Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

For Christmas I was surprised by my family with a trip to Denver from the 18 to the 27.  We fly in late on the 18Th and fly out on the 27Th.  I have a pretty good idea of what I want to see.  Herd bull displays, Maine show and sale and a tour of the yards. I want to see the Prospect steers and fat steer shows. Is there any thing else that a first timer needs to go and see?
We have tickets to the Rodeo and a few other things at the stock show.  My girlfriend is also coming with me so we want to see some of Denver area also.   What other things should we go and see.  Any recommendations on places to eat?
 Is parking free? 
What is the best rental place for a car? 

First of all, congrats for the great Christmas gift!. With that many days in Denver, you should get to see most of what you want to see, I would suggest that you make sure you check out the new clubby sires on the first weekend you are there. Some of them are only on display for a few hours for a couple or three days so make sure you head down to the yards to see them if that is one of the things you would like . Secondly, I don't know what hotel you are booked at, but I would totally recommend you don't  rent a car, but use the shuttle bus from your hotel to the National Western gates. They usually run each direction hourly and they are free. There is some parking at the National Western grounds but unless you plan to get there very early each morning, you will have to walk a long ways to find parking. The shuttle is far more convenient. Even when I drive to Denver, I seldom use my vehicle until I head for home. If you want to go out at night, use a cab. It is much better than trying to find your way around Denver anyways. For the few nights you go out very far, it is probably cheaper and far more convenient than renting a car.

Several of the pen bull shows will  be on the first weekend you are there, so head down to the yards and watch some of them, They are excellent events. There will be shows and sales most every day so get a good show schedule and plan each day what you want to make sure you see. You can also spend hours looking through the displays on  the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Hill. Being a Canadian, one of the first places I would go to is the International Vistor center which is located on the second floor of the Main show building on the Hill. You can register there and they will give you an International Visitor pin which gives you free admission to the show every day you are there. You can also go there to relax anytime, and they have several computers set up for Intrnational visitors to use as well as free coffee, soft drinks, and other beverages as well as donuts, etc.

It will take you awhile to figure out where everything is located at the show. but you will figure it out quickly. There is a lot to see and do. I will be there from the 19th to 21st so it will be a fast trip for me. I will probably see you there.

Does any one know if there is a shuttle from the Drury Inn

I'm not sure, but I would suggest you phone the Drury Inn and check with them about the shuttle. I think most everyone I know parks their vehicle at a hotel and uses the shuttles. They are excellent and stop at the main entrance gates . It saves a lot of time, and you don't have to worry about crazy traffic conditions.

With that many days I wwould look into the mint, coors if you are interested, lots of places to eat.  There should be discussions of the best places to eat  if you do a search.  I took my son and on a VERY warm spell we drove up into the mountians nearby and got his picture by the continental divide marker and saw some skiers that were absolutely nuts!  He took hundreds of pictures, and was a good side trip...

Old town Golden, 16th street mall, Denver Zoo, Coors Brewery Tour

We have made it. I went to Embryo on Snow sale tonight when we got in. Wow what a sale. Off to the ground tomorrow to check out the bulls.