Rocky Mountain High

Featuring North America’s Leading Travel Destinations

Rocky Mountain High Purple Mountain Majesty of Colorado Springs Things to Know About Denver 75th Anniversary of Shenandoah National Park

Watch or order our video. Email Dawn or call 845-463-5444.

Click on sites below for group tour info.

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Clarion Hotel:

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Byways Instant Connect Direct one-click digital links to our Advertisers

Watch or order our video. Email Dawn or call 845-463-5444.

Click on sites below for group tour info.

Find your

adventure

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Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome - Vintage g Air Shows:

Walkway y Over the Hudson:

g Hudson Valley: y Gigi

y y Marriott - 2 locations: Courtyard by

p Hampton Inn & Suites:

Empire p Cruise Lines:

Historic Rhinebeck:

g p Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel:

There is a place where the road is one with nature, and travelers are relaxed and inspired. Where scenery and sightseeing and history and heritage blend into unforgettable multi-day excursions.

We call this Rocky Mountain oasis Colorado Springs. You’ll call it the journey of a lifetime. Let us help you create amazing itineraries at 800.888.4748, ext. 129.

Staatsburgh g State Historic Site:

Dutchess County y Fairgrounds: Fairg

Clarion Hotel:

Cosimo’s Restaurant:

Clermont State Historic Site:

Hotel Sierra:

y Tours: Hudson River Valley

The Rhinecliff:

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Find your destination at VisitCOS.com/tours

The Secret for a Successful Group p Tour is Simple: The Right Activities.

The Right Amenities.

The Right Destination.

The Blue Ridge Parkway & The “Peaks of Otter”

The National D-Day Memorial

Smith Mountain Lake With 500 Miles of Shoreline

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

The Bedford Wine Trail Festivals & Antiquing With Five Wineries Historic Centertown Bedford

Most of all—The Right Partner!

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CUSTOMIZED GROUP ITINERARY: CALL TOLL FREE 1-877-447-3257 AND VISIT: www.VisitBedford.com

New River

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EXCURSIONS EXCURSIONS Since 1966

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PREVIEW

By Steve Kirchner, Editor & Publisher

W

elcome to the latest issue of Byways Magazine.

We believe that we have some of the most breathtaking photography in this issue that we’ve ever published in Byways. And that reflects the issue theme, Rocky Mountain High, and a special feature on the 75th Anniversary of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

It’s said that a photo is worth a thousand words, and we agree. So we’ve let the photograpy do the talking in much of this issue, and we think it does a splendid job throughout the publication.

We begin with a visit to Shenandoah National Park.

It was 75 years ago that President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park, and there’s a reason it attracts more than one million visitors a year. Only barely over an hour’s drive from the nation’s capital in Washington, DC, you’ll see from the photos the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains and the amazing views of the Shenandoah Valley.

Rocky Mountain High is the main theme for this issue, and we begin with the Purple Mountains Majesty

Colorado Balloon Festival, Colorado Springs Courtesy VisitCOS.com 4 • Byways

of Colorado Springs. Sitting beneath 14,115 ft. Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs is centrally located and offers more than 60 attractions. You can experience interests ranging from trains, historical places, adventure, natural

Moon over the Rockies.

Courtesy Colorado Tourism

beauty and the Old West.

The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles from British Columbia in Canada to New Mexico. The highest peak in the range is Mount Elbert located in Colorado at 14,440 feet above sea level.

Rocky Mountain National Park features stunning mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments. Incredibly, the 265,770 acre park contains over 60 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet.

There are so many interesting facts to know about Denver. It’s Colorado’s Capital City. It has more than 300 days of sunshine a year. It’s near the Rockies, but not in them. It’s a Mile High. And it brews more beer than any other city! There’s more, but you’ll need to read the article to learn why there’s so much to know about Denver.

The Rocky Mountain adventures end in Gunniston County, where it’s Colorado Pure and Simple. Located in southwest Colorado, winter sports enthusiasts know the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. But there’s plenty to do in warmer months as well. Crested Butte is recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado.”

In What’s Happening, the focus is on the 35th Anniversary of the Smithsonion’s Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Following its opening to celebrate America’s Bicentennial in 1976, and featuring such icons of flight as the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, Friendship 7 and the Apollo 11 command module -- it quickly became the most popular museum in the world.

Ziplines have become popular all over the world, and provide a new form of summer diversion for many adventurers.

But there’s never been one underground. Until now.

Louisville’s Mega Caverns has launched the world’s first underground zipline, and the two-hour adventure allows

you to zip as high as 70 feet above the caverns floor, with much of the adventure in total darkness!

We also visit Branson, Missouri, for the latest in entertainment aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. The paddle wheeler’s all new show, Encore! is earning rave reviews from guests enjoying the Showboat experience.

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Southern Kitchen Home Cooking Since 1955 Close to Bryce Resort, Shenandoah Caverns & New Market Battlefield New Market, Virginia I-81 Exit 254

Steaks • Seafood • Chicken • Breakfast 540-740-3514 9576 S. Congress Street Open 7 Days a Week 7 am - 9 pm Come by and meet your hosts, Randy & Rebecca Newland

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Volume 28, Issue No. 4, 2011 On the cover. Over 2 million visitors make their way to Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak each year, just a few of the wonders Colorado Springs has to offer. To learn more about Colorado and Rocky Mountain High, turn to page 19.

Features Shenandoah National Park’s 75 Anniversary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Purple Mountain Majesty of Colorado Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Rocky Mountain High. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Rocky Mountain National Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Things to Know About Denver, The Rockies Mile High City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Gunniston County -- Colorado Pure & Simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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What’s Happening Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum Turns 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Zipping Under Louisville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Encore! Hits High Marks Aboard Showboat Branson Belle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Coming in future issues of Byways…

Great American Roads, Dutchess, Heart of the Hudson Valley, Mystic Seaport and New England. The Top Group Tour Destinations of 2012, Riding the Rails, The Southern States, and The Old West are some of the highlights of upcoming issues of Byways Magazine Below, Historic Route 11 in New Market, VA. Right, Whaleship Charles W. Morgan, Mystic Seaport, CT.

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Photos courtesy ARAMARK Parks and Destinations 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Byways

Shenandoah National Park Celebrates 75th Anniversary

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Leaves turning with the approach of Fall.

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How to Make the Most Out of Your Group Visit to Shenandoah National Park

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n a beautiful summer day in 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Shenandoah National Park, providing residents living in fast-growing Mid-Atlantic cities and citizens across the nation a place of natural refuge.

Today, over a million local and international visitors flock to Shenandoah every year as a retreat from city life, or to get back to a simpler time. Skyland Resort and the picturesque Big Meadows Lodge are the only inpark accommodations providing group friendly lodging, dining and touring opportunities.

From senior organizations, to student tours to family reunions to smaller groups of friends planning a vacation, Shenandoah has plenty of activities that are sure to create long-lasting memories for your group.

Suggested themed itineraries are conveniently highlighted below: Shenandoah Valley & Blue Ridge Views 3 Days / 2 Nights Groups will discover Shenandoah’s unique history with a step-on guide inside the park, explore the underground beauty at Luray Caverns, visit the historic homes

of Monticello and Ash Lawn-Highland, discover the Shenandoah Valley’s story at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and savor delicious foods of the region.

Explore Shenandoah 3 Days / 2 Nights This trip is tailored to the more active group and features a Shenandoah Scavenger Hike, a leisurely 1-hour guided horseback ride and a vigorous day of hiking to a waterfall or mountain summit with the Shenandoah Mountain Guides.

Skyline Drive

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Skyline Drive winds through the expanse of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

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Shenandoah National Park is renowned for Fall Foliage.

All About Kids 3 Days / 2 Nights Kids are the future of our national parks and this itinerary is all about experiencing Shenandoah through hands-on programs. Little Stony Man cliffs provides an unforgettable environment for rock climbing and rappelling with all gear provided. And the Park Serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Junior Ranger Program unlocks the mysteries of the park

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Big Meadows Lodge

through fun and educational activities.

This year make history by bringing your group to Shenandoah during its 75th Anniversary. Take advantage of these programs while experiencing unique events designed to mark this monumental milestone. For group information and a schedule of events visit www.visitshenandoah.com or call the Group Sales Office at 800-7782871, Opt. 2.

p Tour is Simple: The Secret for a Successful Group The Right Activities.

The Right Amenities.

The Right Destination.

The Blue Ridge Parkway & The “Peaks of Otter”

The National D-Day Memorial

Smith Mountain Lake With 500 Miles of Shoreline

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

The Bedford Wine Trail Festivals & Antiquing With Five Wineries Historic Centertown Bedford

Most of all—The Right Partner!

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CUSTOMIZED GROUP ITINERARY: CALL TOLL FREE 1-877-447-3257 AND VISIT: www.VisitBedford.com

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New River

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EXCURSIONS EXCURSIONS Since 1966

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The Purple Mountain Majesty of Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak, also known as America’s Mountain, was the inspiration for Katharine Lee Bates while penning “America the Beautiful”.

Photo courtesy VisitCOS.com Byways • 19

14,115 foot Pikes Peak towers over Colorado Springs. n 1869, General William Jackson Palmer, a Civil Museum and General Palmer’s home, Glen Eyrie Castle.

War hero from Pennsylvania, first came to Colorado Another natural wonder that inspired General Palmer Springs, CO and described its “most enticing scenery.” to create the town was the beauty of Garden of the Gods He predicted that there would soon be a great resort Park. This city park, recognized as a National Natural town at the base of Pikes Peak, America’s Mountain. In Landmark, is world famous and attracts millions of visi1871, the Victorian spa resort town Palmer envisioned tors each year.

Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City are the area’s became a reality.

Centrally located in the United States, Colorado two Historic Districts. The town of Manitou Springs sits Springs and the Pikes Peak region is easily reached from right at the foothills of Pikes Peak. Residents and visitors anywhere in the nation. Colorado Springs is the state’s second-largest city located just 70 miles south of Denver. The area serves as the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is America’s only mountain zoo and is also home to the largest reticulated giraffe perfect “home base,” offering more than 60 herd in the country. Photo courtesy VisitCOS.com attractions and activities. Groups can experience interests ranging from trains, historical places, adventure, natural beauty and the Old West.

Among the many attractions, some of the most famous include the United States Air Force Academy, United Olympic Training Center, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Seven Falls and Cave of the Winds.

Some area gems include the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, McAllister House 20 • Byways

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today enjoy the waters from ten restored mineral springs.

Manitou Springs offers visitors historic architecture, shopping and dining. Old Colorado City is the oldest city in the area. Established in 1859, it was once designated as the first capital of the Colorado Territory.

Today, visitors find unique shopping, restaurants and even horse-drawn carriage rides through the town.

The Pikes Peak region’s many wonderful events take place throughout the year. One of the largest annual events is the Colorado Balloon Classic held every Labor Day weekend. The largest air show in the state draws over 100 balloons and over 100,000 people with events

all weekend long. The Balloon Classic is also consistently named among the American Bus Association’s “100 Top Events in North America.”

Colorado Springs is perfect for a Hub-and-Spoke itinerary. After enjoying local attractions, visitors can travel west to the towns of Cripple Creek and Victor for a taste of what the Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush was like.

The region is home to 13,900 guest rooms that offer a wide selection of affordable properties. The weather is mild with plenty of sunshine, more than 300 days a year.

An opportunity to hike, bike, fish and explore is never far away.

The beauty of Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs.

Photo courtesy VisitCOS.com

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Pikes Peak viewed from Palmer Park in Colorado Springs.

All attractions have group rates, and it is recommended to call ahead to arrange tours and activities. The Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau is a great resource for itineraries as well as suggestions for step-on guides. Click on VisitCOS.com for more information or call Betty Jo Cardona at 800-888-4748 ext.

129.

view from the summit of the region’s most iconic landmark, 14,115 foot Pikes Peak.

Pikes Peak, also known as America’s Mountain, is visited by thousands who ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway (the highest Cog in the world), drive the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway or hike 12.6-mile Barr Trail to the summit. Patrons are encouraged to be sure and taste a fresh, warm donut from the Summit House. These high altitude sweets were even featured on The Food Network.

The mountain is also famous for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second oldest car race since the Indianapolis 500, as well as the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon each year.

Military Presence

Colorado Springs is well known for being home to the United States Air Force Academy. Each May the presence is especially well known when the Thunderbirds are heard roaring through the sky to celebrate the Cadets commencement.

The area is also home to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), located inside Cheyenne Mountain. The Olympic Complex, Pikes Peak -former home of ENT Air Force Base and the headquarAmerica’s Mountain ters of the North American Defense Command officialIn the summer of 1893, while a visiting professor at ly became USOC administrative headquarters in July Colorado College, Katharine Lee Bates began her 1978. The region has a total of six military installations. famous poem “America the Beautiful,” inspired by the Colorado Springs is home to the United States Air Force Academy, and the campus is open to the public and visitors.

Photo courtesy VisitCOS.com

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Find your

adventure

There is a place where the road is one with nature, and travelers are relaxed and inspired. Where scenery and sightseeing and history and heritage blend into unforgettable multi-day excursions.

We call this Rocky Mountain oasis Colorado Springs. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll call it the journey of a lifetime. Let us help you create amazing itineraries at 800.888.4748, ext. 129.

Find your destination at VisitCOS.com/tours

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Serrated Rocky Mountain peaks near Telluride, Colorado.

Photo by Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group/Colorado Tourism

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Horses graze beneath a Rocky Mountain view in a field near Fairplay, Colorado.

Photo by Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group/Colorado Tourism.

T

he Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. The range’s highest peak is Mount Elbert located in Colorado at 14,440 feet above sea level.

Much of the mountain range is protected by public parks and forest lands, and is a popular tourist destination, especially for hiking, camping, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, skiing, and snowboarding.

The United States definition of the Rockies includes the Cabinet and Salish Mountains of Idaho and Montana. The Rockies vary in width from 70 to 300 miles.

The eastern edge of the Rockies rises dramatically above the Interior Plains of central North America, including the Front Range of Colorado, the Wind River Range and Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, the Absaroka-Beartooth ranges and Rocky Mountain Front of Montana, and the Clark Range of Alberta.

The western edge of the Rockies includes ranges such as the Wasatch near Salt Lake City and the Bitterroots along the Idaho-Montana border.

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The Continental Divide is located in the Rocky Mountains and designates the line at which waters flow either to the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. Triple Divide Peak (8,020 feet) in Glacier National Park (U.S.) is so named because water that falls on the mountain reaches not only the Atlantic and Pacific, but Hudson Bay as well. Farther north in Alberta, the Athabasca and other rivers feed the basin of the Mackenzie River, which has its outlet on the Beaufort Sea of the Arctic Ocean.

Thousands passed through the Rocky Mountains on the Oregon Trail beginning in 1842. The Mormons began to settle near the Great Salt Lake in 1847. From 1859 to 1864, gold was discovered in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, sparking several gold rushes bringing thousands of prospectors and miners to explore every mountain and canyon and to create the Rocky Mountains’ first major industry. The Idaho gold rush alone produced more gold than the California and Alaska gold rushes combined and was important in the financing of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, and Yellowstone National Park was established as the

One of the first trees in fall to change in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Photo by Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group/Colorado Tourism world’s first national park in 1872. A transcontinental National Park. Economic development began to center railroad in Canada was originally promised in 1871, but on mining, forestry, agriculture, and recreation, as well was not completed until 1885 due to political reasons, as on the service industries that support them. but was eventually built via the Kicking Horse Pass and Rogers Pass after consideration of a number of other routes.

Thanks to the vision of the railway’s promoters, vast areas of the Canadian Rockies were set aside as Jasper, Glacier (BC), Banff and Yoho National Parks, laying the foundation for a tourism industry which thrives to this day.

Glacier National Park (MT) was established with a similar relationship to tourism promotions by the Northern Pacific Railroad.

While settlers filled the valleys and mining towns, conservation and preservation ethics began to take hold. U.S. President Harrison established several forest reserves in the Rocky Mountains in 1891–1892. In 1905, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt extended the Medicine Bow Forest Reserve to include the Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake area now managed as Rocky Mountain in Canada’s Banff National Park.

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Saint Mary Lake is the second largest lake in Glacier National Park in Montana, after Lake McDonald.

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ocky Mountain National Park is located in the you to the Arctic Circle ecologically; yet youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re only 2 north-central region of Colorado. It features pic- hours from Denver.

The park has five visitor centers. The park headquarturesque mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments -- from wooded ters, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, is a National forests to mountain tundra -- and easy access to back- Historic Landmark, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West. country trails and campsites.

The park is located northwest of Boulder, Colorado, in the Resident elk in Rock Mountain National Park. Photo By Rockies, and includes the Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group/Colorado Tourism Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River.

Ancient upheavals, volcanic eruptions and glacial scouring cut and carved great diversity and incredible beauty into this multifaceted gem. Rocky Mountain National Park is fittingly set midst Roosevelt and Arapaho National Forests and Colorado State Forest.

The altitude from 7,500 to 14,259 feet slices through montane, sub-alpine and alpine zones.

A drive up Trail Ridge Road takes

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Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses approximately 265,770 acres of land in Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northern Front Range. The park is split by the Continental Divide, which gives the eastern and western portions of the park a different character. The east side of the park tends to be drier, with heavily glaciated peaks and cirques. The west side of the park is wetter and more lush, with deep forests dominating the landscape.

The park contains 359 miles of trails, 150 lakes, and 450 miles of streams. There are over 60 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet, and over one fourth of the park

resides above tree line. The highest point of the park is Longs Peak, which rises to 14,259 feet above sea level.

The park is dominated by Longs Peak, which is visible from many vantage points. Each year thousands of people attempt to scale it. The easiest route is the Keyhole Route, impassable to regular hikers in all but the hottest summer months due to snow and ice. This eight-mile one-way climb has an elevation gain of 4,850 ft. The vast east face, including the area known as The Diamond, is home to many classic big wall rock climbing routes.

Sunset over the mountains of the Front Range in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Flags wave in the wind on the Capitol Building in Denver as people walk the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall.

Photo by Matt Inden/Weaver Multimedia Group/Colorado Tourism 32 â&#x20AC;˘ Byways

Things to Know About Denver, The Rockies Mile High City Denver has 300 days of annual sunshine. ocated east of a major mountain range, Denver has a mild, dry and sunny climate with more annual hours of sun than San Diego or Miami Beach. In winter, Denver is dryer than Phoenix with an average daily high of 45 degrees in February. Golf courses remain open all year and have been played as many as 30 days in January. Denver receives only 14 inches of precipitation a year -- about the same as Los Angeles.

like the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Covering four square blocks, the complex is the second largest in the country, with 10 theatres seating more than 10,000 people for opera, symphony, ballet, Tony Award-winning theatre and touring Broadway shows. The $92-million Ellie Caulkins Opera House is recognized as one of the finest acoustical venues in the world and Denver voters recently approved a $90 million refurbishing of Boettcher Concert Hall.

Denver has currently added art museums including the Denver Art Museum’s astonishing new Hamilton Denver’s arts and cultural scene is thriving.

In its Old West days, Denver had a performance of Building, designed by world famous architect Daniel Macbeth before it had a school or a hospital. That per- Libeskind, and the new Museum of Contemporary Art formance took place in a saloon. Today, Metro Denver designed by David Adjaye. This is his first building in collects more for the arts on a per capita basis than any the United States. other city. The seven county Denver metro area has a self-imposed 10th of a cent sales tax for the arts that rais- Denver is near the mountains, not in them. es more than $40 million a year, which is distributed to Denver is located on high rolling plains, 12 miles east 300 arts organizations and facilities. of the “foothills,” a series of gentle mountains that climb The city’s cultural renaissance can be found in places to 11,000 feet. Just beyond is the “Front Range of the

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Golfers at City Park with Denver skyline and Rocky Mountains in the background.

Photo credit Steve Crecelius, courtesy VISIT DENVER

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Fans of the Colorado Rockies cheer on their local baseball team at Coors Field.

Photo credit Rich Grant, courtesy VISIT DENVER Rocky Mountains,” a series of formidable snowcapped peaks that rise to 14,000 feet. Denver might not be in the mountains, but the mountains still dominate the city. The picturesque mountain panorama from Denver is 140 miles long. There are 200 visible named peaks including 32 that soar to 13,000 feet and above. State law prohibits building any structure that would block the view from the Colorado State Capitol. Penetrating the mountains west of Denver required building the highest auto tunnel in the world (Eisenhower Tunnel) and the sixth longest railroad tunnel in the country (Moffat Tunnel).

camps of Arapaho and Cheyenne Native Americans.

Just 30 years later, Colorado was a state with a population of almost 200,000. It was a Gold Rush that caused this boom and in a 30 to 40 year period, Denver saw some of the wildest events in the “Wild West.” This fascinating period is brought to life at museums, old gold mining towns and in hundreds of elegant Victorian buildings. LoDo, a 26-square block historic district, has the largest concentration of Victorian and turn-of-thecentury buildings in the country. Today, LoDo is home to 90 brewpubs, jazz cafes, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs.

Denver loves its sports.

Denver is a city of many colors and Denver is one of only two cities (Philadelphia is the cultures. other) to have seven professional sports teams: NFL Denver grew by 30 percent in the 1990s -- an average Denver Broncos; NBA Denver Nuggets; NHL Colorado of 1,000 new residents a week, every week for 10 years. Avalanche; MLB Colorado Rockies; MLS Colorado In this period, the Hispanic population in Colorado increased by 73 percent. Today, 32 percent of the City of Denver is of Diners mingle with pedestrians on Hispanic and Latino descent and 11 the 16th Street Mall. Photo by Steve percent are African American.

Crecelius, courtesy VISIT DENVER Denver’s diversity is celebrated at numerous festivals and events including the nation’s largest Cinco de Mayo celebration and the largest Martin Luther King Jr. march and rally, referred by the locals as a “marade”. Denver has a population of 594,740, while there are 2.7 million people in the metro area.

Denver’s history is short, but colorful.

In 1858, there was not a single person living in the Denver metro area except for some migrating 34 • Byways

Rapids; MLL Colorado Outlaws; and NLL Colorado Mammoth. The Colorado Rockies have 11 Major League Baseball attendance records, while the Denver Broncos have sold out every game for more than 20 years. Denver also hosts one of the world’s largest rodeos, the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.

Denver is the only city to build three new sports stadiums in the 1990s: 50,000-seat Coors Field; 75,000-seat INVESCO Field at Mile High and 20,000-seat Pepsi Center.

The Mile High City is also extremely dry, so it is a good idea to drink more water than usual. With less water vapor in the air at this altitude, the sky really is bluer in Colorado.

Denver has the 10th largest downtown in the United States.

Unlike some Western cities, Denver has a definitive, exciting and walkable downtown, the 10th largest in the nation. Within just a one mile radius, there are three sports stadiums, the country’s second largest performing Denver brews more beer than any arts complex, an assortment of art and history museums, other city. a mint producing 10 billion coins a year, a river offering The first building in Denver was a saloon, so it’s natu- whitewater rafting, the country’s only downtown amuseral that Denver would become a great beer town. Coors ment park, a new world-class aquarium, more than 8,000 Brewery is the world’s largest. Denver’s Great American hotel rooms and more than 300 restaurants, brewpubs Beer Festival is the largest in the nation, with more than and music clubs.

1,900 different beers. The Wynkoop Brewing Company is one of the largest brewpubs in the country. On an Denver has the largest city park system average day, Denver brews more than 80 different beers.

Why is Denver the “Napa Valley of Beer”? Well, just as in the country.

Denver has more than 200 parks within the city and the water tumbling down from the Scottish Highlands 14,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains, including has made Scotland a renowned center for whiskey, the spectacular Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The city has its great taste of Rocky Mountain spring water provides a own buffalo herd located in the mountains with a key basic ingredient for the city’s booming beer brewing panoramic view.

Other mountain parks include Echo industry.

Lake, at the base of the Mount Evans highwaywhich is the highest road in North America, and Buffalo Bill’s Denver - The Mile High City, really is Grave on top of Lookout Mountain. Denver plants exactly one mile high. more than 200,000 flowers in 26 formal flower gardens By an amazing stroke of good luck, the 13th step on every spring. There are more than 800 miles of off-street the west side of the State Capitol Building is exactly bike paths, 90 golf courses and one of the nation’s largest 5,280 feet above sea level -- one mile high. In Denver’s urban trail systems. Due to all of these recreational rarified air, golf balls go 10 percent farther. So do cock- opportunities, a federal study found that Denver has the tails. Alcoholic drinks pack more of a punch than at sea thinnest residents of any major U.S. city. level. The sun feels warmer, because you are closer to it and there is 25 percent less protection from the sun, so To learn more about Denver, visit www.denver.org. sunscreen is a must.

The exterior of the Hamilton Building of the Denver Art Museum at sunset.

Photo credit Jeff Wells, courtesy VISIT DENVER Byways • 35

Snow Cat skiing at Irwin Photo by C.S. Irwin

Gunnison County -Colorado Pure & Simple unnison County is nestled among almost two Curecanti National Recreation Area, which includes million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water.

Colorado. Winter sports enthusiasts know the Gunnison also is a launching point for Black Canyon of Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley for its world-class alpine the Gunnison National Park.

Crested Butte, recognized as the “Official Wildflower skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature and Resort along with snow cat skiing, snowmobiling, crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and ice fish- one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2008, is 28 miles ing.

In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recre- north of Gunnison. The Crested Butte Mountain ational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame are biking, boating, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, camping, conveniently based in one location and tell the story of horseback riding and leaf peeping. Distinctive restau- this colorful and free-spirited town’s rich mining, ranchrants, unique shops and numerous athletic competitions, festivals and concerts also are the county’s hallmark. Lodging options range from rustic inns and guest cabins to bed-and-breakfasts and full-service resort hotels.

Gunnison, the county seat and a town of nearly 6,000, has an authentic Western feel and is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum, and Western State College. Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreational Center Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days is Colorado’s oldest rodeo. west of town is a year-round center Photo courtesy Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association for fun along with the nearby 36 • Byways

G

ing, biking and skiing heritage.

Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area and outstanding hiking and biking trails. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Crested Butte Mountain Resort offers tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating, bungee trampolines, zip lines and sleigh ride dinners. Summer and fall transition CBMR into a mecca for biking, ziplining, miniature golf, outdoor concerts and more.

In the far northwest corner of Gunnison County, located in the Upper Crystal River Valley, is majestic Marble, location of seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and home to the famous Yule Marble Quarry. Marble is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country.

Gunnison County also includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Powderhorn and Almont and is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

For a calendar of events, lodging packages, trail descriptions and more, call 800-814-8893 or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com.

Wildflowers in Crested Butte area.

Photo by Jan Runge/Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association

Fall scenic views Photo courtesy Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association Byways â&#x20AC;˘ 37

Anniversary banner in the Milestones of Flight gallery, between a Sputnik replica and the real Spirit of St. Louis.

Photo Credit: Mark Avino Copyright: Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Turns 35

I

t was July 1, 1976, 35 years ago, as a highlight of the American Bicentennial, that the National Air and Space Museum welcomed the first visitors to its new building on the National Mall in Washington.

Home to such icons of flight as the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, Friendship 7 and the Apollo 11 command module -- it quickly became the most popular museum in the world. As of May, the museum has welcomed 303,674,128 million visitors to its two buildings.

was shown at 1976 prices: 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. Curators Michael Neufeld and Alex Spencer discussed their book, “Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: An Autobiography,” which tells the story of the museum and its historic collection from its earliest days to the present.

To recognize the anniversary, the museum has created the website “Celebrating 35 Years of Memories at the National Air and Space Museum.” The site includes congratulatory messages from well-wishers, from Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut and first director of the museum, to Elmo of

g n i n e p p a H s ’ t Wha

In 2003, the Air and Space Museum expanded to Northern Virginia with the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, now the most popular museum site in the commonwealth.

The museum celebrated its 35th anniversary at the flagship building in Washington, Friday, July 1. The popular Imax movie that premiered on opening day, To Fly! 38 • Byways

Sesame Street fame. Members of the public can post their own memories of the museum.

The museum was first envisioned when the National Air Museum was created as a separate bureau of the Smithsonian. Public Law 722 was signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. Previously, the Smithsonian’s aeronautics collection had been part of the Smithsonian’s Department of Arts and Industries, but the collection had grown rapidly with World War II aircraft, and it was decided that the brief but imposing his-

V-2 missile on display in the Space Race gallery at the National Mall building.

Photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Credit: Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum.

Copyright: Smithsonian Institution Byways â&#x20AC;˘ 39

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The original 1903 Wright Flyer is the centerpiece of “The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age” exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum’s flagship building on the National Mall in Washington.

Photo Credit: Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum.

Copyright: Smithsonian Institution

Byways • 41

The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with the Capitol building in the background.

Photo Credit: Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum.

Copyright: Smithsonian Institution

tory of aviation warranted a separate museum. Twenty years later, as Americans raced the Soviets to reach the moon, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Air Museum Amendment Act, which added “space” to the museum’s name and also authorized the construction of a much-needed museum building. Ten years later, the museum opened as President Gerald R. Ford declared it “a perfect birthday present” to the nation.

With a dual commitment to history and science, the museum conducts research in three areas: aeronautics, space history and planetary studies. The museum maintains the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft, spacecraft, other flight-related artifacts, works of art and archival materials. There are 22 exhibition galleries in the flagship building and two exhibition hangars -- the Boeing Aviation Hangar and the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar -- at the Udvar-Hazy Center. The center’s Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar is expected to be operational by the end of 2011.

The National Air and Space Museum building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is located at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport.

Both facilities are open daily from 10:00am until 5:30 pm (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free, but there is a $15 fee for parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

42 • Byways

The Apollo 11 command module Columbia carried astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins to the Moon and back in July 1969.

During that historic eight-day mission, only 66 years after the Wright brothers’ first flight, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to walk upon the surface of another world.

Photo Credit: Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum.

Copyright: Smithsonian Institution

Zipping Under Louisville

L

ouisville Mega Cavern, a 100-acre limestone cavern located near the Louisville Zoo, is now offering Mega Zips, a 2-hour underground zipline adventure with breathtaking views and unprecedented access.

Mega Zips is an exhilarating ride through neverbefore-seen parts of Mega Cavern, and at times will have guests soaring 70 feet above the cavern floor. Certified guides lead every adventure tour and educate visitors about the geology and history of the cavern.

This unique tour features five underground ziplines, including a dual-racing zip and 3 challenge bridges.

The ribbon cutting cermeony for Mega Zips took place Thursday, August 4.

The 100-acre former limestone quarry also offers unique daily tours and experiences to visitors and corporate groups. One of only 6 places in the world where visitors can take an underground tram ride, Mega Cavern also boasts Lights Under Louisville, the only underground holiday light show in the world, and now, Mega Zips -- the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first and only completely underground zipline tour.

Visit www.LouisvilleMegaCavern.com or call 877-614MEGA (6342) or 502-855-MEGA (6342).

Mega

Cavern is located at 1841 Taylor Avenue, Louisville, KY 40223.

Make Mega Cavern part of your next vacation to Louisville. To find out about other events taking place in Louisville visit https://packages.gotolouisville.com or call 1-888-LOUISVILLE (1-888-568-4784).

Byways â&#x20AC;˘ 43

Encore! Hits High Marks Aboard Showboat Branson Belle

T

he Showboat Branson Belle’s new show Encore! is hitting high marks with rave reviews from guests following the 2011 season launch of the 700-seat paddle wheeler’s all-new headliner production show.

Encore! stars the world’s only violin-playing aerialist, Janice Martin, and a new male vocal group, The ShowMen, presenting musical selections spanning decades from Gershwin to the Beatles to the Black Eyed Peas.

The show brings a contemporary flair to Branson, noted by the entertainment community and by press who attended the opening. “Guests are amazed at the entertainment variety that Janice Martin offers, from her Juilliard-trained talent on piano and violin to her operatic soprano voice and her acrobatic skills as an aerialist and she’s a military veteran too,” said Showboat General Manager Jim Moeskau. “Guests also rave about the improvisational humor of emcee Christopher James and the tight six-part harmonies of The ShowMen, one of the hottest new groups in Branson.”

Encore’s Martin brings her high-flying theatrics to the Showboat stage in a unique act showcasing her talents as a world-class violinist, vocalist, acrobat and multiinstrument musician. The ShowMen, six talented male vocalists and dancers from all across America, fill the stage with a powerful blend of contemporary harmonies and standout solos. Comedian and magician Christopher James is the ultra-sharp, uber-funny master of ceremonies and entertainer, and all are accompanied by the Showboat’s signature live band Rockin’ Dockers for a totally live entertainment experience.

A second new show, Funny Fiddle, is featured on 44 • Byways

Showboat Comedy Cruises. Funny Fiddle is headlined by comedian and musician Chris Pendleton, whose unique talent has been nationally showcased on Lifetime, Fox network, Showtime, VH-1, and A & E’s “Evening at the Improv.” She is joined by emcee Dean Church, along with the Showboat’s live band The Castaways.

The ship features new menus for both shows from the Showboat’s Chef Larry, including Beef Tenderloin, Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs and Chicken Focaccia, topped with the chef’s own Golden Brittle Lemon-Berry Torte. All meals are prepared onboard in the ship’s galley and served in the three-story atrium dining theater.

Specialty dining options include the Paddlewheel Club Room and Captain’s Row. With the new show, new performers, new costumes, new sets, plus a new menu, staging, lighting and décor, this year marks the biggest change year in the paddle wheeler’s 15-year history. The Showboat Branson Belle cruises Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, through December 31. Cruise information: 800-775BOAT(2628) or www.showboatbransonbelle.com.

The ShowMen

Byways is published bi-monthly by Byways, Inc. and distributed electronically throughout North America.

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Editor and Publisher Stephen M. Kirchner

Advertising Director 1.800.469.0062 540.477.3202 Fax 540.477.3858 Internet: bywaysmagazine.com byways@motorcoach.com

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