My First Visit to Denver

Michael Nelson

I attended a weekend meeting of the Denvention 3 committee in June, which gave me an opportunity to explore Denver for the first time. Being an out-of-shape fifty-something fan, I was concerned how the high altitude would affect me. I did not experience any difficulties during the three days I spent in Denver. However, you may wish to consider arriving a day or so early before Denvention 3 if you think you may need time to adjust to the higher altitude. According to High Altitude Tips, drinking plenty of water is the number one way to help your body adjust to the higher altitude.

In addition to Denver's higher altitude, there are two other nature-related aspects the typical office cubicle-dwelling fan should consider. Denver is sun-drenched--there's less atmosphere to screen out UV radiation--and Denver is very dry. So when you pack to attend Denvention 3, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, lip balm, and skin moisturizer. You should try to drink about twice as much water as you would drink at home.

The average daytime temperature during my visit was in the mid to high 80s (30-32°C). Expect the average daytime temperatures to be slightly higher in early August. Breezes and low humidity levels help make the hot days comfortAnother concern I had before my visit was the distance of able. Bring light outerwear since the temperature can go down to the mid 50s (13-15°C) later in the evening and early morning. the Adam's Mark (Sheraton), our main evening functions hotel, from the Colorado Convention Center. The shortest door-to-door distance is about five blocks. One alternative method of reaching the convention center is to exit the Adam's Mark (Sheraton) on 16th Street and take a free 16th Street Mall shuttle bus to within two blocks of the convention center. You can also purchase a RTD Light Rail train pass and ride the two blocks from 16th Street to the station under the attached 1,000 space convention center parking garage.

My own personal plan is to have breakfast (and use the free WiFi to check my e-mail) somewhere along the 16th Street Mall to break up my walk to the convention center. With many Starbucks and other coffee shops such as Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee, and Tuscany Coffee, I think my coffee needs will be covered.

I will write more about the 16th Street Mall and other Denver attractions near our convention center in a later progress report--especially my hard-hitting in-depth investigation of Denver's numerous brewpubs. I managed to sample three excellent brewpubs during my first visit and I look forward to sharing my experience. Did you know the effect of drinking one beer at Denver's altitude is magnified two to three times greater than the effect that same drink would have at sea level? If you decide to test the high altitude effect of drinking, don't forget alcohol and caffeine are diuretics that can contribute to dehydration.

Denver--one mile closer to that plasmatic ball of nuclear fusion we call the Sun.