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Denver Attractions, Travel and Accommodations

Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Denver was founded in 1859 during the "Pikes Peak or Bust" gold rush when gold was discovered along the South Platte River. The city struggled to survive in its early days, being twice destroyed by fire and flood.

Today Denver is a thriving city with art galleries, boutiques, sports complexes, museums, and restaurants. Visit the mile-long 16th Street Mall, an outdoor pedestrian promenade of shops and restaurants, or walk a few blocks to bustling Larimer Square, Tabor Center and the Denver Pavilions in Lower Downtown (LoDo). Enjoy a fascinating tour of the Brown Palace Hotel -- the first atrium hotel in America -- or admire the stunning architecture of the State Capitol building. A short drive will take you to the Denver Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Museum of Nature and Science, the Molly Brown House and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Places to visit outside of Denver include the beautiful rock park, Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs (an hour south of Denver). Boulder, home to WCET, is an hour north of Denver and features many hiking trails into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. You can also take a tour of the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory or visit the Leanin' Tree Museum next door with its large private collection of Western art. Another hour north of Boulder is Estes Park, gateway to the spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park where you can hear the elk bugle during their fall rut season. Drive an hour west of Denver to the historic mining and gambling towns of Black Hawk and Central City, or continue further west to the ski towns of Breckenridge or Vail.

For a truly unique experience, you can climb to the 15th step of the Capitol building - exactly 5,280 feet above sea level - and experience being in the "Mile High City!"

Accommodations
The Denver Marriott City Center is the site of WCET's 14th Annual Conference. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Denver, within walking distance to shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries.
Please make your hotel reservation at the Denver Marriott City Center as soon as possible. Refer to the Western Cooperative (WCET) conference block to secure a room at the special discount rate. These rooms will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis until October 11 unless the block fills earlier.

• Single - $142.00
• Double - $157.00
• Triple - $167.00
• Quad - $177.00
  

To book reservations online:

Follow these steps:

• Go to the Denver Marriott City Center website
• Click on "Check rates and availability"
• Enter your check-in and check-out dates
• Enter our Group Code to receive our special rate:
  • Single/double occupancy: "cetceta"
  • Triple/quad occupancy: "cetcetb"

You can contact the Marriott at 800.228.9290 to place reservations by phone. All reservations need to be guaranteed with a credit card or a first nights deposit, which needs to be mailed to the hotel. Credit cards are not actually charges for the deposit, but held as a form of guarantee and are charged in case of a no-show. Cancellations are required by 6pm day of arrival in order to avoid charges. Amenities include an indoor pool and exercise room, whirlpool, and sauna. The Marriott has a restaurant, lounge, Starbucks Coffee, and a gift shop.

Directions
Directions from the airport: Take Pena Blvd. to I-70 West. Take I-70 West to I-25 South. On I-25, exit at 20th St. Turn left on 20th St. Follow Arapahoe St. and turn right. Go one block and turn left on 19th St. Travel four blocks and turn right on California St. Go 1 1/2 blocks; the hotel's driveway entrance is on the right.

Parking at the Marriott
Valet prices at the hotel are $23.00 Sunday - Thursday and $17.00 Friday - Saturday. They also have local self-parking garages and surface lots, charges run anywhere from $6.00 - $20.00 per day. Note that some garages close at a particular hour each evening so watch signage as you enter the lot.

Shuttle Service
Super Shuttle will provide transportation from DIA to the Denver Marriott City Center. Your conference confirmation (via e-mail) will include a link to a discount coupon for the shuttle. The fare for the shuttle is $30 round trip or $18 one way per person. No reservations are required.

What to Wear
Casual office attire is recommended for the conference. Denver's elevation is 5,280 feet above sea level and the November temperatures average 50 degrees Fahrenheit with plenty of sunshine.

Post Conference Trip: Tour the Colorado Foothills
Join us Saturday, November 9 for a tour of the beautiful foothills of Colorado!
Depart the Marriott hotel at 1:30 p.m. via a chartered bus complete with a tour guide. Enjoy a fully guided tour of the Colorado Foothills while winding up the switchbacks of the Lariat Trail to the top of Lookout Mountain and view a breathtaking panorama of the foothills, Denver, and the outstretched plains. Visit Buffalo Bill's Museum and Grave (admission included), see some American Bison (Buffalo), enjoy a beautiful walk while witnessing the majesty of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater.

• Tour duration is from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Shuttle bus will depart and return to the Marriott Hotel

• Cost is $30 per person

Space is limited! To make reservations, call Colorado Sightseer at 303-423-8200 or 1-800-255-5105. Payment is made directly to Colorado Sightseer.