623-4762 or visit www.coloradodems.org

Don’t worry- we’ll be back to share more, a little more information every other week.

[Photo - SXC]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Happy Fourth of July from the Denver Traveler!! We hope your day is filled with friends and family, delicious bar be cue, and beautiful fireworks.

Keep it safe!!

[photos- SXC - Photo1, Photo2]

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Tickle Me Pink, a break out local band from Fort Collins, suffered a great loss this morning when band mates found bassist Johnny Schou dead. Today was supposed to be about celebration, as the band’s album Madeline was released nationwide today from Wind Up Records.

So far there is no official explanation of cause of death. The band was scheduled to perform today at Independent Records, but the performance has turned into a memorial gathering as other local bands and fans from all over Colorado converge to show support to Johnny’s band mates, friends, and family.

Local station KTCL 93.3, which was instrumental in getting Tickle Me Pink on the air and attracting Wind Up’s attention, announced the tragedy this morning, and have been keeping listeners informed as news develops. Fans are encouraged to leave messages on the band’s MySpace page. Tickle Me Pink’s latest performance was over the weekend at the Van’s Warped Tour where they played an awesome set to many appreciative fans. They were scheduled to start touring with Finch and Scary Kids Scaring Kids beginning on July 18.

Our thoughts are with Johnny’s family and friends tonight.

Post from: The Denver Traveler

Denver is a town that is serious about ecological standards and biking! Many residents bike to work on a regular basis in Denver, especially throughout the summer months. There are many bike lots and even some that are like lockers that you can fit your entire bike inside. Bikes are allowed on the Light Rails and every RTD bus has a bike rack on the front. Denver has many bike trails, though in reality- every pathway is a bike trail for Denverites.

So it is no wonder that over 20,000 people participated in Bike to Work Day. The Denver Regional Council of Governments offered prizes such as: gift certificates, concert tickets, and memberships to athletic clubs for those who kept their cars parked and spun their bicycle wheels instead. There were also breakfast stations posted all around the city, and many employers allowed a tardy variance to allow their workers to participate.

The benefits of biking versus driving are immense! The soaring cost of fuel prices alone has been moving folks to the pedal instead of the metal. This, in turn, lets off less exhaust, and therefore not contributing to the brown cloud that plagues our Valley here in Denver. Biking builds up your health and stamina. And one of the best reasons Denver has adapted so well to biking is that so many great things are here to be seen- off the beaten path where cars can’t go.

When visiting Denver- be aware that Bikes rule out over cars- often yielding in all traffic regulations to the side of the biker. Consider renting a bike or bringing yours along- a great way to experience Denver just like the natives!

Post from: The Denver Traveler