We're on a Rocky Mountain High in Colorado, Gearing Up for the DNC

Kathy Walker

We’re expecting 15,000 journalists to cover the DNC from Aug. 25-28. Welcome to the Mile High City!

So what do you need to know? First, leave your umbrella at home. Most of us Colorado natives don’t own an umbrella unless we use it as a sunshade. If it rains during the DNC, it’ll rain for 15 minutes and you’ll be dry in 20 minutes. If you just can’t imagine life without an umbrella, bring that $2 poncho thing you can buy at a ballgame and use it to cover up your equipment if we do get 15 minutes of rain during your visit. You’re not going to be allowed to take an umbrella into Invesco Field on Thursday night, anyway.

You know all of the other good travel tips for visiting a city that’s a mile high, right? Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat. It’s going to be bright and hot! Even if it was snowing last Saturday less than 75 miles from town. And don’t worry, this week’s tornado warnings never materialized into damaging storms.

Now with the weather chat out of the way, let’s talk about drinking. Seriously, if you’re not used to drinking at altitude you may notice that the effects of alcohol hit you very hard, even after just one or two drinks. For some folks, just being in our thin air will give you a headache, a nosebleed or worse.

Getting around Denver is easy. The Rocky Mountains are always to the west! Our airport is halfway to Kansas. There will never be enough cabs. The clock tower in Downtown is on the 16th Street Mall and the mall shuttle buses are free! You’ll find protesters in Civic Center Park, which is the beautiful park between our golden-domed State Capitol and the Denver City and County Building. We’re still a two-newspaper town. Yes, we have six local TV stations doing news. On the radio dial, you’ll find progressive talk, conservative talk and everything in between. Our official DNC blogsite for Colorado is Squarestate.net. Please drink the water out of the tap. It tastes so good we use it to make beer. Our Mayor, John Hickenlooper, used to make beer as the owner of a local brew pub. Buy a western shirt at Rockmount Ranch Wear. The founder of the company died just last week. “Papa Jack” was 107.

What to eat? If you’re a meat eater, enjoy a juicy Colorado steak or how about a buffalo steak? Please try the Mexican food, its very good. And don’t leave town without eating a Colorado Peach!

Finally, write great stories about the most historic convention this country has seen since the last time the Democrats came to Denver in 1908.

Kathy Walker, News Director

850KOA/Clear Channel Denver

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