I was in Denver for a meeting this week. I’d never left the airport, so this was my first time in Colorado (unless you think Edward Snowden is in Russia).

That means my only real exposure to Denver came from a short-lived children’s cartoon called “Denver the Last Dinosaur” about the last living Dinosaur. It was on during my childhood and sparked an early interest in the American West.

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The intro song included the confusing lyric, “He’s our friend and a whole lot more.” I never understood what was meant by “more.”

Denver is everything I hoped it would be: A conference room punctuated by a traffic jam.

This is the most common view for me.

This is the most common view for me.

My view of the Denver Skyline was in a rental car on a highway at 80 mph.

My view of the Denver Skyline was from a rental car on a highway at 80 mph.

There were some impressive points. For example, we had dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange. It’s been a tourist trap since the 1830s. The “old west” decor was exactly what Disney has imagined the American West looked like in yesteryear.

Denver was once a land of unicorns.

Denver was once a land of unicorns.

In short, Denver is probably worth a visit that extends beyond the walls of a conference room. And, although the meeting was productive and useful, I wish I could have left early to see what there is to see.

A beautiful sunset. Even when seen from the Costco Gas Station parking lot.

A beautiful sunset. Even when seen from the Costco Gas Station parking lot.