The first time you land in Denver, you're excused for wondering if perhaps you missed the announcement regarding an emergency landing in Kansas. So flat and dull the terrain and so far away the city (not to mention the Rockies, if you can even see them), this isn't the Colorado of your imagination, this is something else entirely, something they do not put in the travel advertisements.
Then, to make matters worse, once you land in what feels like the Midwest, you're left pretty much high and dry. Great for the rental car companies who can - and do - gouge with impunity, also great for the taxi companies - fares to downtown run around $70, about as much as some people will have paid to fly to Denver in the first place. Not flush with cash? Hope you like waiting up to an hour for the bus.
That's how it used to be, anyway. Everything about arriving in Denver got better late last month when the A Line train came into service. This 23-mile addition to a growing network of regional rail transit moves passengers from the airport to Union Station in roughly 35 minutes for a reasonable $9 each way. Great, right?
Better still, once at Union Station, a free bus - all day, every day - runs straight down 16th Street, quickly connecting you to pretty much every downtown hotel that isn't walking distance from the train platform. (There's even a hotel built right into the station now, the pricey but impressive Crawford.) Transfers are available right here to the rest of the rail network, too. Easy, right? And all it took was, what, decades?
The A Line - officially referred to as the University of Colorado A Line, thanks to a sponsorship deal - is just one of many steps being taken to tie Denver's considerable, traffic-choked sprawl back together - eventually, you'll be able to ride the rails all the way from DIA to Boulder. (At the moment, that particular line goes only as far as suburban Westminster, but it's a start,)
For now, however, there's so much going on at the heart of the city, you could easily do a proper weekend getaway without bothering to rent a car. The sights begin right when you step off the train - the station has been beautifully re-imagined as a proper, 21st century transit hub, while adjacent neighborhoods are more vibrant and alive than ever before.
From the post-industrial Platte Valley right behind the station to oft-overlooked areas north of Coors Field, change is everywhere you look - interesting new projects such as the Source public market are giving new purpose to old industrial buildings, you can barely move without bumping into new residential development. Museums, stadiums, the impressive parks along the Platte River, downtown shopping, even the old Elitch Gardens amusement park - it's all right here, with the rest of the city an easy cab (or Lyft or Uber) ride away, if you don't feel like digging deeper into the local transit system.
Don't like cabs? If you're signed up to Car2Go or Zipcar in your home city, Denver has both - Car2Go typically shows dozens of available cars within steps of Union Station during the day; if you're not signed up for the service, it's well worth looking into. Unlike typical car sharing services, Car2Go operates on a point-to-point system, meaning you only pay for the time you're in the car, as long as you park within the home area. In Denver's case, this means you can visit the impressive Botanic Gardens, go shopping in Cherry Creek or brunch in the Highlands, pay $0.41 per minute for the time it takes to drive there, park, lock and walk away, rebooking the nearest available car through an easy-to-use app when it's time to return.
Finally, if you prefer two wheels to four, the city's B-Cycle program, with 87 stations and 700 bikes, is a snap for tourists to access, even if short-term use can be somewhat expensive. There's even a station right when you hop off the A Line, if you want to get started right away.
Ready to make the trip? Here's a look at our current finds to Denver (DEN) from all over the US and Canada.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.