Friday, August 22, 2008

Road Trip Part 2: I Heart Denver

State Capitol (Photo by Dave)

The next few days of our trip were spent hanging out in and around Denver, aka The Mile High City. I grew up here. I love it. I love the weather, the bike trails, the access to the mountains, the shopping, the restaurants, the tourist attractions. I love visiting, and I would love to move back some day. This visit was a touristy visit for us. We hit a bunch of the main attractions, and I noticed something about Colorado people. Coloradans (Colorado-ans, Colorado-ites?) are a little preoccupied with elevation. They are so proud to be living in the high desert. Elevation pops up everywhere. The capitol building has a step which is marked at exactly 1 mile above sea level. Any "true" Coloradan will gladly tell you about which of the mountain peaks over 14,000 feet (lovingly referred to as 14ers) he/she has climbed. There are warning signs about the effects of physical exertion at high elevations. And it's not just Denver. Breckenridge* had even more signs advertising the elevation. My personal favorite was a sign in a bakery, "Lovingly baked at 9600 feet." I too am proud to say that I grew up in the Mile High State, even if it is a little silly.

*Stay tuned for more of our adventures in Breckenridge in "Road Trip Part 3: Party at 9600 feet.


Clearly ecstatic to be hanging out at 5,280 feet.


Jacob also vaguely impressed by the elevation.


These steps were tough, but cake compared to the stairs by the Smith Field House on the BYU campus.


Taking a little break after climbing the steps.



Gordon, Sophie, Ella, Me, Jacob, Lesley, Dave, and Megan in the dome of the capitol building.



You don't see many of these anymore.
(BTW that's my sister Megan, not me)


The Downtown Aquarium


Photos by Dave
This Restaurant is a family favorite.
A place that is visited more for the cliff divers, magicians, and mariachi band than the food.



All in all, a pretty great visit.


4 comments:

Troy and Nancee Tegeder said...

I hated those Smith Field House stairs. No matter how good of shape I was in, I could never make it up without getting winded.

Kristen said...

I laugh about how Denver/CO is so elevation-obsessed too. The Denver magazine is even called "5280".

We've been living here for over a year now and we've never been to the Aquarium. Did your girls like it? I've heard from others that there's some scary part?

Glad you all had a good trip together.

Heather said...

Kristen,
We liked the aquarium. The girls loved it. There is a room that simulates a flash flood (the lights go dim, and there is thunder and lightning, then water pours out of the wall). That might be kind of scary. My girls didn't have a problem with it though.

Peggy said...

Hi Heather! Your mom told me about your blog today on our loooonnnnnggg drive home from SLC. I searched until I found it! I'm so glad I get to see what you're up to these days! Cute, cute family!