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Mile High

Writer's picture: G. RhodesG. Rhodes

Updated: May 21, 2019

We recently traveled to Denver to visit close family. A wonderful time was had by all but I also wanted to tell you about a visit we made to Wings Over the Rockies, an Air and Space Museum located in Hangar #1 of the former Lowery Air Force Base in Eastern Denver. This place is an Av Geek’s dream come true.


A Dream Chaser at Wings Over the Rockies. This aircraft will deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station starting in late 2020.

Transferred from the US Air Force to a group of volunteers in 1994, Wings Over the Rockies features a number of static aircraft, including subsonic birds like the A-7D Corsair II, the huge B-52B Stratofortress and the compact Learjet 24 as well as supersonics like the F-4E Phantom and F-14A Tomcat jets. Hangar # 1 is huge so there’s plenty of room to move about and enjoy the aircraft. If you find yourself in Denver, it’s well worth a visit - there’s even a Moon rock. This lunar sample was brought back to Earth by the astronauts of Apollo 15 in 1971 and later presented to the Museum in honor of John L “Jack” Swigert, Colorado’s first Apollo astronaut. This outstanding museum is supported by donations. Visit wingsmuseum.org/give to make a donation online.


During our visit we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Denver at 1750 Welton Street, a short walk to the famed 16th Street Pedestrian Mall. The hotel’s intimate lobby and the gas fireplace in the bar give off a warm and inviting feel. While the building shows a little bit of its age here and there, the staff more than makes up for it. From check-in to daily housekeeping to check-out, they’re friendly, efficient and really do seem to care about their guests. Even the swimming pool is kept fully stocked with a seemingly endless supply of white, fluffy towels to dry off after a dip. I can also recommend the buffet breakfast in Courier Kitchen. It will satisfy you through lunchtime.


According to our Moving Map, Denver lies at 5,444 ft above sea level. Won’t take long to get to Flight Level three-three-zero.

On departure day, we took an Uber from the hotel to Union Station that only took about 8 minutes. Then we hopped onto the RTD Rail line directly to the Denver International Airport. The train is called the University of Colorado A Line and makes 7 stops in approximately 36 minutes. Trains run every 15 to 30 minutes throughout the day so the wait for the next train is never too long. At $10.50 one way for adults ($5.50 for seniors), it’s a great and easy alternative to far more expensive taxi service. The trains are clean with ample space to store your luggage during the ride and the cars are frequented by armed security personnel who also check your receipts to ensure you're not trying to get a free ride.


If you haven't traveled through Denver lately be prepared for a rush of humanity on arrival to the airport. Even at 8:00 AM, the Security lines were jammed. Luckily, we have TSA Pre Check with our Global Entry and that line moved really well.


Baggage delivery was right under our noses in Row 2.

After security, it was a short ride on the underground shuttle from the Main Jeppeson Terminal to the B Gates served by United Airlines. I timed the journey - from the hotel to the United Club East it was 90 minutes - not bad for a busy day during a workweek morning.

The United Clubs in Denver are spacious and have a nice "clubby” feel with dark wood paneling and some good views of the tarmac. At breakfast time, the offerings were what I expected - cereal, some fruit, breads and yogurt. Something new I noticed was a a dish of cottage cheese with a peach slice on top. Nice touch United.


A row of United tails with snow still seen on the Rocky Mt tops in the background.

Our plane back East took off on time and we enjoyed a good lunch along with an opportunity to catch up on some reading and stream a movie as well. After 2 hours, 45 minutes, we were home.







Until, next time…safe travels.







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cstambukrdu
May 21, 2019

I've not been to Denver yet, but your pictures look enticing. I enjoyed reading the different stories. Thank you for sharing. I want to read more.

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