Denver is an extremely diverse city that has a lot to offer residents and visitors. Also called the Mile High City, Denver is the capital of Colorado and is known for its incredible outdoor activities, delicious food, and active nightlife. As the 10th largest town in America that experiences more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s easy to see why people from all over the country are moving to this magnificent city.
It Is Known As The “Napa Valley Of Beer”
If you love sipping on a light wheat beer or a dark porter, you’ll be happy to know that Denver is known as the Napa Valley of beer. The state of Colorado is home to approximately 230 different breweries and the number continues to grow. A majority of these establishments can be found in Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver; however, the Coors Brewery in Golden is the largest brewery in the state (and world!).
If you plan on visiting Denver in the near future, it’s important to remember that the altitude can have a tremendous effect on your beer drinking abilities. Due to the high altitude, each drink will be almost twice as powerful than if you were to sip at sea level.
Denver Wasn’t Originally Called “Denver”
Denver has a long-winded history, but the city first came to life as a gold mining town during the Gold Rush. As the city continued to expand, many different names were thrown around before “Denver” made the top of the list. The three city names that were contemplated were Montana City, Auraria, and St. Charles.
A Little About The Denver International Airport (DIA)
The Denver International Airport, also called DIA, is 53 square miles of runways, terminals, and important people who need to go places. When you drive to the airport, you are initially greeted by a huge mustang sculpture with bright red eyes named “Blucifer.” As legend has it, this hard-to-miss sculpture is rumored to be cursed. The creator of the masterpiece, Louis Jimenez, was actually killed during the construction of the mustang when a piece of the statue fell on his leg and severed an artery.
The City Turned Down Hosting The Winter Olympics
Did you know that Denver is the only city in history to turn down a chance to host the Winter Olympics? In 1976, Denver was offered the invitation; however, the city politely declined due to concerns regarding overpopulation.
A few other fun facts about Denver include:
- Led Zeppelin played their first American show at the Denver Auditorium Arena in 1968.
- Colfax Avenue is America’s longest continuous street.
- The very first structure in the Mile High City was a saloon.
If you’re planning a trip and flying out of the Denver International Airport, be sure to park your vehicle at ParkDIA. Our airport parking facility is the closest, fastest, and least expensive lot near DIA. Check out our parking rates and options online or download our mobile app to reserve your airport parking space today.
