JetBlue Blog

Welcome to Denver, home to 300 days of sunshine (more than San Diego or Miami!) and virtually no rain, and gateway to the Rocky Mountains. At 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City’s nickname isn’t just catchy, but accurate!

Image courtesy of Dehk at en.wikipedia

In case you’re unfamiliar with Denver, we’d best start at the beginning. Whether you land at Denver International Airport (locally known as DIA) from Logan or JFK, you should know a few things before your arrival. Know that you’re landing in one of the nation’s most unique airports. Appreciate the mountain range-shaped roof, which Crewmember Craig points out is made from material as thin as a credit card. Also ponder the fact that DIA is twice the size of Manhattan, and this fun fact, straight from the airport’s official Web site: “Some people think there’s a conspiracy making our airport the center of a New World Order. Rest assured the story is definitely a myth.”

Don’t worry about that, though. Upon landing, keep moving, heeding Brian’s advice to take the “A” walkway straight to baggage claim instead of the riding the tram. Remember that shortcut coming home, too, if you’re flying back east: “It’s usually a shorter line and you don’t have to take the train to your concourse.” And as Craig notes, the walkway is the only passenger bridge in the United States where you can watch an airplane taxi beneath you.

If you’re connecting or arriving early, Craig offers a good tip: “The mezzanine levels are a great place to get away from the crowds and relax while waiting for your flight.” So if you have a few hours to spare, head up the escalators and take it easy on DIA’s upper level.

Once you leave, you should know that you will need to travel far from the airport to appreciate the city, and bear in mind that a car rental is could easily cost less than the cab fare to get downtown. Also, don’t even think about speeding; Craig says: “Traffic laws are strictly enforced, especially at the airport! A speeding ticket at the airport may be more than your airfare.” Christopher recommends taking the public buses as an even cheaper alternative to a cab.

And on your way out, be sure to form an opinion on the massive blue horse guarding the airport (seen to the right, ominously looming in the distance behind a group of Denver Crewmembers). Once decided, you can join the relevant Facebook group:

• I am afraid of the big blue horse at DIA
• People Wanting to Get Rid of the Demon Horse at DIA
• Save DIA’s Balthazzar The Demon Horse of the Apocolypse

Getting to the city proper is easy once you know the chief rule of Denver navigation: the mountains are to the west. So point your car towards the mountains and head for the skyscrapers (taking special note of the one that looks like a cash register), and you’ll be there in no time.

In case you don’t want to wait until you reach the city before you eat, you can follow  Brian’s tip and visit McAlister’s Deli, just south of DIA on Tower Road and 40th Ave. As he says: “It has some of the freshest and best deli food around the area.” Brian also notes that if you want to grab a bite in the airport, “all the good food is located on the B concourse.”

As you might expect given its size, Denver’s restaurant scene offers a cornucopia of options. Its multitude of Thai, Vietnamese and Mexican restaurants (see Wild Ginger, Dong Khanh, and Tacos y Salsas) are some of the best in the country, and it’s arguably the unofficial birthplace of the Fast Casual movement — Denver’s metro area is home to Einstein Bros., Quiznos, Chipotle, Qdoba, Boston Market and many more restaurants in the genre. For heavy fare, you can’t do better than a Carolina sandwich and a honey butter scone at Jabo’s Bar-Be-Q just down the freeway from downtown, or for something lighter, a bento box at Ki Ki’s down Broadway.

If you like to try the local cuisine when you visit somewhere new, Craig has just the spot for you. The Buckhorn Exchange, regularly featured on the Food Network, has been serving Old West fare since 1893. Just be sure you’re OK with the idea of your potential dinner watching you from every angle, and definitely look up what Rocky Mountain oysters are before you order them.

For fun, you’ll do well choosing a neighborhood and exploring. Kate suggests visiting LoDo (lower downtown), saying “it’s alive with action all week long (late night-every night) with places to eat and things to do.” As Craig points out, Denver is known as the “Napa Valley of Beer,” so you’ll find no shortage of local brews on offer in LoDo’s many restaurants and bars. Indeed, Christopher says Denver’s mayor John Hickenlooper was a microbrewer before running for office. For a classic night out in Denver, El Chapultepec — home to live jazz since 1933 — is a great place to start (or finish) the festivities.

On the other hand, Christopher recommends the nearby Highlands neighborhood as a “great little neighborhood with boutiques, galleries, stores, and restaurants.” Once there, he advises getting a gourmet cupcake at Happy Cakes Bakeshop, and enjoying the unique Asian-Mexican cuisine at BOA. Christopher also notes that this month is the perfect time to check out the neighborhood — the 28th Annual Highlands Street Fair is taking place June 19.

If shopping’s your scene, Cherry Creek is your neighborhood. After you buy your next Halloween costume at The Wizard’s Chest, head on over to The Cherry Cricket for Denver’s best burger —topped with roasted green chiles and cream cheese if you’re feeling bold. The neighborhood is no longer home to the incredible Tattered Cover book store, but you can still visit them at one of three locations. If you check out their Colfax Ave. (the longest continuous street in the country, as Craig notes) branch, you can also visit Twist & Shout next door, which is easily Denver’s best music store.

When it’s time to hit the hay, Denver’s best hotels range from the cozy and quirky Monaco to the historic, luxurious Brown Palace. Sure, you can book an airport hotel, but unless you plan on spending your trip marveling at DIA’s pointy roof and completing its scavenger hunts, you’re better off booking somewhere closer to the action.

As you can see, there’s really no need to venture outside of Denver. Nonetheless, Brian points out that the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre is only 15 miles west of Denver in Morrison. You could also make the short drive west to Boulder, home to Mork, Mindy and the University of Colorado.

Image courtesy of sekhmet1776 on Flickr

Oh, and you can ski in the mountains, too.

Do you have any great Denver travel tips to share? Leave them in the comments below, or Tweet them using the hashtag #TTDEN.