Denver is surrounded by natural beauty and is dedicated to preserving its environment by practicing eco-friendly and sustainable development and activities, making it the perfect place for this year's Summit. The city of Denver is nicknamed the "Mile-High City" because its elevation is one mile above sea level. It is the 24th most populous city in the United States. Founded in 1858, Denver miners quickly discovered the gold that stretched endlessly underneath them and became the first gold miners in the country.
Denver experiences 300 days of sun per year, more than Miami and San Diego, and is situated neatly between the Rocky Mountains and the High Plains, giving locals and visitors breathtaking views of rising snowcapped peaks. There are endless possibilities for activities and events, ranging from watching one of the eight sports teams in the city compete, to taking walks and hikes through its beautiful mountains and gardens, and to experiencing one of its many museums, galleries and venues. Denver boasts the longest continuous street in the country, Colfax Avenue, upon which thousands of runners take part in the city's annual marathon.
Because of Denver's abundant supply of nature and beautiful days filled with sunshine, the city has set standards for sustainability with "A Green Denver Top 10". These initiatives aid residents and guests in keeping the planet clean and green and include hosting the "Greenest Democratic National Convention of All Time" in August of 2008; renovating one of the largest and busiest airports in the country, Denver International Airport, to reduce its carbon footprint, use less energy and recycle more than 19 materials on a regular basis; implementing the use of eco-friendly hybrid-electric Toyota Prius' as its taxi service and alternative fuel "Green Fleet" vehicles for city use; and setting the ambitious goal of planting one million new trees in the Denver area by the year 2025 to reduce greenhouse gases, as well as add beauty to its already stunning environment.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm
Ticket prices range from $11 to $25.50 for general public admission.
2001 Colorado Boulevard
Edwin Carter, pioneer and naturalist in Breckenridge in the late 1800s, felt a strong love toward the birds and mammals of the Rocky Mountains. In 1868, Carter decided to show his devotion to these creatures by displaying them in his log cabin home. By 1908, his collection and his admirers had grown so much that a new building in Denver's City Park was built and opened to the public. Over the years since its inception, the museum adopted the name "Denver Museum of Nature and Science" and saw the additions of an auditorium currently awaiting LEED certification, a planetarium, an IMAX theater, an atrium and a sky terrace. The Museum initiated being green with their "Better Denver" funding project which enabled them to make such changes as running on solar energy, remodeling with low-emitting recycled materials such as the 4,000 pounds of crushed beer bottles that make up the auditorium floor, and redesigning projects and areas to consume less power.
For more information, call 303.370.6000 or visit www.dmns.org
Denver Zoo
Open daily 9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday, October 13 is a FREE-ADMISSION DAY
Admission prices range from $7 to $12
2300 Steele Street
In 1896, Denver's mayor received an orphaned black bear named Billy Bryan as a gift. Since that time, the Denver Zoo has grown to cover 80 acres and established itself as an excellent and innovative place for humans to understand the animals that roam the planet. The Denver Zoo is ranked fourth in the nation in number of visitors and was the first to install an environmentally friendly natural gas-powered train. The zoo holds over 3,500 exotic, rare and endangered animals in naturalistic habitats, representing more than 650 species.
For more information, call 303.376.4800 or visit www.denverzoo.org
7th Annual Denver Indigenous Film and Arts Festival
October 12-17, 2010
Event details not yet available. Visit www.iiirm.org.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm
Admission prices range from $9 to $12.50
1007 York Street
Denver Botanic Gardens offers a variety of sights and smells through themed garden strolls, hikes, classes and events. The Gardens recognizes the effects of the changing environment on nature and has established conservation efforts to aid against threats to floral biodiversity such as climate change and habitat degradation. The "Green Team" at the Gardens works to constantly implement earth-friendly practices, both indoors and out, to maintain their core value of sustainability through leading by example.
For more information, call 720.865.3713 or visit www.botanicgardens.org.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Visitors Center
Open daily from 5:00am - 11:00pm
Admission is free
18300 W. Alameda Parkway
Red Rocks was built exclusively by Mother Nature 250 million years ago and was once listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It now serves as an all-natural open-air park and Amphitheatre and hosts a museum and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame where guests can revisit the multitude of musical artists that have graced its sandstone stage, including the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. Guests may also hike and take guided tours through the towering rocks to witness evidence of dinosaur fossils and extinct plants and animals over millions of years old.
For more information, call 720.865.2494 or visit www.redrocksonline.com.
