Mile High City Offers So Much More than Skiing and Hiking

Denver conjures images of snow-capped mountains and rugged trails. But as one of America’s fastest-growing cities, it has a lot more to offer than skiing and hiking, particularly for those with some free time before or after Emergency Nursing 2022, or with a little time between sessions.   

ENA is partnering with Denver Like a Local Tours to provide attendees a 15 percent discount on excursions ranging from food and distillery tours to scenic runs that will help you get refreshed and re-energized. Note that some of these outings involve ghosts, and some involve whiskey.

Those looking to explore the Mile High City on their own will find that the conference venue, the Colorado Convention Center, stands just two blocks from the heart of the city’s downtown, 16th Street Mall. The bustling promenade comprises a pink-and-gray granite pathway designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei’s firm to resemble the pattern on a diamondback rattlesnake. More than 250 stores line the 1.25-mile stretch, and it’s home to many of the city’s most popular destinations including the century-old beaux arts Denver Union Station and warehouse-filled LoDo Historic District. Each features brewpubs, sports bars, restaurants, rooftop cafes and shops. Union Station also serves as an Amtrak, light rail and shuttle bus station with direct rail service to Denver International Airport.

Downtown Denver is quite walkable, but you can also get around by hopping on the free shuttle bus that stops at every corner on the 16th Street Mall.

Larimer Square, the birthplace of Denver during the late 19th Century, lies less than half a mile northeast of the convention center on Larimer Street, between 14th and 15th streets. Named for the pioneering Gen. William Larimer, this was the city’s first block, first commercial district, and home to its first residence and city hall. Today it features carefully restored Victorian buildings that house specialty boutiques and chef-driven eateries.

Foodies are in luck, as Denver is home to award-winning restaurants including this year’s James Beard Award finalist, Tavernetta, in the Union Station neighborhood. Its menu and world-class hospitality were inspired by the food and culture of Italy. Work & Class, also a James Beard Award finalist, bills itself as a place for a “square meal, stiff drink, and fair price.”

Check out The Foodie Bucket List for “20 of the Best Restaurants in Denver, According To Denverites.”

The city’s museums will be hosting blockbuster exhibits including “Georgia O’Keefe: Photographer” at the Denver Art Museum and “Frank Lloyd Wright: Inside the Walls” at the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. Meow Wolf has expanded from Santa Fe to the Mile High City and now offers its “immersive psychedelic, mind-bending” experience at Convergence Station.

For a comprehensive list of things to see and do, head to Must-See Denver.