Denver airport taxi fees going up

On page 209 of my Moon Denver guidebook I noted the flat fares of taxis to and from Denver International Airport, but unfortunately I have to report that those rates are on the rise. According to an article in today's Denver Post, non-metered rates to/from the airport will be changing as follows:
going from $43 to $51 for trips from DIA to downtown or vs.
going from $70 to $84 for trips from DIA to Boulder or vs.
going from $45 to $57 for trips from DIA to the Tech Center or vs.

Ouch! Folks, the bus is cheaper by far.

Denver's dinosaur ridge

I left out the tourist attraction of Dinosaur Ridge in my Moon Denver guidebook because I just never take anyone there. I'm still on the fence about it adding it to my next edition. I took my daughter there this month because it was on our way home from a hike in the foothills and she has developed an interest in dinosaurs. On a weekday, the parking lot was full and business was booming inside the gift shop and new exhibit. We took the $3 guided tour rather than walk up the steep hillside to see the dinosaur footprints, dinosaur bones (not like what you see in a museum at all, just smooth surfaces imbedded in rock) and such. Personally, I love learning about the history of the rocks and the land but the gift shop is turnoff. The new exhibit looks pretty good, like a mini-Denver Museum of Nature & Science. I can't imagine doing that on a hot day or being self-guided ever given how subtle the remains are. It was as much a history of man's follies with such artifacts as anything else. Hmmm, any comments on this one?

Win a Denver guidebook or other Moon book

Here is a link, http://www.moon.com/blogs/moon-staff/tell-us-what-s-your-favorite-us-city.

I recently wrote a blog post to be added to the Moon.com site about my favorite city, Boulder. I included Boulder in the Excursions chapter of my Moon Denver guidebook and my blog post was more of a love letter to the town where I did most of my growing up. Truly, now that I take my daughter to play and enjoy Boulder, I really appreciate it so much more than I did when I was a kid. Anyway, my post and others are part of a promotion to give away Moon books this summer so act fast to get 1 of 50 books!

Moon Denver guidebook at conference

I will be speaking about my Moon Denver guidebook at The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop July 23-25. It’s sponsored by AWAI (American Writers & Artists Inc.) and here is a link with details, http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09/

I will bring a few copies of my book to sell directly as well.

Denver restaurant bargains

Here is a link to a $25/3-course dining deal at some fantastic Denver restaurants this month, including Duo which was included in my Moon Denver guidebook and Root Down, which will be in the next edition.

http://www.yelp.com/events/denver-yelp-eats

Denver's Buchi Cafe Cubano gets thumbs up!

Although they opened just after my Moon Denver guidebook was completed in 2008, I've already written on this blog about Buchi Cafe Cubano and how I will definitely be including this gem of a restaurant/coffee shop in my next edition. This week the restaurant received a rave review from Westword:

http://www.westword.com/2009-07-16/restaurants/buchi-caf-cubano-offers-an-authentic-taste-of-cuba-and-a-great-cup-of-coffee/

Note that they just got a liquor license and hours will change for all of us rum drinkers out there. Yum!

And today is Third Thursdays, when a portion of the day's proceeds are donated to local schools. Don't miss it!

True Denver experience

I just have to share this real experience that could have been taken directly from the pages of my Moon Denver guidebook. Instead, it's from a Denver Mom enjoying the Mile High City with her family this summer (she originally posted this on an online community parent message board):
Hi guys -

On Friday my husband and I took our kids to the Denver Art Museum. Prior to going to the museum we went to Mad Greens (across the courtyard from the museum entrance). They have great salads and a Wine and Cheese bar. Our kids loved eating from the cheese plate, we had a great salad, cheese and a glass of wine and then we walked around the art museum. They have some really cool kids activities in the museum including this fun light bubble feature where the kids can "pop" light bubbles on the floor and the more they pop the more art on the wall is displayed.

It was a really fun night for the whole family!

Denver's Confluence Kayaks moved!

But just down the street. That's right, don't go looking for Confluence Kayaks at the intersection of 16th and Platte Sts. because it's now down below the Vitamin Cottage at 15th and Platte Sts. Not sure what's happening with the historic building they called home for so many years, but the new space is inviting and just as close to the kayak action on the South Platte River. I'll add a new address as soon as I get one.

Denver's Hotel Teatro makes list

I knew the Hotel Teatro was a special place and said so on page 154 of my Moon Denver guidebook. But now Hotel Teatro has been named one of the top leisure hotels by Travel + Leisure Magazine--the only one in Colorado to make the list. So, check it out and see what makes it so fabulous and leisurely.

Denver area Splash!

We had such a fun time yesterday at the Splash Aquatics Park that I wrote about on page 116 of my Moon Denver guidebook. I write this for two reasons:

1. To let my readers know that I included places and things to do in my Denver guidebook that I truly do enjoy myself! And yes, as I said, it was jammed full on a summer day. Still, that wild, screaming--splashing!--was what made it fun. We had my daughter's birthday party there and I loved not cleaning my own house before or after a party, then going out for ice cream in downtown Golden later.

2. The full name is The Splash at Fossil Trace Aquatics Park, so perhaps I need to make that change in my next edition. Also, if you miss the turn off, it's a long way back around to the entrance following the little blue signs.

Colorado Springs deals

How about free? I wrote about Colorado Springs in the Excursions chapter of my Moon Denver guidebook and like many places, they are offering deals this summer. Click on this link to enter a free family vacation sweepstakes, http://www.experiencecoloradosprings.com/family-fun-sweepstakes.html

Or go here, www.VisitCOS.com, and click on "Savings with Altitude"to find an array of coupons for use at Colorado Springs businesses. Save, save, save!

Denver area Mt. Falcon hike

A big thanks to my cousin for taking me and my daughter on a fantastic hike today! And so close to Denver. I will definitely be adding the Mount Falcon area to the next edition of my Moon Denver guidebook, but here is a link for anyone who wants a jump on it:
http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R16.htm

The views, oh the views. And easy trails too. I saw people pushing strollers along one trail. Also popular with mountain bikers. A clean bathroom, shaded picnic tables and breathtaking scenery. A wonderful Colorado day!

Camping near Denver

I'm finding out the hard way that people need to make reservations well in advance if they want to camp in the mountains during summer. I don't think I emphasized this point enough--or at all--in my Moon Denver guidebook. Of course there is the wonderful and useful Moon Colorado Camping book to refer to for such needs, but I feel it will be helpful to my own readers to know more about this process. Six months ago I didn't know I wanted to take my daughter camping for her July birthday and now weekends are booked just about everywhere and first come first serve spots aren't the right option for us. So, plan ahead!

Don't miss Devil's Thumb Ranch

On page 190 of my Moon Denver guidebook I wrote about Devil's Thumb Ranch for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and mentioned their upgrades. Oh my goodness, I had no idea how fabulous the changes were until I spent a night up there in June. Ordinarily I am not exactly open to change and tend to like things to remain the same. But that would be so wrong in this case because the changes are just so SMART. Geo-thermal heating, beetle-kill wood paneling, organic and sustainable farm menu items...I think someone threw out the term "sustainable luxury" and I'm ready to embrace it with a big bear hug. The spa, ooh-la-la, get a hot towel massage, though I heard the Field O'Greens facial was good too. This is also a summer destination now with horseback riding and hikes, or just relaxing and watching the hummingbirds flit about. I swear I was e-mailing my sister from my cozy lodge room with a fireplace about how she needed to call reservations for a cabin immediately. Those cabins--with actual wood-burning stoves--are ideal for family get togethers (all together, with a little separate space). I could go on and on, but I have to save something for the next edition of Moon Denver.

Denver area Barr Lake

I can only blame the crush of deadline--again!--for how I included Barr Lake in my Moon Denver guidebook. On page 117, I wrote about ice fishing on Barr Lake and on page 118 I wrote about bird watching at Barr Lake. We had a marvelous time out there today on our canoe and there were lots of other people boating and fishing too. My point is, next time I need to find a way to write about all of the seasonal options for one location! Last year we went to Barr Lake in very late summer when the water was low enough to create sandbars and beaches (though wading and swimming are prohibited), but with all our rain this year there was no sand and extra lake areas to explore and listen to the birds.

Estes Park guidebook updates

I did not post on this blog yesterday because I was too busy thoroughly enjoying a day in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. I wrote about RMNP on pages 177-181 of my Moon Denver guidebook, but the truth is that I had to rely on memories of going up there while on deadline and not my freshest research. Well, one discovery from yesterday was the River Song B & B off of St. Mary's Lake road. There is a porch swing hanging from a large tree branch with about the best view of the park from anywhere! Nice, quiet spot to stay too so I'll be adding it to my next edition. I neglected to mention that the stretch of hike from the Bear Lake Trailhead (after a few minutes on the trail my daughter said, "I thought there would be heads." Then I had to explain what a "trailhead" is.) to Nymph Lake is paved with asphalt. This doesn't mean it's a wheelchair ramp type of trail, just was heavily used. Anyway, I still recommend that hike because it is a good one with little kids or people who are not able to hike very far. A little shop, "Blue Skies and Dragonflies" looked to have the same crafts as every third shop on the main drag, but check it out for how it's built right up to (into?) the rock. The riverwalk was really nice, especially with shade around the waterwheel. The wildflowers were AMAZING!!!