Denver is a clean, young, and green city with more than 200 parks and dozens of tree-lined boulevards. Contrary to popular belief, Denver is not in the mountains; it is near them. Denver itself is located on high, rolling plains and its architecture reflects the city’s three boom periods: Victorian, when silver was discovered in Leadville; turn of the century, when gold was discovered in Cripple Creek; and contemporary, when the energy boom added 16 skyscrapers to the downtown skyline in a three-year period (1980–1983).

Unlike some Western cities, Denver has a central downtown area. Here, within easy walking distance, are 5,200 hotel rooms, the city’s convention complex, a performing arts complex, and a wide variety of shops, department stores, restaurants, and nightspots. Lower Downtown (called “LoDo” by locals) is on the northern edge of downtown Denver and offers one of the nation’s greatest concentrations of Victorian buildings and warehouses, many of which have been refurbished to house restaurants, art galleries, offices, and shops.

This is the center of the city’s brewpubs, with six large brewpubs and microbreweries, each brewing six to eight exclusive beers, all within easy walking distance of each other. Downtown is also the home of Aurora Campus, where three colleges have more than 30,000 students.

Reprinted, with permission of the publisher, from 50 FABULOUS GAY-FRIENDLY PLACES TO LIVE (www.FabCities.com) © 2005 Gregory A. Kompes. Published by Career Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ. 800-227-3371. All rights reserved.