HOTEL
Westin Downtown Hotel: 1672 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80202 https://goo.gl/maps/h7hXBe1gq71q6oi66
PARKING AND TRAVEL FROM AIRPORT
Westin Parking
On-Site Parking — Daily: $35
Valet – Daily: $46
Off-Site Parking — Discounted parking at the Tabor Center is available in the Park Chirp app. .1 Miles
City website on parking: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Parking-Division/Lots-and-Garages
Parking.com: https://tinyurl.com/4x6d3dfw
Airport (DIA) to Downtown
Fast and inexpensive is the RTD Light Rail A Line to Union Station.
BASICS: IN THE AIRPORT: In the airport, walk to RTD Skyride “A” line train. N.B. You walk as if you were going toward the airport Westin (not our Westin but same chain. There’s one in the airport.)
Go out the doors and go down the escalator to the train.
After de-training, you’re very close. You can (a) take the free Mall Ride Bus OR (b) walk ~10 minutes or (c) grab a Lyft/Uber.
MALL BUS: Take the Free Mall Ride Bus https://goo.gl/maps/MLUnozSNWH12PXwZ8
WALKING: to Westin Downtown Hotel https://goo.gl/maps/AqBqM5in899cYKcL6
RTD Train Ticket phone APP: Before you come, get the RTD app buy a ticket. It will be $10.50 — Regional fare.
TRAIN TICKETS: Link to tickets: https://www.rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/mobile-ticketing Also available at kiosks near the train.
SCHEDULE: About every 15 minutes. Here’s a sample schedule for M-TH in direction of downtown: https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/route/A/schedule?day=mondaythursday&direction=westbound&stops=0-7
Covid-19 and Precautions in Denver
SAAP will follow local mandates regarding masking, and recommends that people do what they think is prudent and sensitive to others.
Masks are not mandatory in most businesses. There should be specific signage if masks are mandated.
The Westin Hotel’s Covid information is here: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/denwi-the-westin-denver-downtown/overview/what-to-expect/
OFFICIAL INFORMATION:
Covid-19 Information for Denver is here: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/COVID-19-Information and here https://covid19.colorado.gov/guidance-for-businesses-communities
Free mask resources: https://covid19.colorado.gov/freemasks
Mask advice from CDPHE: https://covid19.colorado.gov/mask-guidance
FOOD, DRINK
Selected Restaurants and Pubs near Hotel and around town
Denver has lots of really good places to eat. This list will get you started.
NOTE: Denver Restaurant Week is concurrent with SAAP this year. This is a special week where many fantastic restaurants have fixed price menus. You need to reserve earlier rather than later. More info is here: https://www.denver.org/denver-restaurant-week/ and menus are here: https://www.denver.org/denver-restaurant-week/restaurant-menus/
BREWERY/COCKTAILS (all have food, too)
Mellow Mushroom
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
The Nickel (in Hotel Teatro)
Wynkoop Brewery
INEXPENSIVE
Brooklyn’s Finest
Illegal Petes (burritos etc.)
Mad Greens Salads (take away mostly)
Modern Market eatery
My Brother’s Bar (a bit of a trek but not that far and a historic place)
Sam’s #3 (breakfast and diner fare)
Snarf’s sandwiches
Snooze (breakfast)
Syrup (breakfast)
The Delectable Egg (breakfast)
What the Pho
MODERATE
D’Corazon (Mexican)
Hapa Sushi
Nola Jane (New Orleans)
Osteria Marco
Rhein Haus (German)
Ted’s Montana Grill (American)
The Celtic
Watercourse Foods (vegetarian and vegan — not walking distance)
MORE EXPENSIVE
Ash’Kara Denver (not walking but wow, is it good)
Avelina
Cholon Asian Fusion
Fruition (not walking but very good)
Panzano (Italian)
Potager (not walking but very good)
Rioja
Tamayo (interior Mexican)
Tavernetta (Italian)
The Kitchen (American)
Venice (Italian)
Water Grill (seafood)
FUN, ART, OUTINGS
Performing Arts
Dazzle Jazz Club (very close by and very, very good)
Denver Performing Arts Center (walking distance; music, opera, theater complex)
Visual Arts
Clyfford Still Museum (take the Mall Ride and walk)
Denver Museum of Art (take the Mall Ride and walk)
Museum of Contemporary Art (walking distance)
Redline Art Gallery (not walking distance but not far; check their schedule)
The Navarre Museum of Western Art (a gem; limited hours)
Other Attractions (** kid friendly/fun)
Close/walking
Brown Palace Hotel (take a look inside!)
Denver Capitol Building (walking distance)
Larimer Square (great shopping; walking distance)
Meow Wolf (an experience)
Union Station (trains and lovely shops, restaurants, gift shops; walking distance)
Further
** Denver Botanic Gardens (some distance; large conservatory!)
** Denver Museum of Nature and Science (some distance)
** Denver Zoo (some distance)
** Downtown Aquarium
** History Colorado Center
** Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (need a car for this)
** Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (some distance)
Tattered Cover Bookstore (some distance)
Even further
Boulder, CO (buses available from Union Station; takes about 1.2 hrs. by bus)
Garden of the Gods (near Colorado Springs; red rocks? They got ‘em.)
Special Note: Venue for Reception for Participants (Thursday night for registered participants)
NOLA Jane: 1435 Market Street Denver, CO 80202
https://goo.gl/maps/qhSAdJBd8AL6gpxh6
(720)-592-1942; nolajanelodo@gmail.com
https://nolajanelodo.com/
Walking directions to reception from hotel: (7 min.): https://goo.gl/maps/DiXb8U55eqGMMdhp8