Denver Entertainment
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Denver Entertainment Guide - Exploring the Great Outdoors In a city that produces more beer than any other state, it's no surprise that residents of Denver like to have fun. Like other major metropolises, Denver has its fair share of exotic eateries, local museums, shopping centers and dance clubs, but what makes Denver stand out from all the other major cities in the United States is that the mile-high city is set at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountain range, a location that offers a variety of activities most cities do not. In addition to hiking, camping, skiing and snowboarding, Denver has 450 miles of bike paths, 70 golf courses and 145 community tennis courts. Winter Mountain Sports and Recreation Ask anyone from Nebraska which ski resort they frequent and you'll most likely get a blank stare. The state of Colorado is snow-covered paradise for skiers and snowboarders alike. With world-class resorts like Vail and Aspen only a few hours away, Denver is the perfect city for backcountry lovers. Large resorts like Vail, only a 100 miles West of Denver, have hotels, nightclubs and great shopping and eating. With 31 lifts and 7 bowls, you'll never tire of the slopes. Other Colorado ski resorts include Telluride, Winter Park, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Steamboat, Crested Butte, Beaver Creek, Snowmass and Arapahoe Basin. There's plenty of trails and backcountry for everyone. You can also go mountaineering, ice fishing and snowshoeing. Summer Mountain Sports and Recreation In the summer, these ski resorts don't shut down, they switch gears. What was home to great powder a few months ago is now a site for hiking, mountain biking and picnicking. Just take a chair lift or gondola up to the top with your bike and enjoy the stunning vistas and challenging terrain of the mountain. Ski resorts come alive in the summer with festivals and summer concerts. Nearby Denver is the Red Rocks Amphitheater, a natural arena set in the rock that seats up to 9,000 people. Not only do you have a great view of the stage, which has hosted world-class performers like the Beatles, but you also overlook downtown Denver and the surrounding area. Denver also has two National Parks close by. Rocky Mountain National Park, 71 miles northwest of downtown Denver and has a large assortment of scenic hikes to lakes, rivers and waterfalls. There are also opportunities to go bird-watching and horse-back riding. Located 70 miles south of Denver is Pikes Peak Country, home to the 14,000-foot high Pikes Peak. An assortment of activities awaits you. There's camping, backpacking, fishing, biking, hiking and whitewater rafting. Visit the stunning 500-foot sandstone monuments in the Garden of the Gods at the base of the peak or take a guided tour all the way to the top.
By Stacy Hinojosa
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