Denver
Mp3 Placelists
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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ALAMO PLACITA. Lie on the rolling lawn or lean against the columns of the park's stately pavilion with your Mp3 player, and take in a 150-mile panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains and an interesting coterie of Capitol Hill citizens. But keep an eye out for those visitors who are no longer among the living; the park was built over a cemetery, and some say the bodies left behind continue to visit.
CAPITOL HILL. Architecture and ornament unite in the Mile High City's landmark building. Differing geological surveys over the years have scuttled the designation, but the state stands by the latest study, which notes that the 13th step (and not the 15th or 18th) of this remarkable structure is, indeed, one mile above sea level. The Capitol is also a stunning place to sit, turn up the volume on something inspirational, and watch the sun set behind the majestic City and County Building and behind the Rocky Mountains to the west.
COMMONS PARK. Crank the pop-punk or emo tunes and watch the city's best boarders tackle Denver's largest and most celebrated skate park, a concrete nirvana of bowls, snake runs, and ledges. Built on an increasingly valuable plot just north of downtown, it affords a fantastic view of the skyline, not to mention the baggy shorts and multiple tattoos of skaters who shred until 11pm.
EVERGREEN. It's just a 30-minute ride from downtown Denver to a serene – but very accessible – 40-acre lake in the middle of the mountains. Rent a canoe or paddle boat for a half-hour, which should be enough time to listen to a half-dozen of your favorite songs while relaxing amid pine-covered mountainsides under deep blue skies.
ENGLEWOOD. Accompanying this waterway is a trail that wends its way through 60 miles of Denver and its suburbs. The best section lies just south of Colorado Boulevard and goes through Cherry Hills Village. While walking this wide, flat, dirt path with your headphones on, you'll see everything from foxes to horses to coyotes. The multi-million dollar homes that back up to the canal are fun to gawk at too.
COMMONS PARK. It's unconscionably unsociable to turn on the tunes and block out the rest of the crowd at Denver's oldest bar. But, head to the small back patio in the middle of the afternoon, order a jalapeno cheeseburger, and pick songs to help conjure up the ghosts of the Beat Generation. With such a soundtrack, you'll have an idea what it was like when Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady used to drink themselves silly at this bar on the edge of downtown.
COMMONS PARK. Have plenty of music ready to enjoy, because the service at this venerable coffee house is notoriously slow. But the people-watching is unmatched on a late Friday night, as evidenced by tables full of high school goths and smatterings of yuppies capping off their bar-hopping jaunts with punches of caffeine. If music and coffee aren't enough, the WiFi is free, and you can use one of their computers or CD burners for $4 an hour.
MORRISON. It's renowned as one of the best concert venues in the world, but Red Rocks hosts only about 50 concerts every summer. The rest of the time? It's open as a park, so you can sit on the wooden benches, imagine your own show, and look out at the rest of the city to the east. You might also see the likes of Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets' small forward who runs the steep steps for conditioning during the off-season.
DOWNTOWN. The interstate robbed Colfax of the motorists who once made this strip – the longest continuous business street in the country – a neon-lit wonderland of motels and restaurants. But the city's most colorful characters remain, and they use RTD's No. 15 Bus daily. Bring your own soundtrack and enjoy this authentic education on urban life, which rolls through a vibrant landscape of '50s architecture.
SOUTH DENVER. It's too steep to be Denver's most popular park (except with sledders when the snow starts to mount), but Ruby Hill – once a lookout for Native Americans – is an ideal spot for an early-morning respite with a dozen of your favorite songs. Even if you're not ambitious enough to watch the sun rise behind the skyline, you'll still get the city's best panoramic views to the east, north, and south. People often associate cities with special songs or styles of music. On Broadway in New York, try show tunes; in New Orleans' French Quarter, go for jazz. This list shares the best spots for listening, either as an activity in itself or as a backdrop to something else. People-watch at a coffee shop, browse fantastic art at a museum, and while away commuter time on public transportation. Plug into your favorites, or make a "placelist" based on our suggestions.
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People often associate cities with special songs or styles of music. On Broadway in New York, try show tunes; in New Orleans' French Quarter, go for jazz. This list shares the best spots for listening, either as an activity in itself or as a backdrop to something else. People-watch at a coffee shop, browse fantastic art at a museum, and while away commuter time on public transportation. Plug into your favorites, or make a "placelist" based on our suggestions.
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