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msinabottle
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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 Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:31 pm Post subject: Things to Do in Denver when You're Slow |
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Dear friends of the High Altitude Variety, those of you who have not yet entered Cryogenic Suspension during the current cold snap!
I received this note from a fellow Sambanista whom I shall quote, but leave anonymous:
| Quote: |
| I just realized you're in the Denver area. My Daughter lives in Aurora now and my wife and I are there every couple of months to visit. I was wondering what you might suggest as places to go if I'd like to browse for vanagon parts, and or stuff to do. |
And I thought I'd let you all chime in...
I would take my Van to Blazer Automotive and have Larry, Jim and all the Gang go over it with a fine toothed comb...
I would eat a fine meal, then go to Casa Bonita for a long walk through one of the largest and weirdest restaurants in the world. I would eat there lightly.
I would go to Cafe Berlin for wonderful food and Paulaner Optimator, and I would not drive.
I might make a pilgrimage to Painter's Grinding, they are apparently Vanagon-friendly, again.
I would monitor the thread here if there are any Vanagons in the local yards...
It would be worth my while to zip up to Fort Collins on I-25 to visit the Brothers LaBate and have them install some of their wonderful products...
What would others do?
Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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drive thru Tattered Cover and see how many books you can finish before the exit
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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outdoornate65
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2012
Posts: 161
Location: SE burbs of Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Denver and the surrounding area is the "Napa Valley" of beer.
So many great breweries to visit during these pesky cold spells.
Buy a copy of the book Mountain Brew and get busy.
_________________
1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg "Nana" |
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furrylittleotter
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2008
Posts: 1506
Location: West Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:18 am Post subject: |
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Take a leisurely drive to Boulder and partake of some excellent grub at one of their fine cafes….
Take the train to Winter Park…
Drive to Vail…ski Simba for a couple of days..
Soak in the disgusting Sulphur Baths…stinky but everyone should try it once…
Hit the coffeehouses around the College, attempt to engage in stimulating conversation or take in some acoustical jams or readings…
Neil2 |
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Yondermtn
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2007
Posts: 609
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:11 am Post subject: |
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Before or after 1/1/14? 
_________________
1977 Westfalia 2.0FI 4spd
1990 Multivan 2.1 Auto |
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Nimbus'87
Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013
Posts: 125
Location: Murrieta, Ca.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:02 am Post subject: Winner!!! |
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/\ /\ Ding! Ding! Ding! /\ /\ Winner! 
_________________
'87 Wolfram Grey Westy. '92 2.2 Subie, KEP/Calif. Reg. |
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:38 am Post subject: |
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| Yondermtn wrote: |
| Before or after 1/1/14? |
Too funny!
To add to the list, here's some basic touristy stuff:
You could hit the Coors Brewery tour--whether you like Coors or not, it's interesting to see how it's mass-brewed. Plus, Golden is a cool little town to check out and has a couple of good craft breweries. While up that way, head to Lookout Mountain for a view of the city and also see Buffalo Bill's grave.
Take in an Avalanche or Denver University hockey game. (Being from Louisiana, I've had a somewhat bewildered fascination with live hockey since I moved here many years ago.)
Go to Red Rocks, whether there's a show or not. It's also a state park with several hiking trails, and the amphitheater is really cool whether it's empty or full. You could also take your guitars, as my former bandmate and I did, and play a couple of songs on stage for the healthy folks who run the stairs and the smattering of tourists who are always around. Then you can tell all of your friends that you played Red Rocks.
Did I mention that I played Red Rocks?
I'd avoid the 16th St. Mall. I work down here and it's mostly meth zombies, panhandlers, office workers, and tourist traps. Good food, though. Denver is good for steaks, diners, Mexican food primarily.
Buckhorn Exchange is a cool restaurant to check out for local history's sake. It's in a formerly bad/rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood in Denver and has been around since the late 1800's.
If your anonymous friend is fortunate, he'll be in town the next time we have a Vanagon get-together!
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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onwardtothestars
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Hazenville Pass Wyoming
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Things to Do in Denver when You're Slow |
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| msinabottle wrote: |
...
I would go to Cafe Berlin for wonderful food and Paulaner Optimator, and I would not drive...
What would others do?
Best! |
I have not been there in a long time. What a treat it would be
_________________
lots of VW's |
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raoul mitgong
Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2009
Posts: 1338
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:38 am Post subject: |
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I've always wanted to take my van out onto Georgetown Lake. Just 45min up the hill. Not sure if your friend has a syncro or not, but I think it is required for this group.
http://ourgangiceracing.com/
-d |
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msinabottle
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:41 pm Post subject: Hmmm... That COULD be Fun... Not the combustion. |
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I can remember when Pot Metal was a garbage alloy far too many things were made of, including in our vans... Now it's a lifestyle...
I don't even smoke hams. The idea, though, of we Vanagonauts and friends having dinner at Cafe Berlin or some other German restaurant, in Spring, or so, when we could drive our vans thither... appeals.
Here's another one... Sneak into the Tesla show room at the Park Meadows Mall and leave a few sticks of incense burning in hidden places...
Best!
<writing from what was 'Colorful Colorado' and is now... 'The Reefer State.'>
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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Colorado Yeti
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2013
Posts: 356
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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1. Definitely tour the Coors brewery. Beautiful location and the best domestic lager in the U.S.
2. Head south and check out "The Fort" restaurant in Morrison.
3. Go to Red Rocks outside of Morrison and catch the Allman Brothers if you can .....best concert that I have ever attended.
4. If it's the summer, head north towards Boulder and hit the historic Eldorado Springs pool. Been there since 1905.
5. If it's winter, head west in the mountains go skiing then then hit the Glenwood Hot Springs.
6. If you don't mind a road trip, go to Steamboat Springs, drive your van up a tough 2-whel drive road to to Strawberry Park hot springs and stay a night in the sheep herder's wagon right next to the springs. Cheap, beautiful and fun. Clothing optional after dark. |
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Rodknock
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 516
Location: Boulder CO
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:16 am Post subject: |
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| #6 above, that is not a 2wd road in winter, the tow truck guy up there is a millionaire |
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jerrydog411
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2009
Posts: 388
Location: North Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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Go to the Broncos' game tomorrow  |
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joseph928
Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011
Posts: 2114
Location: flagstaff az.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:09 pm Post subject: Denver |
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 Beau Jo's pizza in Denver or better yet go to Bo Jo's in Idaho Springs, cool little town about 30 miles west of Denver. Then come back through Central City nice drive in a Vanagon. Take the old Oh My God road " Virginia Canyon" from Idaho Springs to Central City not the new HWY, what a blast and can do in 2 WD no problem. Then stop in Golden and go to Coors and have a free beer. Then Red Rocks on your way back home. 
_________________
1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug.
Last edited by joseph928 on Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:53 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Colorado Yeti
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2013
Posts: 356
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Regarding Rodknock's comment on the Strawberry Park road (county road 36), he does have a good point.; it's a dicey road. I used to be a tow truck driver in Steamboat., not a millionaire yet. Some make it, some don't......your choice whether you try or not. |
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maryloucb
Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2012
Posts: 204
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| The thought of driving my van up I70 through the Eisenhower tunnel (either direction) gives me nightmares even in the summer But I live on the Western Slope and I70 kind of freaks me out in any vehicle. I guess I'm a wuss |
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