Boulder SuperShuttle Visitor Guide

Outdoor cafés, historic buildings, and tempting shops line this pedestrian-only 12-block thoroughfare, shaded by red oak and locust trees. You'll find Denver's best people-watching here, with more than 1,000 chairs set out along its length so you can take in the sights. The rose and gray granite mall is scrubbed clean every day. Catch one of the free shuttle buses that run the length of downtown.

Coors Brewery

Celestial Seasons

Denver Art Museum

100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy

Phone: 303/640-2793

Superlative, uniquely displayed holdings in Asian, pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, and Native American art are the hallmarks of this model of museum design. With dazzling mountain views as a bonus, it's highly accessible and thoughtfully lit. Children will love the imaginative hands-on exhibits and video corners. The new "Adventures in Art" floor offers hands-on art classes and exploration for children and adults. Renovations completed in 1999 added space for extensive special exhibits, as well as a new restaurant, Palettes, which serves contemporary American food. COST: $6; free Sat. for Colorado residents Tues.-Sat. 10-5 (Wed. until 9), Sun. noon-5

Denver Botanical Gardens

Denver Zoo

E. 23rd Ave., between York St. and Colorado Blvd

The 7-acre "Primate Panorama," opened in 1996 for the zoo's centennial, houses 29 species of primates in state-of-the-art environments that simulate the animals' natural habitats. To create a tropical environment in Colorado's climate, heated rocks and hidden steam pipes were incorporated into the design. Other zoo highlights include a nursery for baby animals; seal shows; educational programs on endangered species; and the Zoo-liner train, which winds through the property as guests are given a safari tour. COST: $7 Oct.-Mar., $9 Apr.-Sept. Oct.-Mar., daily 10-5; Apr.-Sept., daily 9-6

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Six Flags Elitch Gardens Amusement Park

I-25 and Speer Blvd

303/595-4386

This theme park has always been a Denver family tradition, with two hair-raising roller coasters (including one ranked in the nation's top 10); a hand-carved, antique carousel; a 100-ft-high Ferris wheel that provides sensational views of downtown; and flower displays. Now its owner, Premier Parks, is upping the excitement a few notches with a new 10-acre water adventure park, and a suspended inverted looping roller coaster. COST: $33 unlimited ride pass. June-Labor Day, daily; Apr., May, Sept., and Oct., Fri.-Sun.; hrs very so call ahead.

Best Parks

Alderfer / Three Sisters Park – Evergreen

Berkeley Park

Chatfield Nature Preserve – Littleton

Chautauqua Park – Boulder

City Park – Downtown

Civic Center Park – Downtown

100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway

Denver, CO, 80209

720-913-0633

Downtown Denver

Denver's largest public space contains rose gardens, lakes, a golf course, tennis courts, a huge community-built children's playground, and two of the city's most popular attractions: the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Natural History. A shuttle runs between the two.

Washington Park – Downtown

Best Landmarks

Colorado Ocean Journey

700 Water St., off Exit 211 of I-25

303/561-4450

On the north side of the Platte River across from Elitch Gardens, Ocean Journey is the only million-gallon aquarium between Chicago and the West Coast. Besides four sections that show water and aquatic life in all its forms, it has displays illustrating the journeys of two great rivers - the Colorado River and Indonesia's Kampar River - from their mountain headwaters to the sea. Other major displays include "Depths of the Pacific" and "Sea Otter Cove." COST: $14.95. June-Aug., daily 10-6; Sept.-May, daily 10-5

Colorado State Capitol

1313 Sherman, Room 1B20

Denver, CO 80203

Phone: 303-866-2358

Fax: 303-866-2257

www.colorado.gov

Denver Public Library

The Denver Public Library 10 W. Fourteenth Ave. Pkwy. Denver, CO, 80204

Phone 720-865-1111 / TTY 720-865-1472

Automated Phone Renewal 720-865-1133

Denver Convention Center

700 14th Street, Denver, CO, 80202

(303) 228-8000

(Click here for a map

Forney Museum

It's just outside the downtown loop (west on 15th Street, right past the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek)

Peeling carriages, corroding cabooses, and classic cycles litter the exterior of this odd museum that resembles an abandoned auto yard. Inside not-quite-thought-out exhibit rooms are an 1898 Renault coupe, Teddy Roosevelt's tour car, Aly Khan's Rolls, and a Big Boy steam locomotive, among other collectibles. There's also a room dedicated to 18th-century military uniforms. Anyone who grew up on model cars or Lionel trains will wander this eccentric museum in a happy daze. COST: $6. Mon.-Sat. 8-5

Pepsi Center

1000 Chopper Circle

Denver, CO, 80204

Main Line - 303.405.1100

webmaster@pepsicenter.com

Pepsi Center is located in Denver's Central Platte Valley. There are two main entrances: 7th Street and Auraria Parkway, and Speer Boulevard and Chopper Circle.

Union Station

1701 Wynkoop Street

Denver, CO, 80202

303-534-6333

United States Mint

320 West Colfax Ave.

Denver, CO, 80204-2693

800-872-6468

303-405-4755

Free tours take visitors around this facility, where more than 10 billion coins are minted yearly, and where the nation's second-largest hoard of gold is displayed. W. Colfax Ave. and Cherokee St.. COST: Free. Tours weekdays 8-3 every 20 min, except during inventory (usually last 2 wks in June)

Best Regional Destinations

Black Hawk & Central City

Idaho Springs

Garden of the Gods

Visitors Center

1805 N. 30th Street (at Gateway Road)

Colorado Springs, CO, 80904

719-634-6666

Glenwood Springs

Morrison

Pikes Peak Area

Rocky Mountain National Park