9 JUNE 13-19, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | SCENE STEALERS FIVE GREAT VIEWS OF DENVER’S SKYLINE Just like Zendaya in the early 2010s, Denver’s skyline knows how to shake it up. Look at it from the west, and Denver’s skyline promises the urban buzz of an active city. From the east, the Rocky Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the build- ings of downtown. Even from the north and south, the Mile High City’s skyline shines. True, cranes sometimes mar the perfect shot, and leafy trees often obscure the com- plete picture. The hilly geography of Denver can also impede visibility just blocks from a spot with a clear sightline. Still, if you keep looking, you’ll fi nd a great view. Although Denver’s skyline largely shot up in the 1980s, new buildings are again in the works or just completed, like One River North, which is attracting eyeballs with its canyon cutout. Meanwhile, some of those older structures constructed with different materials and shapes — including octagons at 1801 California Street, and the Wells Fargo Building with its iconic “cash register” top — are now iconic landmarks. Here are fi ve places with great views of the Denver skyline, listed in alphabetical order: Avanti Food & Beverage 3200 Pecos Street This food hall at the edge of Highland has multiple patios from which you can check out Denver’s skyline and appreciate down- town’s growing density. Coors Field sits in the foreground, and beyond it to the right are seemingly endless layers of tall buildings that make Denver look like a true big city. You can see everything from the new buildings behind Union Station to the old faithfuls at the top of the Central Business District. Things look even better when you’re enjoying Avanti’s food and beverage options, including West- word’s 2024 pick for Best Chicken Tenders and Fries Combo, Knockabout Burgers. Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Boulevard Sometimes when you’re living in Denver, you can forget that the great outdoors is so close — but not when you’re looking at the skyline from the western steps of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. From here, you look over City Park’s Ferril Lake to the silhouette of downtown and the mountains beyond. If you play a round of golf on the adjacent City Park Golf Course, you’ll be treated to spectacular views while swinging — or you can just stop for a drink at the clubhouse, which is another top destination for skyline sightseeing. Fainting Goat Pub 846 Broadway The view of the skyline from Broadway and Speer Boulevard is a stunner, but you could also be stunned by a fender bender if you stop to enjoy the sights. Fortunately, just a few blocks north is the Fainting Goat, a local watering hole with a rooftop that’s a good place to grab a drink and a look at the downtown skyline. Although cranes now ob- scure some of the view, you get a real feel for where Denver’s been...and where it’s going. Interstate 70, Interstate 225, Sixth Avenue Passenger princesses, this one’s for you! Some of the best spots to see Denver’s skyline unfold are on the city’s busiest streets, including the magical view at the top of the Sixth Avenue entrance to Interstate 25 — but you don’t want to stop. Possibly the only perk of the long drive back from Denver International Airport is seeing how the skyline stretches from right next to Interstate 70 to the south and west; newcomers and longtime residents alike can appreciate how the city reveals itself from this busy road. And from its start in southeast Denver, Interstate 225 offers a view of the city you won’t fi nd anywhere else. Next time traffi c slows your journey, breathe in and out and simply appreciate the view. Sloan’s Lake Park 1700 Sheridan Boulevard One of Denver’s most beloved parks offers a fi ne view of the downtown skyline, includ- ing all those cranes changing that silhouette. From the west side of the park, you can take in the lake, rows of trees and a downtown that seems to grow right out of the leaves. Pro tip: Grab a seat at the bar of the Lakeview Lounge, particularly on the last day of Daylight Savings Time, when you can catch the sunrise over the skyline while sipping a Tequila Sunrise. – CHESHIRE Have a favorite place to see the skyline? Let us know at [email protected]. A view of the dense downtown skyline from Avanti Food & Beverage. JACK SPIEGEL PARK HILL SUPERMARKET High Quality! Huge Variety! Wholesale Prices! Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat & seafood 3770 E 40TH AVE. 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