Redwood Creek: Top 25 Picnic Destinations

		CITY PARK: Dallying in Denver
		THE SETTING The crown of Denver's urban park system, City Park is a pastoral oasis on the east side of Uptown. The city's largest park, it beckons walkers, skaters, bikers and picnickers who come to explore its 320 acres of lush landscaping, colorful flowers, fountains and lakes. Contained within City Park's boundaries are the Denver Zoo, the Colorado Museum of Natural History, an IMAX Theater and the Gates Planetarium. There is also a great public golf course and acres of open space for tennis, baseball, football and even horseshoes. Every Sunday evening throughout the summer, the recently restored Pavilion is buzzing with the sounds of live jazz. Picnickers can enjoy lunch on the green grass while listening to great music, or on one of the park's picnic tables overlooking the lake to the east and the rose garden to the west.
		WHAT TO SEE AND DO City Park has something for every outdoor enthusiast. Within its limits are several athletic fields, tennis courts, a playground, an 18-hole golf course and paved trails for jogging, walking, skating or biking. Picnic areas have BBQ grills and tables. If you want to spend time on the lake, rent a paddleboat or canoe. While you're in the park, spend some time at the Denver Zoo, home to more than 3,500 animals, from a 6-ounce Pygmy Marmoset to a 600-pound gorilla - and don't miss North America's largest komodo dragon exhibit. Another City Park adventure is the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, which offers wildlife exhibits, gems and minerals, dinosaur fossils, an IMAX theater and planetarium. For fun outside the park limits, head over to Denver's Lower Downtown, a revitalized warehouse district that now flaunts sports bars, art galleries and trendy restaurants.
		HOT TIPS Admission to the park is free, although you must pay fees for the zoo, museum, golf course and other sites. During summer months, paddleboats on Ferril Lake rent for $5. Picnickers who need extra provisions can refill at the Pavilion snack bar. If you're bringing Fido into the park, remember that he must be leashed at all times.
		PHOTO OPS Don't miss a shot of the bears or gorillas at Denver Zoo, or of the paddleboats and canoes glistening on the lake. In the summer, the rose garden is a perfect place to capture colorful buds in bloom. For a great nighttime shot, stay until after dark and photograph the electric fountain and pavilion when they're all lit up. The beautiful tree-lined entrance to the park makes for another great photo.
		LOCAL SPECIALTIES Colorado is famous for its Rocky Mountain rainbow trout, which you could cook up on one of the picnic-area grills. The city itself is known for the Denver omelet, an egg concoction made with cheddar, ham, green pepper and onion - a dish to consider for a group breakfast picnic.