Denver: The Mile High City

by Abigail Knowles Wolfe (BPRW)

Whether it’s hiking and biking, white water rafting and skiing, or simple walks in the beauty that is Mother Nature, Denver, Colorado may be the place to begin your outdoor adventure. With more than 200 parks held within the city limits and thousands of acres of parks in the neighboring mountains, Denver boasts the nation’s largest city park system in the United States. For bike riding enthusiasts, there are also over 800 miles of paved, off-road bike trails within the metro area, the largest bike path network of any urban area in the country. Echo Lake at the base of Mt. Evans, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Buffalo Bill’s Grave are amongst the attractions that draw visitors to this fit and outdoorsy mountain city.

The city and county of Denver, Colorado is one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse in terms of population including a substantial population of African Americans, many of whom settled in the city after the Civil War. African American visitors to the city can visit the Stiles African American Heritage Center or the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library or even the Black American West Museum for a glimpse into African Americans great impact on the American west. Furthermore Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted as a Colorado state holiday prior to becoming a national holiday throughout the rest of the United States.

This diverse and fascinating mile high city is a great vacation spot in the winter or summer! With an elevation of exactly one mile above sea level, this lofty locale is one not to be missed!