"Longworth" wrote in message
oups.com...
We finally made it to Denver ... We would like some recommendations for
short, 1 to 2hrs
sightseeing round trips from Centenial airport. Without oxygen and
with 180hp engine, we probably would not want to go higher than 10,000
or 11,000 feet.


Given that altitude restriction you are pretty much limited to the
foothills, although with a 180hp engine (I assume in a Skyhawk or
equivalent) you could easily do some mountain flying. All the usual
warnings regarding mountain flying training apply...

If you are going to stay below 11K, you can fly NW under Denver Class B,
transition Jeffco Class D, fly over the foothills and up the Front Range.
Boulder, Lyons, Loveland, Fort Collins will pass off your right side, and
the Divide will be on display on the left. Try to avoid direct overflight
over Boulder if you are low - the locals are very noise sensitive.

From Fort Collins you can follow highway 285 NW to Laramie, WY. Beautiful
valley on the way. If you land there and borrow the courtesy car you will be
almost sure to see pronghorn as you drive around. From there fly over to
Cheyenne - you can walk to restaurants for lunch. After lunch it is about a
one hour flight back to Centennial - ask Denver for Class B transition -
they almost always provide it. I'm sure you know by now that we get
thunderstorms almost every afternoon - you might have to dodge or wait one
out - no big deal they seldom cause more than an hours wait. If you have to
avoid them, land at Longmont or Boulder - both nice airports (Longmont is my
home airport). I don't think either has a courtesy car, but if you land at
Boulder you can either get a cab or just ask for a ride to Pearl Street Mall
(a 4 block stretch of Pearl Street that is closed to traffic). Kind of fun
to walk around. Or just take a walk over to the glider side of the field and
talk to the people hanging out there - interesting bunch of gliding
fanatics.

Feel free to email me for any more info.

Michael