Type-A sightseeing

The first stop for most tourists is the luxurious Brown Palace Hotel (321 17th St.). The 114-year-old edifice has hosted Russian czars and U.S. presidents, but it welcomes drop-in visitors for traditional afternoon tea (or, depending on your mood, a single-malt scotch and a pre-embargo Cuban cigar).

Next, take the free 16th Street shuttle to the Tattered Cover Bookstore (1628 16th St.). The friendly shop has an unusually extensive collection of books and magazines and draws celebrity writers from all over. Tom Wolfe, Margaret Atwood, and Bill and Hillary Clinton all stopped at the Tattered Cover on their book tours.

When you're done, cross the Millennium Bridge for a fantastic view of the Denver skyline against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains; then stroll over to Confluence Park, the site of Denver's founding, to watch adventurous locals drop kayaks into the rushing South Platte River for an afternoon thrill.