Highlights of the City
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, UNION STATION & COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER
Delegates will experience the state-of-the-art Denver International Airport while rail service will transport them directly into the heart of the city, arriving at Denver Union Station, the city's newest transportation hub and Amtrak station. Historic Union Station reopened in 2014 and immediately became a hotspot for locals and visitors, with a boutique hotel, farm-to-table restaurants, retail, ice cream parlor, The Terminal Bar and the elegant Cooper Lounge.
The Colorado Convention Center will be the host venue for IPW 2018 and all of the hotels will be within walking distance! (Yes, delegates will want to bring walking shoes to explore all of the city center!)
WALKABLE CITY WITH DENVER BEER TRAIL
The city's walkable downtown is home to the 16th Street Mall, Larimer Square and LoDo (Lower Downtown). Victorian brick buildings of Denver's colorful past have been transformed into restaurants, shops, art galleries, cocktail lounges and live music venues. Craft breweries can be found throughout the downtown area as well, and the Denver Beer Trail can be the guide to sampling some of those innovative local beers.
Travel from downtown to DEN (or the reverse) by train within 37 minutes.
ART & CULTURE
Art lovers will immediately see and feel the creativity and energy that defines The Mile High City, from the giant blue bear that greets visitors at the Colorado Convention Center to the bold architecture of the Denver Art Museum designed by Daniel Libeskind. The Denver Art Museum is renowned for its American Indian and Western art collections, and also hosts traveling blockbuster exhibitions. The Clyfford Still Museum which tells the story of this famed Abstract Expressionist is right next door, and within walking distance are the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, The Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, the History Colorado Center and the Molly Brown House & Museum.
MUST-SEE ATTRACTION - RED ROCKS
Speaking of must-see attractions, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is at the top of that list, and it's just a short drive west of Denver. This truly magical place setting in nature is home to concerts under the stars amidst giant, ancient rocks by night, and during the day it's a free park with easy hiking trails and a visitor center highlighting the famous musicians who have played this one-of-a-kind venue, including The Beatles in 1964 and U2 recording its "Under a Blood Red Sky" album.
SHOPPING BY B-CYCLE
Shoppers should head to Cherry Creek Shopping Center or explore Denver neighborhood shops and boutiques on B-cycles, which are part of the citywide bike-sharing program. Cherry Creek is home to Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and more, and it's only a 10-minute drive from the Colorado Convention Center. (Or, you can take a B-cycle there, too.)
WESTERN HERITAGE
Denver and Colorado are proud of their Western heritage and it remains an important part of the destination's story. From the early days of the Wild West and the Gold Rush to the present-day entrepreneurs, ranchers and farmers, Colorado embraces that authentic Western spirit. Visitors to Denver can shop at Rockmount Ranch Wear where the first snap-button cowboy shirt was invented, and rock stars still shop today. Explore the stories of the past at the History Colorado Center or take a day trip to visit The Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave and the town of Golden where Coors Brewery is located. Post-Fam tours will take delegates throughout the state to experience national parks, outdoor adventures, historic mining towns that have become famous ski destinations and more.
SPORTS TOWN USA
Denver's reputation as Sports Town USA is ever-growing, with year-round professional sports and annual events like the Colorado Classic every August, where cyclists from around the world take on the alpine mountain terrain across the state and race across the finish line for the finale in downtown Denver. In May of 2018, delegates will likely get a chance to see one or more sports teams in action - the Colorado Rockies (baseball), the Colorado Rapids (soccer) or the Denver Outlaws (lacrosse).