I don’t get to travel all the time, so when I do travel I like to go to a place I’ve been dying (figuratively) to visit. I’m sure a lot of students (and those working) can relate, and say not want to waste their short travel time during the February half term holidays.
This is why I was surprised to be going to Denver, a that wasn’t even near my travel radar. When the North American portion of the TBEX conference was going to be in Keystone, Colorado in June I found planning a trip there. Aside from knowing the city is the Capital of Colorado, Denver was mostly a blank slate for me. Normally I like to researching my travels, but I’ve learned it can be good to go somewhere and not know every detail about the place. Blank slates lead to unexpected surprises.
When I stepped outside the Denver International airport to take the bus into the city the first thing I noticed was I felt high. I’m not referring to the being on drugs type of high. Likely it was the altitude affecting my brain, but for several moments standing on the 2nd level of the airport all I could think was this airport is floating, it must be hundreds of feet off the ground. Of course this wasn’t true, it was just my perception.
This wasn’t a warped perception. There really was a giant broom and dustpan outside the Denver Art Gallery.
This got me to think about my other travel perceptions. Even though I didn’t know what Denver would be like beforehand I pictured the city to be like a big western, cowboy kind of city. Denver was, in a way, like that, but it also wasn’t. There were really unique neighbourhoods I got to explore that looked nothing like what I expected Denver to look like, such as the Highlands neighbourhood. There were interesting public art installations I didn’t expect to see. Even my weather expectations (I assumed it would be a bit cooler than where I had come from in New Orleans) was shattered. Denver was almost 100F when I was there (that’s about 37C).
I’m actually ashamed to admit, but part of me expected not to like Denver, and not for any particular reason. I assumed Denver would just be another city I’d get to, that would just blur itself into my travels. When I found myself walking down the 16th Street Mall encountering colourful pianos, music, and warm weather my jaded perceptions changed. Meeting some friendly locals, and perhaps having a few local beers, also made me really start to like Denver.
Another colorful piano along the 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado.
I can’t play favourites when I travel, but usually I find myself loving the places I’d assume I wouldn’t care for. Denver was one of those places. My perceptions of Denver were totally changed once I got to the city. I’m glad I got a chance to go to Denver, and get my original perceptions proven wrong.
This post has been written by me and was brought to you by The Adventure Company offering great deals on family adventure holidays.
When we lived in Boulder we used to go into Denver for the art galleries, shopping and concerts. The city has so much more going for it than meets the eye. It’s too bad you didn’t get a chance to visit Boulder. It really is a fantastic city that offers a lot for its size.
Thanks Leigh. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Boulder too. The next time I’m in Denver I’m going to spend some time in Boulder as well.
We went out to Denver/Keystone for TBEX as well. We have never been there, but were super excited to see the mountains! I was taken back when we got to Denver, and I was expecting mountains all around us, but it wasn’t like that at all. But us being from Milwaukee, we fell in love with Denver and their forms of mass transportation! Green taxis, light rail, buses, and people love to walk around there! I also fell in love with the neighborhoods as well because each one was so different to me. I love how walkable the Denver Zoo was and everything else. I’d like to go back!
I think the neighbourhoods surprised me the most of all. Staying up in the Highlands gave me a totally different feeling than when I stayed downtown. It’s always great to go somewhere like Denver and be completely surprised, in a good way.
Same here, I know very little of Colorado except for what I see on South Park lol Seems like Denver was a pleasant surprise for you though, I’ll keep that in mind for my next trip
Thanks for the comment Craig. Only thing I pictured when it came to Colorado, before visiting, was winter and skiing. Luckily, visiting in June, there was still a lot to do.
It sounds like a pretty cool city. I thought it would be kind of like Calgary. Great article! I especially liked the broom!
Thanks Murielle. Yeah I thought it would be like Calgary, but it was different. I’d definitely go back to Denver again if I got the chance.