AIHce Brews Up Slew of ‘Sweet’ Social Tours
In addition to the technical tours, AIHce is offering a wide array of social tours, and this year’s unique mix of indoor and outdoor activities appeal to a wide range of people.
On Monday, May 24, from 1-4 p.m., get acquainted with the “Mile High” City. The tour begins in downtown and visits the city’s capitol building. Modeled after the Capitol in Washington, D.C., the building’s dome is gold-leafed and its front steps feature an official altitude marker measuring exactly one “mile” high. The tour concludes with a visit to the culturally vibrant lower downtown, also known as “LoDo.”
That night, get a true taste of Denver’s microbrews during “Brew Hopping,” starting at 7:30 p.m. Colorado has more breweries per capita than any other state in the union, and during a customized “crawl” of two popular downtown breweries, brew masters will provide details on the craft, tours of the breweries, and samples of in-house favorites.
“Strike it Rich” on Tuesday, May 25, from 1-5 p.m., with a visit to the Phoenix Gold Mine, an active working mine in the mountains west of Denver. The tour will take a fascinating look at the operation of the mine and give visitors the chance to search for gold.
History buffs will have the chance to learn about Denver’s origins on a tour of the city’s earliest homes on Tuesday from 1-5 p.m. The session begins at the Ninth Street Historic Park with a walking tour of a block of Victorian cottages, including the restored home of the Titanic’s “unsinkable” Molly Brown.
On Wednesday, May 26, explore Hammond’s Candies, where chocolate-dipped toffee is hand rolled in almonds. Next, travel to Balistreri Vineyards for wine and cheese tasting. Meet the winemakers who will explain the cultivation of grapes and the fundamentals of wine tasting. The tour is scheduled from 1-4:30 p.m.
For a glimpse of the state’s natural beauty, Wednesday’s “Rocks and Ridges” tour from 1-5 p.m. takes a panoramic ride into the foothills surrounding Golden, Co. The tour highlights Red Rocks Amphitheater, which boasts 9,000 seats set in red sandstone rocks, as well as Dinosaur Ridge, one of the world’s most famous fossil localities.
End the conference by cheering on your favorite team during AIHce’s annual baseball game, which pits the Colorado Rockies against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The game kicks off at 6:40 p.m.
Visit www.aihce2010.com for information about purchasing tickets, tour fees, and transportation.