Denver Layover - 9 Hours

[keefe]

While on Colfax, swing by Casa Bonita.  Its a magical place.

Too funny, Wags!

I have been to the Casa Bonita and it is a trip.

The food is mediocre at best but any place that replicates the Acapulco cliff divers is alright by me. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

This wasn't about snow. I went through the nuke weapons course at Lowry when Pena was mayor and the new airport was a major boondoggle for a number of Pena supporters. Stapleton was perfectly fine and its infrastructure could have been upgraded for a fraction of the cost.

A lot of people made a LOT of money off of the new airport deal. Anyone who thinks this was anything but a way to move public money into private hands is naive.

Yes, there was that.....Pena Blvd, and all.  I remember when it opened how it was going to have this state of the art luggage system to handle skis....it was so bad they had to scrap it.

[keefe]

Yes, there was that.....Pena Blvd, and all.  I remember when it opened how it was going to have this state of the art luggage system to handle skis....it was so bad they had to scrap it.

I remember the vision Pena scripted and heard the feeding frenzy over a massive public works boondoggle. I was long gone when that place finally opened but I recall reading how the baggage system was breaking people's Dynastars.

I have been through in recent times but never with skis. One of the great things about being a rated pilot is we always rented a twin engine Bonanza for ski holidays and avoided the nightmare of public transportation in under half the time and at 20% of the cost. No TSA bullsh1t for this Colonel.

[CreightonWarrior]

I would recommend wandering around the airport to try and find access to the underground bunkers reserved for the Illuminati, the real reason this new airport was built.

You also missed out on a fantastic opportunity to fly into LA and take the Amtrak down the Pacific coast to San Diego.

[rmi210]

Uber just launched there in the last 9 months.  I used it in week 3, it still had some bugs.  I assume by now it is better.

Maybe down south in Parker or Castle Rock this is the case, but Denver was one of the first few rollout cities for Uber.  Launched in September of 2012 here, never have had a single issue.

[Benny B]

Maybe down south in Parker or Castle Rock this is the case, but Denver was one of the first few rollout cities for Uber.  Launched in September of 2012 here, never have had a single issue.

I can also attest that Uber has been in Denver for 2-1/2 years, and I've neither heard nor encountered any problems.

[keefe]

Maybe down south in Parker or Castle Rock this is the case, but Denver was one of the first few rollout cities for Uber.  Launched in September of 2012 here, never have had a single issue.

Well, maybe if Denver had more drunken Taco Bell "execs" or crazy ass medical residents there would be more Uber issues!

[spartan3186]

Stranahan's Distillery is awesome (and free). I'd hit that up, and probably Renegade Brewery and/or Great Divide brewery.

[wadesworld]

Just looking for an update on the light rail in Denver.  It looks like it should be open and there should be a route from the airport into downtown Denver.  From what I hear it sounds like Coors Field is more or less in downtown, with some cool rooftop bars/restaurants with good views near it.  I think the plan is to take BeeJay's advice and catch some of the Rockies vs. Pirates day game, so probably get brunch at one of those places before the game, catch some of the game, and head back to the airport.  Is the light rail pretty easy to use/smooth?

Ideally I would've liked to have been able to get to some kind of national/state park in the mountains for a leisurely hike, but from the research I've done it looks like the airport is a good ways east of downtown, the Rockies are west of downtown, and the light rail more or less ends in downtown Denver, so I'm thinking that's out of the question.

Also, does anyone know if airports have like a locker rental type thing to put carry on luggage in during the 9 hour layover?

Thanks again for all the advice.  Scoop is a wealth of information.

[Eldon]

Just looking for an update on the light rail in Denver.  It looks like it should be open and there should be a route from the airport into downtown Denver.  From what I hear it sounds like Coors Field is more or less in downtown, with some cool rooftop bars/restaurants with good views near it.  I think the plan is to take BeeJay's advice and catch some of the Rockies vs. Pirates day game, so probably get brunch at one of those places before the game, catch some of the game, and head back to the airport.  Is the light rail pretty easy to use/smooth?

Ideally I would've liked to have been able to get to some kind of national/state park in the mountains for a leisurely hike, but from the research I've done it looks like the airport is a good ways east of downtown, the Rockies are west of downtown, and the light rail more or less ends in downtown Denver, so I'm thinking that's out of the question.

Also, does anyone know if airports have like a locker rental type thing to put carry on luggage in during the 9 hour layover?

Thanks again for all the advice.  Scoop is a wealth of information.

Why go into downtown when you are at the most interesting place in the world: Illuminati headquarters

http://mentalfloss.com/article/61740/5-weird-conspiracy-theories-surrounding-denver-international-airport

Ok I'm kidding...kinda.  But seriously though, WTF is up with these murals?









Regarding the lockers, I doubt any airport in the developed world has them for security concerns (I know that Madrid's airport, for instance, got rid of theirs after the Madrid train bombings)

[Benny B]

Just looking for an update on the light rail in Denver.  It looks like it should be open and there should be a route from the airport into downtown Denver.  From what I hear it sounds like Coors Field is more or less in downtown, with some cool rooftop bars/restaurants with good views near it.  I think the plan is to take BeeJay's advice and catch some of the Rockies vs. Pirates day game, so probably get brunch at one of those places before the game, catch some of the game, and head back to the airport.  Is the light rail pretty easy to use/smooth?

Ideally I would've liked to have been able to get to some kind of national/state park in the mountains for a leisurely hike, but from the research I've done it looks like the airport is a good ways east of downtown, the Rockies are west of downtown, and the light rail more or less ends in downtown Denver, so I'm thinking that's out of the question.

Also, does anyone know if airports have like a locker rental type thing to put carry on luggage in during the 9 hour layover?

Thanks again for all the advice.  Scoop is a wealth of information.

Was just in Denver on Monday... light rail is open.  I didn't use it, and it hasn't been open a week, so how smooth?  Who knows.  Although, it is Denver, so one would think it would have to be rather intuitive.

As far as your carry-on goes, I'd suggest packing a backpack instead of a roll-aboard if you can.  There are no lockers at DIA; although there is a typical airport sundries/gift store on the same level as security & baggage claim (500 level) on the east side of the terminal (outside the South security checkpoint) called 'Airport Baggage Center' that I believe has storage services.

Though not recommended, and not sure if you can even do this, you could also ask the gate agent at your point of departure to only check your bag to Denver, and then you could just leave it on the carousel and take your chances with the airline's baggage service or Lost & Found... just make sure you get back to DIA before L&F closes for the day.

[keefe]

Was just in Denver on Monday... light rail is open.  I didn't use it, and it hasn't been open a week, so how smooth?  Who knows.  Although, it is Denver, so one would think it would have to be rather intuitive.

As far as your carry-on goes, I'd suggest packing a backpack instead of a roll-aboard if you can.  There are no lockers at DIA; although there is a typical airport sundries/gift store on the same level as security & baggage claim (500 level) on the east side of the terminal (outside the South security checkpoint) called 'Airport Baggage Center' that I believe has storage services.

Though not recommended, and not sure if you can even do this, you could also ask the gate agent at your point of departure to only check your bag to Denver, and then you could just leave it on the carousel and take your chances with the airline's baggage service or Lost & Found... just make sure you get back to DIA before L&F closes for the day.

If he is spending the day on Colfax he will want his rollaway luggage  with him. Nothing screams "I belong!" better on Colfax than a rollaway bag or shopping cart. I think most of the 'theaters' and head shops can accommodate the man who likes to live lightly.

[rocky_warrior]

Train is good to go.  They tested it 6 months before opening it, so I wouldn't expect any problems.  It's $9/each way - but I think you can buy a regional day pass for the same price, and quick from the airport to downtown.

For baggage - as Benny mentions, the Airport Baggage Center may be option, but call them first - sounds like the service may have been discontinued. 

Union station doesn't have storage either, but Coors Field has a storage option...

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=guide
Claim Check - at Gates
Any permitted item may be claim checked at any one of the five Entry Gates (Gates A, B, C, D and E). All items will be inspected. Gate Staff will provide Guests with claim check tags to recover items upon leaving the ballpark. Select prohibited items may be claim checked at the five Entry Gates. However, all hard-sided coolers and containers, regardless of size, and all bags and containers larger than 16"x 16"x 8" may only be claim checked, after inspection, at the tent located outside Gate E on the Wynkoop Walkway. Guests assume liability for all items left in storage.

[wadesworld]

Was just in Denver on Monday... light rail is open.  I didn't use it, and it hasn't been open a week, so how smooth?  Who knows.  Although, it is Denver, so one would think it would have to be rather intuitive.

As far as your carry-on goes, I'd suggest packing a backpack instead of a roll-aboard if you can.  There are no lockers at DIA; although there is a typical airport sundries/gift store on the same level as security & baggage claim (500 level) on the east side of the terminal (outside the South security checkpoint) called 'Airport Baggage Center' that I believe has storage services.

Though not recommended, and not sure if you can even do this, you could also ask the gate agent at your point of departure to only check your bag to Denver, and then you could just leave it on the carousel and take your chances with the airline's baggage service or Lost & Found... just make sure you get back to DIA before L&F closes for the day.

Train is good to go.  They tested it 6 months before opening it, so I wouldn't expect any problems.  It's $9/each way - but I think you can buy a regional day pass for the same price, and quick from the airport to downtown.

For baggage - as Benny mentions, the Airport Baggage Center may be option, but call them first - sounds like the service may have been discontinued. 

Union station doesn't have storage either, but Coors Field has a storage option...

Awesome, thanks much for all of the information.  Much appreciated.

Until earlier today I forgot that Rick Bridich's (MUHS math teacher) son is the GM of the Rockies.  Had I thought about it earlier I probably should've gotten in contact with Mr. Bridich.  Oh well...

[MUMountin]

Awesome, thanks much for all of the information.  Much appreciated.

Until earlier today I forgot that Rick Bridich's (MUHS math teacher) son is the GM of the Rockies.  Had I thought about it earlier I probably should've gotten in contact with Mr. Bridich.  Oh well...

Sorry I'm coming to this thread a bit late...

The Train to the Plane is indeed now open (it is actually a commuter rail line, not light rail, although that is a commonly held misconception even in Denver).  I took it on Thursday morning on my way to DC for the weekend, and it was a smooth and easy process--the new station at DIA is awesome, feels like something you'd find in a European city.  All told, it took me around 25 mins to get to the airport from the station near my house in NE Denver.

On a few other points--I've never heard anything about the move from Stapleton to DIA had anything to do with snow--if anything, it seems to me that it snows more out at DIA then in the city.  I think it was more about projecting that the city was going to out grow Stapleton, and wanted to build a world-class airport, which it now is with some of the highest volumes of traffic in the US.  And, the redevelopment of the old Stapleton airport has added a ton of housing stock in one of the best "new urbanism" developments in the country (even if it is a little Pleasantville-ish).

Under the current Hancock regime, the city has finally worked it out with the neighboring municipalities to start developing more of the land around Pena Blvd to turn it into an "aerotropolis"--the idea is a self-sufficient sector of the city that can host conferences, events, etc. without people having to go all the way into the city.  With that plus the opening of the rail line, I think you'll see the area along Pena fully developed in the next 10-20 years into some mixed use developments (already a lot of residential in the area, but I think the rail line will also bring some greater density to the area.)