Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Have you tested at GDC in Denver?

We'll be traveling to Denver in early 2012. We've never been there. Can you recommend a nice, but affordable place to stay that's close to GDC? We'll arrive a couple of days early (to adjust child's internal clock), so recommendations of area attractions would be great, too.

Sorry I'm not familiar with the Denver area...good luck with the testing though - I know a lot of families who have been very happy with their experience.

Smiles
Grinity

Have you asked GDC for recommendations? They are just off Colfax in a somewhat transitional neighborhood where you may not want to hang out with your kid. From that area, you want to look south. The North Cherry Creek area of Denver is very nice, though pricey, and close to where you need to go. There also may be some more moderately priced hotels along Colorado Blvd closer to Cherry Creek or down University closer to DU. Sorry that I don't have any more specific recommendations. I moved to the suburbs 15 years ago and haven't had to look for hotels in that area in a long time.

As for activities, how old is your kid and what kind of interests does your child have? The Denver Nature and Science Museum in City Park is not far from GDC. If your kid likes the zoo, it's right next door to the Museum.

We took our son there this summer ( well I should say I did, as there was no way we were bringing all 5 of us on the flight! ) I agree with the above poster, I wouldn't recommend staying near the GDC Although there is a fabulous calazone place just around the corner that you could eat lunch at ( it really looks like a hole in the wall resturant but man does it have GREAT calazones!!!)
I rented a car at the Denver airport and stayed in the La Quinta Denver Airport so it was about a 25 min drive in the AM due to traffic to get to Colfax but not too hard to find and I managed to get there without hassle both days, although its street parking so sometimes you have to drive around a bit to find a spot near the GDC carriage house.( and have to look closely as its really tucked in behind a taller older apartment house/building.
We didn't go to any area attractions because we used to live a few hours away in Colorado Springs in prior years so we had seen some of what Denver had to offer then, plus DS was much more interested in the hotel pool! I would recommend the Denver Childrens Museum off the freeway, it has a huge park right beside it as well and the aquarium is next to it ( although its not a huge one, its ok )
We had a great experience there with them those two days, and DS loved every minute of it! I hope your time there goes well!

GPBD, I'm happy to talk with you via PM about great neighborhoods/hotels to stay in, and attractions to see - there are tons to choose from in central Denver. Capitol Hill (where GDC is) isn't a bad place, but there are fewer hotels to choose from. The neighborhood is right next to downtown though, and there are a lot of hotel choices downtown, as well as the places in Cherry Creek and on Colorado Blvd that knute974 recommends. Send me a PM and I'm happy to give you as much info as you like.