If you love listening to Good tunes, having a Good time, and supporting Good causes (all at once) as much as I do, get your ticket now for the First Ascenders MoreRock benefit concert!

I feel so lucky to live in Denver and be able to do so many of the things I love in and around Denver.  We are surrounded by a beautiful playground in which we can do things like ski, rock climb, cycle, and kayak in a world-class setting, and I, for one, take full advantage of it.  Not only do I get a great thrill from my experiences in the outdoors, but they have also made a major impact on who I am as a person.  Rock climbing alone has taught me countless lessons on discipline, humility, trust, communication, and perseverance.  I’m guessing if you’re still reading this article, you’ve had a similar experience, too.

Unfortunately, though, we’re living in an era in which kids are being less active and spending less and less time outdoors (for a Good book on this phenomenon, read Last Child in the Woods).  There has never been a more important time to get kids out in the wilderness.  That’s why I’m so proud of a few Good friends of mine, Jonah Fruchter, Kevin Riley, and Yoni Geffen, for their work in co-founding a non-profit called First Ascenders.  First Ascenders takes inner-city kids on outdoor climbing trips, teaches them rock climbing skills, instills lasting values, and builds future leaders.  The program is in its early stages, but it has enormous potential and is already experiencing big success with students from the Denver School of Science and Technology.

First Ascenders is off to a promising start, but in order for the program to have the ability to continue to transport groups of kids to/from rock climbing areas, pay for professional rock climbing guides, provide the appropriate safety gear, and expand its reach, the organization needs money!  So, on Saturday February 18th, First Ascenders is putting on an intimate benefit concert at Lost Lake Lounge featuring four Good independent bands, a raffle with prizes, and, in case you’re hungry, the über delicious Über Sausage food truck.

The artists performing at show are below:

• Netherfriends: Featured artist at the Pitchfork Music Festival, this psych-pop project arrives in Colorado in the middle of an ambitious 50 state tour.
• DJ Ginger Perry: Winner of the Best Nontraditional DJ award at the Westword Music Showcase, Ginger’s tracks can be heard regularly at Table 6 and LipGloss.
• Dewi Sant: This group comes to MoreRock out of the independent folk revival in Minnesota. Their influences include Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper and Bright Eyes.
• Small Houses: Michigan based indie/folk project featuring the songs and poems of Flint native Jeremy Quentin.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.  Get them while they last!  Show starts at 7pm.

The Good Life Denver is written by David Schlichter.  To stay in the loop, like The Good Life Denver on Facebook and follow @thegoodlifeden on Twitter!

A subscription to 5280 Magazine ($9.95): I’ve always enjoyed reading articles from 5280 online, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision to subscribe to the printed version of 5280 Magazine.  It is chock full of timely, informative, interesting, and relevant articles relating to Denver.  The quality of the writing is consistently Good.  And 5280 is similar to National Geographic–it’s the kind of magazine you want to have stacks of lying around the house for friends and visitors to read through.  Those who are just visiting will want to move here, and people who already live here will find useful information on local food, activities, events, people, and more.  Right now the magazine is offering a special holiday rate of $9.95 for 12 issues–give it to a friend and subscribe for yourself, too.  You won’t regret it.

An “upcycled” accessory made from used Colorado microbrewery 6-pack containers ($10-$20): Mindy Humphrey takes used 6 pack containers that would normally end up in a dumpster or recycling bin and “upcycles” them into neat accessories such as wallets and purses for her shop on Etsy.com.  The shop already includes many products derived from Colorado microbrewery 6-pack containers, but if she doesn’t have one from your giftee’s favorite brewery, just send her a 6-pack box and she’ll custom-make the product you request…and mail it to you with free shipping.  A great gift for the beer connoisseur, or for your buddy whose wallet is falling apart.

A bottle of Leopold Bros. booze ($20-$35): If there’s a friend or family member you’d like to give a nice bottle of liquor to, consider something from Leopold Bros. Distillery.  Todd and Scott Leopold grew up in Colorado and, after a brief stint in Ann Arbor Michigan, are back home distilling award-winning liquor and liqueurs.  Leopold’s Gin is the best gin I’ve had in my lifetime, the Rocky Mountain Blackberry Liqueur is phenomenal, and their American Small-Batch Whiskey is quite Good as well (for more on what distinguishes them from the pack, see my recent article about Leopold Bros. here).  Hopefully your giftee will not only appreciate the quality of the liquor, but will also share some of the holiday “spirit!”

The Eat Denver Dining Deck ($50):  Eat Denver is an independent restaurant association made up of some of the best independent restaurants in Denver.  They believe that camaraderie and collaboration is essential to elevating the unique dining scene and food culture in Denver.  Eat Denver has put together a Dining Deck featuring 52 $10 gift cards to local restaurants such as Root Down, Steuben’s, Luca d’Italia, Olivea, H Burger, Snooze, Wynkoop Brewery, and more.  Talk about a Good deal, the deck is a whopping $520 value, and it only costs you $50!

A gift basket from the Women’s Bean Project ($10-$66.50):  I’m a big fan of the Women’s Bean Project.  Located in downtown Denver, the organization takes a small group of chronically unemployed low-income women and provides them with a steady job, job skills, and a supportive environment.  “Since 1989 we have been helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment.  We are a nonprofit organization that teaches job readiness and life skills for entry-level jobs through employment in our gourmet food production and handmade jewelry manufacturing businesses.  Women come with the goal of transforming their lives and moving toward self sufficiency.”  The Women’s Bean Project is a Good cause to support, and, what’s more, their products are delicious!

A gift certificate to Mile-Hi Skydiving Center ($209 tandem): Has your friend or loved one ever gone skydiving?  How do you think they would feel about jumping out of a plane 17,500 feet in the air and free-falling at 130 MPH next to Long’s Peak and the Rocky Mountains?  Hopefully pretty Good if you’re considering getting them this gift.  Located in Longmont, Mile-Hi Skydiving Center is the only full-time skydiving operation within 100 miles of the Denver/Boulder metropolitan areas.  For $209, they’ll take your giftee for a flight he or she will never forget!

A GoPro HD Hero 2 ($299):  GoPro video cameras can be attached to you ski helmet, your mountain bike, your car, your surfboard, your arm–pretty much anything, and they shoot incredible videos.  See this one of a skier setting off an avalanche as he skis off a cliff, launches a parachute, and is able to float safely to the ground and this one of a mountain biker in South Africa who gets rammed in the head by a gazelle while riding full speed down a single track trail.  I don’t know about you, but if I ever get rammed in the head by a gazelle while mountain biking or trigger an avalanche while skiing of a cliff, I want it on video.  This is the device to capture it.

A “gift that says you care” ($5-$300):  Nicholas Kristof recently posted an article in the New York Times highlighting organizations doing Good work all over the world that could benefit from a holiday gift.  For $5 you can buy a mosquito net that will protect people from getting malaria, for $25 you can buy a pair of glasses for someone in need, for $30 you can buy a flock of chickens for a hungry family, and for $300 you can stock a fish pond.  Why am I including these items on a Good Denver gift ideas list?  Because we, in Denver, care.

A dog…make that a BIG dog ($375 suggested donation): Denver is a dog city.  Everyone and their brother has a dog here, and if you don’t one, the holidays might be the perfect time to change that.  Two years ago I posted an article about Big Dogs Huge Paws, a local nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, fosters, and offers for adoption big dogs such as Great Danes and Mastiffs.  Similar to humans, the bigger and older a dog is, the harder it is to find someone to adopt it.  In spite of the difficulties associated with rescuing these dogs, Big Dogs Huge Paws is successfully implementing its program that ensures that their big dogs are given proper medical care, rehabilitated as necessary, placed with well-trained foster parents, and adopted by loving families that understand the unique needs of large breed dogs.  Right now BDHP has more than 50 big dogs awaiting permanent homes, such as Argent (see picture, above left), a seven year-old Great Dane.  Look at those ears!!

A pair of locally-made skis from Icelantic Boards ($475-$999):  Colorado is supposed to get between 100-115% of its average snowfall this winter, but that snow, needless to say, has been late to arrive to the I-70 corridor.  Though this is frustrating for all of us yearning for face shots of powder right now, it does mean that there is still time to get a friend or loved one a pair of locally-made Icelantic skis (or now a splitboard–see my article here) before the arrival of deep powder.  I have had a pair of the Shamans (see photo of this year’s version, left) since 2008 and can tell you with total confidence that few other powder boards would get your giftee more excited to shred the gnar.  If the new boards are out of your price range, look for boards from the ’10-’11 and ’09-10 lines online for steep discounts!

That’s all 10 Good Denver gift ideas, but I saved one more just for you since you read all the way to the bottom.  Give the gift of a Good home!  No, you don’t have to your friend a house, but if your friend or loved one is looking to purchase a home, I work full-time as a Denver real estate agent and would love to deliver an excellent homebuying experience to them.  Visit www.milehighpropertyguy.com for more information.

The Good Life Denver is written by David Schlichter.  To stay in the loop, like The Good Life Denver on Facebook and follow @thegoodlifeden on Twitter.

A tasting flight of craft beers from the new Renegade Brewing Company in Denver

I had a chance to visit the new Renegade Brewing Company in Denver the other day, and, wanting to get to know the brewery for all it’s worth, I ordered a tasting flight of each beer on the menu.  Eight four-ounce glasses later, I was quite happy with my decision.  All of the beers were Good; my favorites were the Ryeteous (a nice rye IPA), the Una Mas (a Mexican amber ale with a poblano pepper taste), and the Another Thrill (an imperial porter at 9% alcohol by volume).  While my taste buds were certainly pleased with my visit, I was even more excited by my sense of possibility of what microbreweries like Renegade can (continue to) do to enhance our city and our state.

In terms of quality beer, here in Colorado we’ve got it Good.  Our state produces more beer than any other in the country, we have the fourth-most microbreweries per capita, and we’re third in total number of breweries per state.  Our 124+ breweries run the size gamut: ranging from small microbreweries such as Renegade, to seasoned home-grown breweries with large distribution networks such as New Belgium Brewery, to massive operations with an international presence such as Coors.

We’re doing well as a state, but it gets even better.  The American craft brewing industry is rapidly expanding.  Last year, in spite of a shaky economy and a 1% decrease in overall U.S. beer sales by volume, the craft brewing industry grew by 12%.  Over the same year, microbreweries’ total share of the beer market increased from 4.3% to 4.9%.  And this year again, craft beer sales were up 15% in the first half of 2011.  (For more data on the beer industry see the Beer Institute for the 2011 Brewer’s Almanac and the Brewer’s Association for craft brewing statistics.)

I’m excited by the growth of microbreweries, and I’m excited that Colorado is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the growth of the industry and the new jobs and revenue that come along with it.  Many people already refer to Colorado as the “Napa Valley of beer,” and, while we’ve certainly established a Good reputation for our state’s quality beer, we should aim even higher.  I’d like to see Colorado not only be the top beer producing state in the country, but also have the highest number of microbreweries per capita and per state.  Wouldn’t it be great if there were a microbrewery in every Colorado town?  Perhaps, then, instead of being referred to as the “Napa Valley of beer,” we’d be referred to as “Colorado, beer capital of the world.”

It will probably take a bit of time (20 years?) to become the beer capital of the world, but here are five easy steps we can take in the mean time to speed up the process:

1. Restaurants and bars: offer local.  Many Colorado restaurants and bars already offer a wide selection of local beers.  Those that don’t, should.  Customers are seeking out craft beer more and more–why not give them what they want, recycle money into the Colorado economy, and make more bang for your buck?
2. Consumers: buy local.  Treat your taste buds and try out a new Colorado brew.  Chances are you’ll enjoy it, and the more success Colorado beers experience in Colorado, the more Colorado beers you’ll see in Colorado, in the rest of the country, and around the world.
3. Established brewers: collaborate.  Just as food trucks in Denver (while still being competitive) experienced unprecedented success in Denver through collaborating on initiatives such as Civic Center Eats, you, too, can find strength in numbers.  Identify ways to share resources, develop common supply/distribution channels, put on shared beer festivals, and try out other innovative ways to decrease your cost, increase your reach, add to your profitability, and help develop our state’s reputation as the beer capital of the world.
4. Homebrewers: keep it up.  Coloradans love to try out new craft beers.  Our sense of curiosity and appreciation for quality is what enabled Jeff Lebesch to take New Belgium Brewery from his basement twenty years ago to the incredible success story that it is today.  I was in St. Louis this past week and every bar I went to, without exception, served New Belgium beer.  Follow your passion, focus on quality, and success for you and our state will follow.
5. State and local government entities: harness the potential.  The largest ticketed domestic beer festival, the Great American Beer Festival, is held in Denver every year and sells out in a matter of weeks; this year’s GABF featured 466 breweries and 2,375 beers, and an estimated 49,000 people attended.  With the craft beer industry expanding while so many industries are on the decline–and with Colorado so uniquely positioned to take advantage of this industry’s growth–state and local governments would be wise to market, incentivize, and support the development of the Colorado craft beer industry in order to help provide Colorado with a more sustainable economic future…and support the continued production of new, delicious, Good beer.

Cheers to our microbreweries—and to the idea that 2031 is the year that Colorado is declared the beer capital of the world! 

The Good Life Denver is written by David Schlichter.  To stay in the loop, like The Good Life Denver on Facebook and follow @thegoodlifeden on Twitter.

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An additional note: Not only is Colorado home to many Good microbreweries, it is also home to a burgeoning group of Good microdistilleries and Good wineries.  I encourage you to read my post about Leopold Bros. Distillery, a recent New York Times blog post on Colorado microdistilleries, and Fulcrum Publishing’s Guide to Colorado Wineries.  You might also be interested in a Good craft beer blog written by Denver resident Billy Broa called BillyBrew.

Movement, a world-class climbing gym in Boulder (photo courtesy of Movement)

Colorado is a rock climbing Mecca.  With over 9,500 established outdoor rock climbing routes within 60 miles, Boulder, in particular, is considered by many climbers to be the best climbing city in which to live.  In addition to all of the established outdoor routes nearby, Boulder is home to three outstanding rock climbing gyms (Movement, Boulder Rock Club, and The Spot), two of which feature both rock climbing and bouldering and one of which (The Spot) exclusively features bouldering.  Denver has it pretty Good, too.  We’re near the same 9,500 outdoor routes, but, surprisingly, we don’t have a single high quality rock climbing gym in or near downtown.

Last week I happened to be heading down to Centennial, CO, and I knew I’d be near one of the two Rock’n and Jam’n locations (the other is in Thornton).  I hadn’t climbed inside in a while, so I threw my rock climbing shoes and harness in my car and decided to stop by the gym while I was in the ‘burbs.  It felt great to get back in the gym.  Both Rock’n and Jam’n locations are spacious, tall (37-40 foot high routes), relatively clean, have super friendly staffs, and feature plenty of Good climbing routes and bouldering areas.  Unfortunately, though, each Rock’n and Jam’n gym is a 20-25 minute drive from downtown Denver…without traffic.

There are two climbing gyms near downtown Denver, but they both have significant drawbacks.  The closest gym to downtown is the Denver Bouldering Club, two blocks southwest of I-25 and 6th Ave.  I like the DBC for what it is.  It is a small, cool spot with an underground feel that–being so close to downtown–is a great option if you only like to boulder and are willing to purchase a membership.  Unfortunately, though, bouldering is all you can do there, and the only times you can go to the gym without being accompanied by a member are Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6pm-10pm.  That is not ideal.

If you want to tie in to a rope or climb any day of the week without necessarily getting a membership, the closest rock climbing gym to downtown Denver for you is Thrillseekers.  Thrillseekers is an old theater at South Broadway and Jewell that has been converted to a small climbing gym.  I like the concept of the rehab; turning a theater into a climbing gym is a neat idea.  The gym has lots of tough routes, but the downside is that Thrillseekers’ ceilings, at 26 feet, are too short.  The space feels small and cramped–the opposite of what rock climbing should feel like.  The gym does what it can to make routes longer by extending routes horizontally across roofs and arches, but most climbers don’t want to get horizontal every time they reach 26 feet.

I grew up in St. Louis, MO, a city in which there is a small–but dedicated–rock climbing community.  In spite of the fact that the rock climbing community there is significantly smaller here in Denver, St. Louis has had a quality rock climbing gym downtown for years, and the young owners of So iLL Holds are now finishing up the development of a new premier rock climbing gym that will also be near downtown and is slated to open early next year (see video below).  What impresses me most about the new climbing gym, Climb So iLL, is the sense of vision that went into it.  The owners didn’t look to make just another climbing gym–they wanted to make a statement.  The new climbing gym will help rehabilitate a decaying power plant, it is being designed with incredible attention to aesthetics, and the intermediate/advanced area of the gym has a wall that grows to a staggering 55 feet (for some perspective, that’s more than 50% taller than the other gym in downtown St. Louis, more than 37% taller than both Rock’n and Jam’n locations, and more than twice the height of the routes at Thrillseekers).  Below is a video of the development of So iLL in St. Louis–imagine the possibilities for Denver!  (Article continued below.)

If St. Louis, a smaller city with less climbers and an already established quality gym downtown, can support a new premier rock climbing gym, surely Denver can, too.  Anne-Worley Moelter, co-owner and General Manager of Movement in Boulder, strongly agrees.  Movement recently hosted the first indoor Lead Climbing World Cup in the United States in over 20 years, which, in addition to generating revenue for the gym and the city of Boulder, generated international attention for the city (rock climbing is a sport that is ever-growing and is now on the short-list for the 2020 Olympics).  I spoke with Anne-Worley today on the phone about the need for a quality climbing gym in Denver, and she believes Denver is ripe–so ripe, she told me, that her and her husband are already actively searching for a suitable location in Denver for a new gym.  Once they find a location, she estimates it will take between 18 months and two years to complete the project.  Their vision include a high-quality climbing gym along with fitness, yoga, and cycling to bring in non-climbers, as well.

I’m hopeful that Movement or another entity will soon develop a premier rock climbing gym in or near downtown Denver that really makes a statement.  We’re long overdue.  In terms of Good locations, I think it would be amazing (though it’s probably too late) to include a high-quality climbing gym as part of the Union Station redevelopment.  A new gym could be also included in the rehab/development of another building just north of LoDo, in Five Points, among the warehouses near 6th and I-25, near the Battery621 building (thereby establishing an outdoor adventure hub), on South Broadway, near York and I-70, or in many other places in and surrounding downtown Denver.

What are your thoughts?  While drafting this article, a discussion on this topic began at MountainProject.com.  I encourage you to add your voice to the conversation.  My hunch is that those who might be planning a climbing gym for Denver would love to hear what you think should be incorporated into the new gym’s design, where it should be, and more…

Are you a climber interested in moving to Denver?  In addition to blogging on life in Denver, I work full-time as a Denver real estate agent.  Click here to search Denver homes for sale..

The Good Life Denver is written by David Schlichter.  To stay in the loop, like The Good Life Denver on Facebook and follow @thegoodlifeden on Twitter.

Abrusci’s Italian Eatery – 300 Fillmore Street, Denver (Cherry Creek)
Abrusci’s Italian Eatery – 3244 Youngfield Street, Wheat Ridge (Applewood)
Beatrice & Woodsley – 38 South Broadway, Denver (South Broadway)
Beau Jo’s Pizza  – 7805 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada
Beau Jo’s Pizza  – 2690 Baseline Rd, Boulder
Beau Jo’s Pizza  – 2710 S Colorado Blvd, Denver (University Hills)
Beau Jo’s Pizza  – 28186 Highway 74 Unit #3, Evergreen
Beau Jo’s Pizza  – 100 N College Ave, Fort Collins
Beau Jo’s Pizza  – 1517 Miner St, Idaho Springs
Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs – 2148 Larimer St, Denver (Ballpark)
Bistro One – 1294 South Broadway, Denver (South Broadway)
Black Pearl – 1529 S Pearl Street, Denver (South Pearl)
Breckenridge Brewery Ballpark Pub – 2220 Blake St, Denver (Ballpark)
Buenos Aires Pizzeria – 1307 22nd Street, Denver (Ballpark)
The Cherry Cricket – 2641 E 2nd Avenue, Denver (Cherry Creek)
Chopper’s Sports Grill – 80 S Madison St, Denver (Cherry Creek)
Coral Room - 3489 W 32nd Ave, Denver (Highlands)
deluxe – 30 S Broadway, Denver (South Broadway)
Dougherty’s Restaurant & Pub – 5 E Ellsworth Avenue, Denver (South Broadway)
El Camino Tavern – 3628 West 32nd Avenue, Denver (Highlands)
Encore on Colfax – 2550 E Colfax Avenue, Denver (City Park)
Fleur Bistro – 1225 Logan St, Denver (Capital Hill)
Gaetano’s Restaurant – 3760 Tejon Street, Denver (North Denver)
Gallop Café – 2401 W 32nd Ave, Denver (Highlands)
Ghost Plate and Tap – 800 18th Street, Denver (Downtown)
Goosetown Tavern – 3242 E Colfax Avenue, Denver (E Colfax)
The Hornet – 79 Broadway, Denver (South Broadway)
Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria – 410 E. 7th Avenue, Denver (Capital Hill)
The Lobby American Grille – 2191 Arapahoe Street, Denver (Ballpark)
Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria – 2129 Larimer Street, Denver (Ballpark)
Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria – 10111 Inverness Main Street, Englewood (DTC)
Mercury Café – 2199 California Street (Five Points)
Mona’s Cafe – 1710 Sherman, Denver (Downtown)
Mona’s Restaurant – 2364 15th Street, Denver (Highlands)
My Favorite Muffin – 1750 16th Street, Denver (Downtown)
Paris on the Platte Café & Bar – 1553 Platte Street, Denver (Highlands)
Pearl Street Grill – 1477 S Pearl Street, Denver (S Pearl)
Pizza Fusion – 571 E Colfax Ave, Denver (E Colfax)
Root Down – 1600 W 33rd Ave, Denver (Highlands)
Shells and Sauce – 2600 E 12th Avenue, Denver (Congress Park)
Snooze AM Eatery – 2262 Larimer Street (Five Points)
Stoney’s Bar & Grill – 1111 Lincoln Street, Denver (Capital Hill)
Strings – 1700 Humboldt Street, Denver (Uptown)
Table 6 – 609 Corona St, Denver (Cherry Creek)
Two-fisted Mario’s Pizza – 1626 Market Street, Denver (LODO)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 1521 Blake St, Denver (LODO)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 225 E 20th Ave, Denver (Downtown)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 1233 S Colorado Blvd, Denver (Cory-Merrill)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 2790 Pearl St, Boulder (Pearl St)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 7980 Northfield Blvd, Denver (Stapleton)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 6300 E Hampden Ave, Denver (S Denver)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco – 280 S Union Blvd, Lakewood
Wazee Supper Club – 1600 15th Street, Denver (LODO)
Wynkoop Brewing Company – 1634 18th Street, Denver (LODO)
Zydeco – 1730 Wynkoop St, Denver (LODO)

CultureHaus is a social and education organization that supports the Denver Art Museum and “connect[s] the young at heart with art.”  It puts on events almost every month for its members to enjoy exclusive access to art, learn about collecting artwork, socialize with other art enthusiasts, and support the museum.

Every year, CultureHaus also puts on a party at the museum called BASH in the Basement, and this year’s BASH is tomorrow night.  The BASH will feature artwork that hasn’t been on display in more than 10 years including photographs, paintings, and sculpture from the Western American Art, Photography, and Architecture, Design & Graphic departments.  The event will also feature an auction, music, cocktails (including the event’s signature Breckenridge Distillery vodka/Vuka energy drink), wine from Irony Wines, beverages from MillerCoors, food from Gourmet Fine Catering, and more.

Tickets are $25 for CultureHaus members and $40 for nonmembers.  They can be purchased here.  To make sure you hear about Good Events like this one, follow The Good Life Denver on Facebook and Twitter!

Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik, Iceland (www.visitreykjavik.is)

You might have read the article title and be asking yourself: “Iceland? Surely he meant Ireland, right?!”  My Guiness-drinking lads, Iceland was no typo.  Starting in May, Icelandair will be offering non-stop service between Denver and Reykjavik, the capitol of Iceland.

Currently there are only two non-stop flights between Denver and Europe: to/from London via British Airways, and to/from Frankfurt via Lufthansa.  This partnership between Icelandair and Denver International Airport will bring more visitors from Europe to and through Denver, it will enable travelers from Denver to connect to more than 20 destinations in Europe via Reykjavik, and if your final destination is somewhere other than Reykjavik, you can stop to spend time in Iceland at no additional charge.

Icelandair is also offering a Good Deal called the “Mile-High Getaway to Iceland” to celebrate the partnership. From $679*,  the deal includes airfare, two nights at a hotel in walking distance to a thermal beach, free breakfasts, a tour of the Reykjanes peninsula (where you’ll see lava fields, ocean coasts, bird life, fishing villages, and Blue Lagoon [see photo above left]), and a tour of Golden Circle (where you’ll see a national park, mountains, a waterfall, hot springs, and more villages).  A sample itinerary from Icelandair is below.

For other Good Ideas and Good Deals, be sure to follow The Good Life Denver on Facebook and Twitter!

SAMPLE MILE-HIGH GETAWAY TO ICELAND ITINERARY

From $679*

Day 1: Evening departure from North America

Day 2:  Early morning arrival in Iceland.  On own transfer to hotel in Reykjavik.  Guaranteed check in by 9am.  Enjoy a delicious, complimentary breakfast from the hotel.  Rest of the day open for your own activities.  Perhaps you’ll take the free shuttle bus to the Old Town Reykjavik where you can enjoy the many museums, art galleries and restaurants!  We also suggest visiting one of the outdoor geothermal public swimming pools, unique to Iceland.  It’s a great way to shake off Icelandic and to meet Icelanders.

Day 3: Breakfast at hotel.  Morning departure on fantastic day tour introducing the special natural and historical features that make Iceland so unique! Head first for the Reykjanes peninsula where the Atlantic ridge rises above the ocean.  The peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface, and large lava fields, allowing little vegetation. You’ll pass the lighthouse on the westernmost tip of the peninsula which is a magnificent area with rich bird life. You can hear the surf crashing against the beautiful basalt cliffs.  You’ll also see some of the charming fishing villages that thrive along the Reykjanes coast. After a short stop at the Blue Lagoon, continue to Reykjavik. From there, join the Golden Circle Afternoon tour which leaves Reykjavik at 1pm.

Start by visiting Þingvellir, Iceland’s first National Park and site of the oldest Parliament in the world.  This is also where the tectonic plates of the European and North American continents meet in a curious ridge.  Then continue onwards to view the majestic and beautiful glacial waterfall Gullfoss and the incredible spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur.  On our way back, we stop at Hveragerði village with its numerous greenhouses before travelling over the mountain heath Hellisheiði back to Reykjavik.   Tour is about 9 hours.  Return to Reykjavik, around 6pm.  Lunch is not included but the tour will stop in a place where there are various lunch options.

Note:  Since the emphasis is on experiencing the many wonders of the Reykjanes peninsula , the stop at the Blue Lagoon does not allow leisurely  time for swimming.  If you are interested in spending more time at the Lagoon, we suggest you add a transfer back to the airport on your last day that stops at the Blue Lagoon.  This includes admission and you can relax for a few hours before heading to the airport.

Day 4:  Breakfast at hotel.  Morning open for own activities.  On own transfer to airport for late afternoon departure to North America.

*See airline for applicable fees and taxes.

Stay connected by following The Good Life Denver on Facebook and Twitter.

Icelantic's new splitboard, the Gemini

If you’re looking to get Good locally-made skis this year, look no further than Icelantic Boards.

Locally-grown ski company Icelantic just launched its ’11/’12 ski lineup, the theme of which is “You are an Animal.” Each of the ski designs features different hand-drawn animal artwork from artist and Colorado native Travis Parr.  Now boasting 9 different board styles, Icelantic launched two new board styles in the ’11/’12 lineup: the Gemini and the Gypsy.

Until now, Icelantic has only made skis. This year, for the first time, Icelantic is making a splitboard called the Gemini, which is a snowboard that can be split in half and used with skins to make it easier for snowboarders to get into the backcountry (for a video on how a splitboard works, click here). Icelantic also added a new ski called the Gypsy, a nearly symmetrical powder ski perfect for those who “like to bounce down pillow lines.”

Icelantic has been growing rapidly every year, and recently it partnered with other snow sports, multimedia, and creative companies to occupy a shared space called Battery621.  Envisioned as a “gateway” to both Denver and the mountains, the office is located at 6th Ave. and Kalamath St. (where many people get on to 6th Ave. to head to the mountains) and building tenants embrace a spirit of collaboration.  The tenants also know how to have a Good time–see for yourself (and see the skis) tomorrow at Art Walk!

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The Denver Botanic Gardens

Admission is free today at the Denver Botanic Gardens.  Here’s why:

In the early eighties, the Colorado state legislature stopped directly funding our art museum, science museum, botanic gardens, and zoo. As a result, those facilities began to charge admission fees. In 1988, voters approved the creation of a Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, a 0.1% sales tax (a penny on $10 spent) to “provide for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, presentation, exhibition, advancement, or preservation of art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, or natural history.” Since it’s original passage, the program has distributed $628 million in revenue, and as a result, the facilities it supports are able to put on free days.

Free days are, of course, a Good idea.  As a state and a city, we probably could do even better.  St. Louis, for example, offers free admission year-round to its world-class zoo, art museum, history museum, and science museum.  Still, Denver is off to a Good start.  Below are the remaining free days in 2011 at our major scientific and cultural facilities.

REMAINING FREE DAYS

The Water Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Zoo
October 12
October 20
November 6
November 12

Denver Museum of Nature and Science
September 18
September 26
October 31
November 13
December 5

Denver Art Museum
September 3
September 10
October 1
November 5
December 3

Denver Botanic Gardens (York St.)
August 29 (today)
September 26
October 10

Denver Botanic Gardens (Chatfield)
November 4

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Colorado was recognized by the New York Times today for being a leader in the healthy food movement in schools, noting that “of the 100 or so districts nationally that have worked with Cook for America, a group that trains school cooks in healthier lunch-ways…more than half are in Colorado, including schools in the largest districts in Denver, Colorado Springs and Boulder.”  Kudos to the superintendents, school boards, and individual community members who are making this happen.  Here are some other Good things we have going on in Denver and Colorado that are maintaining our Good health:

• Denver’s bicycle sharing program, B-cycle, was the first large-scale bicycle sharing program in the nation.  The program has more than 500 bikes which can be borrowed from over 50 stations around the city, offering our community a healthy, inexpensive, and easy-to-use method of getting from one place to the next, all while benefiting our lungs by reducing pollution from cars that would otherwise be on the road.

• Speaking of pollution, the landmark Greenprint Denver initiative has been focusing the city since 2007 on reducing greenhouse emissions, increasing city forest coverage, utilizing renewable energies, ensuring sustainable construction and renovation of city buildings, promoting mass transit, and achieving many more laudable environmental goals.  Read Executive Order 123 that former Mayor Hickenlooper wrote to create this initiative–it’s impressive.  Newly-elected Mayor Michael Hancock has promised to elevate Greenprint Denver to a permanent Office of the Mayor and establish Denver Seeds, a “new network of urban farms that will grow a local fresh food economy.”

• Of course, Colorado wouldn’t be Colorado without the pristine outdoor spaces we are so lucky to enjoy.  With 4 National Parks, 13 National Forests, and 42 state parks in Colorado–and more than 200 city and mountain parks in Denver County alone–it’s hard not to be outside living a healthy and active lifestyle.  With world class skiing, mountain/road biking, hiking, rock climbing, river rafting/kayaking, and more, it shouldn’t come as a shock that we’ve got the lowest obesity rates in the country.

Last week the New York Times also profiled a project out of the Digital Scholars Lab at the University of Virginia in which scholar Kelly Johnston is “converting the qualities of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness into quantities we [can] visualize through maps.”  Needless to say, Denver, the Front Range, and Colorado look very Good on all three maps.  Below is the map for life, which shows differences in life expectancies at birth around the country, and I encourage you to also check out the other maps to see where we stand.  You won’t be disappointed.

Here’s to our Good health!

Kelly Johnston, University of Virginia Scholars Lab (http://www.scholarslab.org/)

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