Area Attractions

The 2006 SciDAC Conference is being held at the new Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center located at 650 Fifteenth Street.

The hotel is just one short block away from the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall. Built in 1982, the mall is a tree-lined, pedestrian promenade of red-and-gray granite that runs through the center of downtown. Lined with outdoor cafes, renovated historic office buildings, sparkling glass-walled skyscrapers, shops, restaurants and department stores. Numerous fountains and plazas offer a variety of daily special events and entertainers. Free shuttle buses cruise the mile-long Mall every 90 seconds. Businesses along the Mall include Denver Pavilions (NikeTown, Hard Rock Cafe, Ann Taylor Loft, Havana's Fine Cigars, Barnes & Noble, Lucky Strike Lanes, Maggiano's Little Italy, Virgin Megastore, Coyote Ugly Saloon, United Artist Theaters 15-plex, etc.).

Dining

If you take the free shuttle down toward the "LoDo" ("Lower Downtown") area there is a thriving, mixed-use neighborhood of 25 square blocks located in Denver's premier historic district. The area is home to more than 20 art galleries, nearly 100 restaurants and clubs, dozens of professional, service and retail businesses, and approximately 1,000 residential units (mostly lofts).

One property in the Lodo is the newly renovated Tabor Center at 16th and Lawrence. Dining options at the Tabor include ESPN Zone, The Cheesecake Factory, the Green Fine Salad Co., The Palm, and the Purple Martini.

Easily accessible in the area by straying a block off the 16th Street mall are sushi, Mongolian barbeque, microbreweries, steakhouses, jazz clubs, fondue, burger joints, pizza, northern Italian, southern Italian, family style Italian, "post-Soviet" cuisine, Latin fusion cuisine, Rodizio grill -- Brazilian steakhouse, the Broker Restaurant (dining in a bank vault), India House Restaurant, Little India, McCormick's Fish House & Bar, Morton's of Chicago, Ruth's Cris Steakhouse, and for one of Zagat's top rated restaurants in the U.S. there is Mizuna.

Culture

The Golden Triangle Arts District at 213 W. 13th Street, within walking distance of downtown, is Denver’s center for art & culture. The area includes the Denver Art Museum, Denver Public Library, U.S. Mint, Colorado History Museum, Byers-Evans House, the Colorado Ballet, Ballet Arts Theatre, Acoma Center & Curious Theatre Company & over 50 galleries, artist’s studios, fine restaurants & specialty stores. Free First Friday Night Art Tours 5-9 every month with a free shuttle to openings.

Family Entertainment

Six Flags Elitch Gardens is two parks in one -- a family theme park and Island Kingdom Water Park in downtown Denver. Something for everyone: thrilling coasters, family rides, fun-filled shows, beautiful gardens, playful water attractions, and over a dozen pint-sized rides for the little ones in Looney Tunes MovieTown.

Water World is currently featured on the Travel Channel's list of best waterparks. America's largest family water park features over 41 aquatic attractions on 64 beautifully landscaped acres including two giant wave pools, white-water rapids, speed slides, Voyage to the Center of the Earth, Lost River of the Pharaohs, Wally World for tots and much more. Free parking, picnics welcome.

See www.denver.org for more info about Denver attractions.