Destination Denver - Info. on Denver

DENVER FUN FACTS...

You know that Denver is the Mile High City (5,280 feet above sea level), but did you know:

Denver brews more beer than any other city in the world.
Denver's skyline is 140 miles long (with 32 summits that soar to 13,000 feet and above).
Colorado is the only state in history to turn down the Olympics. Denver was supposed to host the 1976 Olympics. 62% of all state voters choose at the last minute not to host the Olympics because of the cost, pollution and population boom it would have on the State of Colorado & /the City of Denver.
Denver has the largest city park system in the nation with 205 parks in City limits and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains.
Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in America; the highest paved road in North America is the Road to Mt. Evans; and The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek & Summit County is the highest auto tunnel in the world (11,000 feet).

For more fun facts, visit http://www.denver.org/StaticPressRelease.aspx?id=14&type=1 or http://www.coloradodirectory.com/funfacts/.

Getting Around Denver

Denver is an easy city to navigate. Turn to the mountains and you are facing west There is a complimentary bus that travels the 16^th Street Mall, located a couple of blocks from the Hyatt.
This is a pedestrian only street that has great restaurants, bars and shopping. Please log onto http://www.downtowndenver.com/bid/16thstmall.htm for more information.

For more general information on Denver, please visit http://www.denver.org

Acclimating to Denver's Altitude

In Denver's mile high altitude, a golf ball goes 10 percent farther. So does a cocktail. At high altitude, there is less oxygen and less moisture in the air compared to sea level. People react differently to these atmospheric conditions and some are more sensitive than others to high altitude effects, especially when they come directly from sea level destinations.

Common symptoms of altitude sensitivity include shortness of breath, headache, and occasional mild nausea. You may notice that you tire easily and cannot exercise comfortably or that you have difficulty sleeping during the first 24 hours. You may also experience nasal congestion and cough from the lack of humidity. These initial complaints should disappear as your body adjusts to the lower oxygen content and dryness.

Upon arrival at high altitude, it is best to keep physical exertion to a minimum on the first day, eat lightly and drink lots of water. The effects of nicotine, alcohol, and drugs that depress the central nervous system are potentate at high altitude, so it is wise to restrict your alcohol, tobacco, and other depressant drug intake until your body has adjusted. Also, the sun at high altitude is 40% stronger than at sea level so sunscreen is strongly recommended, even on cloudy days.

If you know that you are altitude sensitive or have any concerns about potential high altitude reactions, you should contact your physician for further information and instructions.