About the Region

The term 'Denver-Metro region' in our directory includes the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson and Denver. Although Denver is the largest city in the area, other smaller cities include Arvada, Aurora, Broomfield, Castle Rock, Englewood, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Littleton, Northglenn, Parker, Thornton, Westminster and Wheat Ridge.

Denver and the surrounding metro area is a spectacular region offering a comfortably elegant standard of living merged with the close proximity of the Rocky Mountains and all they encompass. As the capital of the state of Colorado, Denver is an urban metropolis located one mile above sea level. The city has a central downtown area, which offers professional sports venues, internationally acclaimed performing arts, elegant art and history museums, exquisite dining, and multifaceted, highly intriguing visitor attractions. Outlaying suburban areas such as Arvada, Aurora, Broomfield, Castle Rock, Englewood, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Littleton, Northglenn, Parker, Thornton, Westminster and Wheat Ridge are within easy access of the innermost portion of Denver through a series of inter-connected highways that encircle the city.

Climate of Denver

The climate of Denver, although frequently unpredictable and rather misunderstood by most, is really rather pleasant. Denver, lying on the east side of the mountains and located on the plains of the state, experiences the benefit of a weather barrier, a winter snow shield that we call the Rocky Mountains. Occasionally a major snow storm will impact the area and leave a significant amount of snow upon metro residents, yet the winters and summers remain mostly dry, averaging 8-15 inches of precipitation a year. Ranging from an average of 69 degrees in the summer to a standard 45-degree day in the winter, the city and suburbs stay mild and arid year-round. Also, Colorado State displays over 300 days of sunshine per year, more annual golden sunbeams than even San Diego California!

History of the Region

The Arapahoe, Cheyenne and Sioux tribes first inhabited the land we have now come to know as Denver, or central Colorado. Living here for hundreds of years, the Native Americans hunted buffalo and lived off the land until the first permanent pioneer colony was established in 1851. In 1859, George A. Jackson discovered gold in modern-day Idaho Springs, a small town approximately 50 miles south of central Denver. In the years ahead, gold was proven to be a hot commodity as mining camps were being formed all around the state. On July 4,1890 the cornerstone of Denver's state capitol was laid and in 1894, Colorado becomes the second state to offer suffrage to women. With a rich history and an even more promising future, Denver has become a brilliantly recognized city possessing many complex treasures open for discovery by residents and tourists alike.

Denver Attractions

Attractions in the city of Denver and surrounding areas are boundless. Encompassing a variety of cultural resources, outdoor recreation, performing arts and museums, and professional sporting events, the Mile High City has a lot to offer. Featured selections in the cultural resources section include the Santa Fe art district just minutes from downtown, Alliance Francaise de Denver and the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council, both mutually focused on encouraged community awareness of the cultural groups they comprise. Performing arts include the Colorado Symphony as well as the Colorado Ballet, among others, and highlighted in the outdoor recreation section are balloon rides, horse parks and America's only ski train located in Winter Park.

More specifically, a handful of educational and entertainment experiences within the Denver metro region include the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado History Museum, Molly Brown House, Byers-Evans House, Denver Zoo, U.S. Mint, The Black American West Museum and Six Flags Elitch Gardens Theme Park. Shopping areas in the downtown area include the 16th Street Mall, Larimer Square, The Shops at Tabor Center and the Denver Pavilions.

The surrounding metro area offers other recreational sites such the Coors Brewery Tours, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Tiny Town, and a large selection of destination malls such as Cherry Creek North, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Flatirons, Park Meadows, and, the newest of the bunch, the Colorado Mills mall. Within the time it takes to travel a leisurely scenic day drive are the cities of Colorado Springs to the south and Boulder to the north. Both of these quirky and unique urban areas offer many interesting day trip destinations.

Transportation

Transportation options in the city of Denver and surrounding areas are immensely convenient and encompassing, options which include the innovative light-rail travel system, carrying passengers from the Littleton area to central downtown Denver on two different light rail lines. RTD bus services in the state of Colorado provide a large number of pick-up and drop-off locations throughout the entire urban and suburban Denver region, comprising over fifty park-n-ride lots in the cities of Highlands Ranch, Thornton and Commerce City, among others. As well as offering various transportation routes and locations, RTD provides skyRide assistance, which shuttles airline passengers to Denver International Airport, or DIA, for free from level five east and west terminals in the DIA parking lot to the terminal entrance doors. DIA also offers charter buses that offer passenger transfers to and from the airport form certain selected destinations.

Senior Services in Denver

Seniors in the Denver area will find a variety of senior options and housing, ranging from independent retirement communities, continuum of care communities, assisted living and Alzheimer's assisted sites. Other senior services include the broad spectrum of home health care and medical services, senior support aid and various specialty-nursing facilitators. Also, located in our local links page is a senior register through the Denver Regional Council of Governments which extensively lists the names and numbers of businesses that tailor specifically to the elderly community including such quality features as employment agencies, vision services and pet care facilities/services, to name a few.

Visit our Local Links web page to learn more about Denver and use our Search Senior Services link to search our database to learn more about the variety of senior housing and support located in the Denver region.

Denver About the Region
MB-December 2005