Rocky Mountain Mid-Year Program 2010

Learn from the Past,
Prepare for the Future

 
Come visit the Mile High City for an exciting educational program sponsored by the Eye Imaging Experts. The OPS Rocky Mountain Mid-Year Educational Program is scheduled for June 18-19, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Denver. The Crowne Plaza Denver is located at 1450 Glenarm Place in Denver Colorado, right off Interstate-25 and only 26 miles from the Denver International Airport. The hotel is within walking distance of many of Denver's hottest attractions, shopping, and businesses as well as Denver's local transportation bus and rail stations. Visit Denver Pavilions and the 16th Street Mall Shopping District just across the street from the hotel. The 16th Street Mall is a pedestrian promenade lined with 50,000 flowers that runs for more than a mile through the heart of downtown Denver. Shopping, dining and entertainment can be found everywhere you turn.

Fast Facts
Denver really is one mile high. There is a step on the State Capitol Building that is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. In Denver’s rarified air, golf balls go ten percent farther. So do cocktails. Alcoholic drinks pack more of a wallop than at sea level. The sun feels warmer, because you’re closer to it, but your coffee is cooler, because water boils at 202 degrees.

• Denver has an exciting and walkable downtown – the 10th largest in the nation.
• There are 200 named peaks visible from Denver, including 32 that soar to 13,000 feet and above. The mountain panorama visible from Denver is 140 miles long.
• Denver has 300 days of sunshine a year. Denver has a mild, dry and sunny climate with more annual hours of sun than San Diego or Miami Beach.
• Denver has the largest city park system in the nation. Denver has more than 200 parks within the city and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains, including spectacular Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The city has its own buffalo herd and every year plants more than 200,000 flowers in 26 formal flower gardens.
• Denver brews more beer than any other city. Coors Brewery is the world’s largest. Denver’s Great American Beer Festival is the largest in the nation with 1,700 different beers. The Wynkoop Brewing Company is the largest brewpub in America. On an average day, Denver brews more than 80 different beers.

Things to do in and around Denver

• Stop in at one of the city's conveniently located  Visitor Information Centers for info on outdoor recreation, sports and everything else you need to know about Denver.
• You’ll find a vast array of sporting goods stores here, including an REI Flagship Store complete with its own river running chute to test drive a kayak.
• Catch a baseball game. The Colorado Rockies will be playing at Coors Field June 18th, 19th, 20th against the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Take in a show at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Performances of the Mel Brooks Musical, Young Frankenstein will be held June 15-27, 2010 at the Buell Theatre.
• Denver has 2,000 restaurants serving all varieties of cuisine. Area specialties include Southwestern dishes, buffalo, Rocky Mountain trout and Colorado beef. Or you could try some famous Rocky Mountain Oysters.
• Experience the beauty of a collection of live butterflies from around the world at the Butterfly Pavilion, the majesty of a herd of buffalo in their natural habitat at the Bison and Elk Herds, or take a prehistoric journey at Dinosaur Ridge.
• For plant lovers, the Denver Botanic Gardens and The Hudson Gardens and Event Center offer serene gardens and plants from around the world.
• Visit LoDo. LoDo is the affectionate name that Denverites call the Lower Downtown Historic District and mixed-use neighborhood. LoDo, the city's birthplace, is the most exciting, fun, and hip part of the city of Denver!
• Take a Hike! With the nation's largest city park system and 850 miles of urban trails, Denver is perfect for exploring on two feet or two wheels.
• There are dude ranches and fly-fishing for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Whitewater kayaking or rafting whet the appetites of adventure seekers.
• Take in the sights from above on a balloon or helicopter tour, or on the ground with horseback riding or an off-road adventure.
  Enjoy world-class barbecue, pig races and entertainment on Main Street Frisco at the 17th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge June 17-19, 2010 in Frisco Colorado.

The best of the Rockies can be found in Rocky Mountain National Park, with 412 square miles of waterfalls, lakes and high mountain valleys just 70 miles from Denver.

Visit nearby natural and manmade wonders.Garden of the Gods is an unusual geologic formation of brilliant red rocks, located at the base of Pikes Peak an hour from Denver. Royal Gorge, the world’s highest suspension bridge, is two hours from the city. You can walk or drive across the bridge, descend to the bottom of the canyon on the world’s steepest incline railroad, take a train through the canyon, or ride down the rapids in a rubber raft.

Take a road trip though the clouds. Mountain goats are a common sight on the Mount Evans Highway, which climbs to 14,260 feet above sea level, making it the highest paved road in North America.

For a list of local attractions and suggested tour itineraries visit: http://www.denver.org/. Planning your Colorado vacation is even easier with a Free Official State Vacation Guide, Official State Map, Virtual Byway Guide and Colorado eNewsletter. Filled with insider information, fast facts and stunning photos, each free piece is a must-have for both first-time visitors and seasoned travelers.