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During your Denver vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Once a site where the U.S. Army manufactured chemical weapons such as mustard gas and GB nerve agent, and later leased to a private enterprise to produce pesticides, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal has become an environmental success story. The 27-square-mile Superfund cleanup site, an area of open grasslands and wetlands just west of Denver International Airport, is home to more than 330 species, including deer, coyotes, prairie dogs, and birds of prey. An estimated 100 bald eagles make this one of the country's largest eagle-roosting locales during the winter.The Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Society Bookstore is at the visitor center, and there are 10 miles of hiking trails and catch-and-release fishing. For a guided tour, it's best to call a day or two in advance. Allow at least an hour.
Vance Kirkland Museum
This relatively new museum covers Colorado's most illustrious artist, Vance Kirkland (1904-81), in grand fashion, while also presenting a world-class collection of decorative arts. Kirkland was a watercolor painter focused on Western landscapes when he started experimenting and combined oils and watercolors on one canvas. The traditional arts establishment dropped his modern ideas like a bad habit, but he later won accolades for creating his own artistic universe in his stunning paintings, about 60 of which are on display here. His preserved brick studio (first built in 1911) has an unusual harness he used for painting on flat canvases face down (dating from his "dot" period). The decorative arts collection includes about 3,000 pieces ranging from teacups to armchairs, and there are also over 600 works by notable Colorado artists other than Kirkland.
Butterfly Pavilion & Insect Center
A walk through the butterfly conservatory introduces the visitor to a world of grace and beauty. The constant mist creates a hazy habitat to support the lush green plants that are both food and home to the inhabitants. If you stand still for a few minutes, a butterfly might land on you, but don't try to pick them up -- the oils on your hands contaminate their senses, interfering with their ability to find food. One display describes the differences among butterflies, moths, and skippers, and color charts help with identification. (A butterfly guide is available for a nominal fee.)In the insect room you'll discover that honeybees beat their wings some 200 times per second, and beetles comprise one-fifth of all living things on earth. Meet arthropods (the scientific name for insects) that are native to Colorado, and see exotic species from around the world. A fascinating "touch cart" allows you to get up close to a cockroach or tarantula, assuming that you really want to.A 31,000-square-foot expansion was completed in 2004, housing "Shrunk!" -- giant robotic insects (it can be scary for little ones) and nifty interactive exhibits about the biomechanics of bugs. Also on the premises are a large gift shop and snack bar. Outside, a 1/2-mile nature trail meanders amidst cacti and other desert-friendly plants. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Fairfield Inn by Marriott Denver Airport
Fairfield Inn is Marriott's award winning economy lodging chain featuring clean, convenient, quality accommodations - all for a great value! At the Fairfield Inn Denver Airport, our spacious and attractive guest rooms are equipped with thoughtful amenities including cable television with free HBO premium channel, coffee maker, dedicated work space, hairdryer, iron and board and reach anywhere telephone with dataport and voicemail. Executive rooms are larger accommodations with a microwave, ...
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