1. Black Hawk Station Casino

Black Hawk Station features over 120 latest virtual games, which keeps the action alive well into the night. When you enter Black Hawk Station, it’ll feel like an old west saloon. This casino has plenty of video machines and slots to choose from. You might want to get some practice on the slot machines before you visit this casino. The best way to make sure that you’re ready is to try out some online slot games on platforms like el royale casino.

This will allow you to understand how slots work. You’ll then, perhaps, be able to think about an effective strategy to increase your chances of wins. This compact, quaint, and traditional casino is worth considering if you’re looking for a gambling establishment near Denver. The owners have also been running a restaurant and bar since the early 1990s.

2. Century Casino and Hotel

This casino is located in Central City, which was once considered the world’s gold capital. Knowing this fact would be enough for some enthusiastic gamblers to make a trip to the casino. Century Casino and Hotel was created in 2006, when the Old Tollgate Casino and Golden Rose Casino merged into one. The casino establishment allows you to enjoy 24/7 gaming.

This has made it one of the best spots in Colorado for some exciting gambling action. Century Casino and Hotel is also one of the largest casinos in the state. It’s quite big and offers you a little more as you go further inside the casino. There’s a wide range of games to choose from, such as table games, slots, video poker, craps, and roulette.

The interiors will give you a feeling of being inside a Vegas gaming venue. The hotel offers excellent stays with its 26 hotel rooms equipped with the latest facilities. You’ll also find an on-site restaurant and bar in this hotel. Don’t forget to sign up for a casino club card. It will get you some attractive perks on the gaming floor and a few drinks and snacks for free.

3. Ameristar Black Hawk Casino

This establishment is located in Black Hawk, which is a gambling town in Colorado. It is a casino as well as a conference resort. Ameristar Black Hawk Casino gives easy access to the nearby ski runs. It offers plenty of facilities for guests, which include a spa, night club, and a mountaintop recreation park.

This casino opened in 2001 and was the largest casino in the state at one point. The gaming space is spread over 5,300 square meters with more than 1,300 slot machines. It also includes 6 poker tables and 16 blackjack tables. Upon booking one of its luxury rooms and suites, you can access the casino through a ski lift.

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1. The original Christmas cake

The original Christmas cake was the ‘Twelfth Cake’, which people ate during the late 19th century. They ate it when the Christmas season neared its end with the feast of Epiphany. Today, these cake have been replaced by the fruity and iced cake that we enjoy around Christmas time. Today’s Christmas cake that you find on the festive dessert table is a fairly modern addition.

2. The first tiered wedding cake

Queen Victoria’s wedding cake was three yards wide and weighed 300 pounds. Despite this staggering size, it was only one tier. The first tiered wedding cake was made for her eldest daughter in 1858. She also carried the name Victoria. Queen Victoria became the first person to use pure white icing on her wedding cake. This is why it’s popular today as ‘royal icing’.

3. The first cake

It was not until the early 18th century that the closest resemblance to the modern cake appeared. The earliest versions of cake were compact, flat discs of grain. They were dried and then compacted together. Before the 18th century, the cakes were similar in appearance to the bread because of the use of yeast.

4. Fruit cake’s history

The Roman crusaders used to eat fruit cakes to keep themselves energized and full. Later, the ones filled with fruits that were soaked with brandy or rum became popular. This helped to preserve these cakes for a longer period. The older a fruit cake is, the richer its flavor becomes.

This is one of the reasons why fruit cake is an option for a traditional wedding cake. As refrigeration didn’t exist during those times, this made sure that the cake lasted well.

5. Germany was not where the German chocolate cake originated

German chocolate cake is among the world’s most famous desserts. It will surprise you, therefore, that it didn’t originate in Germany. It actually came from an American whose name was Samuel German. He had created a dark baking chocolate in the mid-19th century. More than a hundred years later, it was used in a recipe published in 1957 under the title “German’s Chocolate Cake”.

6. Refrigeration makes cakes go stale faster

Cakes can become hard from the crystallization of starch. It is the addition of sugar and fat that keeps a cake from going hard. You can see an opposite effect on it with refrigeration. So, if you have leftover cakes or cookies, keep them at room temperature. Most of the other foods remain fresh if you refrigerate them, but this is not the case with cakes.

7. Most candles on a cake

A world record was created in 2016 for the largest number of candles on a birthday cake. Ashrita Furman and the Sri Chinmoy Center in New York were behind this world record. The cake was created to celebrate the birthday of Sri Chinmoy, who was a meditation teacher. The number of candles lit on his 85th birthday was 72,585. The center’s 100 members came together to achieve this world record.

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You might be aware of the type of cookies that are popularly eaten in the place where you stay. Now, let’s see some of the popular cookies around the world:

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies that make a delicious combination with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. They’re among the most popular cookies in the United States. These cookies were discovered by accident. A renowned baker named Ruth Wakefield ran out of chocolate. She then added some small, broken pieces of chocolate that was given by her friend, Andrew Nestle.

However, the chocolate didn’t melt as she had expected them to. As a result, the chocolate chip cookies were born. These cookies maintain an appropriate balance and have small mounds of semi-sweet chips of chocolate. They just melt in the mouth and would surely pamper your taste buds.

2. Snickerdoodles

The name of these cookies comes from the German word Schneckennudeln, which means cinnamon-sprinkled sweet rolls. They’re a type of drop cookie. The baking process involves dropping the batter directly to the baking sheet by using a ladle. The baker coats the baking sheet with cinnamon and sugar.

Snickerdoodles are usually prepared for holidays and eaten warm or at room temperature with a glass of milk. They have a crispy exterior with buttery and sweet taste.

3. Macarons

Macarons are sweet cookies with their middle portion having a chewy filling. These cookies have a crunchy exterior. They got this name from ‘maccherone’ which is an Italian word for fine dough. Macarons without the filling were first made in Italy during the 16th century. Their present form came from Paris, where they were light, colorful, and creamy.

Macarons were first made during the wedding ceremony of the Duke of Orleans. He later became King Henry II of France. Historians credit Pierre Desfontaines with adding a creamy filling in the middle portion of these cookies. He did this so that the cookies could stick properly.

4. Gingersnaps

Gingersnaps are usually baked during the holiday season. They’re made using nutmeg, molasses, cinnamon, and ginger. Today, these deliciously spicy cookies have gained popularity across the world. Gingersnaps are a perfect combination of spiciness and sweetness. These cookies also carry great health benefits. Every year, the United Kingdom celebrates Gingersnap Day on July 1.

5. Alfajore

The name of this cookie comes from the word ‘al hasu’. It is an Arabic word, which means ‘stuffed’ or ‘filled’. These sandwich-type cookies first became popular in Argentina and were later available throughout Latin America. The preparation involves attaching two crispy cookies with a filling of milk jam.

The baker then covers these cookies with chocolate and sprinkles sugar in powder form on them. The Alfajore were originally from Andalusia in Spain. When the Spanish came to America, they brought these delectable cookies with them.

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Butter

Salted and unsalted butter are the two common types of butter that the bakers use. This is a type of fat that adds texture and flavor to the baked products. Butter is undoubtedly a crucial ingredient in baking. The addition of butter to a recipe can preserve the life of the baked product. It keeps all the baked goods moist for a longer period.

Eggs

Eggs are commonly available in farmers markets, but a baker can get them from a local farmer in the neighborhood. They’re of great importance in baking as they add structure and texture to the baked products. The best eggs are the ones harvested from free range chickens that are given organic diet.

Such eggs are free of dangerous additives and hormones commonly found in eggs harvested from factories or chicken farms. They’re often used as a binding agent while baking. Eggs hold a mixture together and prevent it from crumbling or falling apart after baking.

Flour

Flour is mostly categorized according to the fineness and type of grind. The lighter and more heavily ground flours are useful in making fluffy baked goods. Bakers use all-purpose flour to make baked goods of different varieties. Flour is usually prepared from milled and ground grain.

It is the basic building block for almost all the products found in a bakery. Whether it is light cookies or dense pound cakes, flour is always an essential item. Whole grain flour is coarser and denser when compared to the regular flour. This type of flour offers several health benefits and this is why most of the bakers prefer using it.

Sugar

Bakers use different types of sugars for sweetening their baked products and adding flavor. Powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar is white in color. It goes through pulverization in order to obtain a texture that’s superfine. Bakers use this sugar in most of the baked products.

The bakers commonly use it for dusting cookies and cakes and to make frostings. Brown sugar is a combination of molasses and white sugar. It is used for creating flavorful and rich delicacies. The common white sugar is useful for sweetening dough and batter. The bakers then use this dough and batter for baking cookies, muffins, and cakes.

Leavening agents

A professional bakery always requires some type of leavening agent, such as baking soda, yeast, or baking powder. Bakers add any of these leavening agents to the dough according to the recipe’s requirement. The addition of leavening agent releases gas during the process of baking. This lends a light and fluffy texture to cakes, breads, muffins, and cookies.

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You can explore its natural beauty when you go hiking on its mountains. There are some good bike paths and parks in the city as well. Before you embark on a tour of Denver, you’d like to know more about its climate. So, let’s see how the four seasons are in this part of Colorado.

1. Spring

Denver enjoys its spring season from April to May. This is the time when the spring breakers have left and the sunbathers haven’t arrived yet. You’ll see lesser crowds in various parts of the city. This is the right time to get around in Colorado’s capital and explore its popular attractions. The climate would be extremely pleasant during this season, but it also brings the possibility of a snowstorm.

You’ll have many fun events happening across the city during this time of the year. The restaurants and bars also host massive parties that often reach the streets. If you don’t wish to join the revelry, make sure you stay away from the downtown. They can get crowded during weekends owing to the events and parades.

2. Summer

Summer arrives in the city in June and lasts until August. A regular afternoon rain brings some respite when the day gets hot. It also makes the evening perfect for going to a concert at Red Rocks. During summers, the crowds get bigger. However, you’ll have plenty of choices in outdoor activities.

You’ll see all the food and fashion trucks come together at the Civic Center. Over 20 farmers’ markets host the festive and weekly street fairs in the city. The art and music fairs add to the excitement in the parks. Summer is also an ideal time to embark on a hiking trip to the mountains.

3. Fall

The fall season begins in September and lasts until November. You’ll experience the best climate in Denver during fall. Temperatures remain consistent throughout the day and the atmosphere is dry. Spend every second under the sky if you can in this season.

This is one of the best times of the year to head to the parks and mountains. You can also go on bike rides through the city and stop at some breweries for refreshments. Taking a drive to the high country would also be a good idea. It allows you to witness the aspens change to gold.

4. Winter

Winter from December to March would be the right time to head to the mountains for skiing. The room rates in hotels will drop a bit, but the weather is quite unpredictable. There are days when the temperature shows 75 degrees and the very next day there’ll be snow.

Spring break in March brings in massive crowds, especially to the mountains. The airport gets busy as people arrive to enjoy spring break in Denver. Winter is the time when theater-goers throng the performance venues. They host everything from Broadway shows and operas to ballets and comedies.

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This is where RTD buses and trains come across as the cost-effective options. The bus system of RTD is the city’s primary choice in public transportation. However, you can also use RTD’s light rail system to get to your desired spot in the city.

The fare zones

Light rail and bus service is included in the local fare service. Another service included in local fare service are local services to the airport. Call-n-Ride service for individuals having mobility problems also comes under the local fare service. Bus and rail service covering a larger portion of Denver’s metroplex are included in the regional service. It also has expanded routes to the airport.

There are four fare zones under the RTD, namely A, B, C, and airport. If you choose to travel in one or two of these zones, it will be considered a local fare. The regional fare applies if you choose to travel in three zones. If you start or end your trip in the Airport zone, it will be considered as an airport fare.

Bus lines

There are many individual routes and miles of bus lines in Denver’s RTD. The bus system is the city’s primary means of public transport. It is also the best way to reach your desired destination in the city.

Rail system

You must use the train system of Denver if you’ll be covering a lot of ground. The city’s rail system includes the Commuter Rail and Light Rail. They’re the first train system of the city and help you get from one neighborhood to the other easily. The rail systems in Denver currently cover 13 district rail lines and 113 miles of rail. Let’s take a look at the two options of the city’s rail system:

1. RTD Light Rail

The Light Rail is a great option to get through multiple neighborhoods quickly. Although it’s more confined compared to Commuter Rail system, the service runs through many parts of the Denver metroplex. Multiple lines of this service stop frequently throughout Denver.

2. RTD Commuter Rail

When compared to the Light Rail routes, you’ll find the routes on the Commuter Rail system typically longer. They also stop less frequently. The RTD Commuter Rail is similar to the Light Rail, but has different routes and trains.

Fares and passes

You can use day passes for multiple rides and they’re valid on RTD for one service day. The monthly pass would be useful if you plan on using the services of RTD frequently during an extended stay. Also included in an all day and monthly pass is the service to the airport. If you’re using a ticket book, you’ll need to pay a small upgrade fee. You can transfer passes between the bus and rail services.

Discount in fares of RTD are available for those over 65 years of age. Children aged 6 to 19 and individuals with disabilities are also eligible for discounted fares. Active military personnel with proper identification and children under 5 can use RTD service free of charge.

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All sorts of cakes have been created over a period of time. Amid such varieties of cakes, there are some that were able to stand the test of time. Let’s go through some of these cakes that still enjoy tremendous popularity:

1. Molten Chocolate

This cake was created by Jean-Georges Vongerichten. He had pulled out his chocolate sponge cake out of the oven mistakenly ahead of time. It proved to be a blessing in disguise. When he cracked the outer spongy part, he found liquid chocolate oozing out.

Vongerichten got the credit of creating the molten chocolate cake, popularly called the ‘lava cake’. After becoming immensely popular in the United States, this cake gained worldwide fame. It soon became a must-have on the menus of many global high-end restaurants.

Many individuals usually enjoy this cake as a dessert. It combines the elements of a flourless cake and a soufflé along with other ingredients. While creating this cake, timing is of great importance. You need to get the right moment when it can be inverted onto the plate from its single-portion ramekin.

2. Pavlova

Pavlova was the name of a famous ballerina. This is a quintessential summer dessert and is as delicate as the ballerina that it has been named after. While preparing this cake, whipped cream is laid on top of a meringue. A pop of color in the form of a fruit follows. The tart varieties are preferred more for contrasting the flavor of the meringue. Many consider this cake as a descendant of the German torte.

It was invented when Anna Pavlova toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. The exact inventor of the cake is under debate even to this day. In 1926, the first recipe appeared in print. It was more of a multi-colored gelatin dish than a dessert.

The preparation of the base is just like any meringue. It involves beating the egg whites stiffly and then adding sugar, cornstarch, and vinegar. The dessert is generally made during Christmas with traditional toppings that include lemon curd or whipped cream.

3. Sachertorte

A classic, layered chocolate sponge cake, the Sachertorte is a famous Austrian cake. It includes a thin coating of high-quality apricot jam with an icing of chocolate on the top. This cake tastes the best when it is eaten with a small cloud of unsweetened whipped cream. Franz Sacher invented this cake in 1832 when he was a chef for Prince Clemens Lothar Wensel Metternich.

At the time, the prince was the State Chancellor of Austria. Sacher was only 16 years old when the prince demanded a new cake. Obliging to the prince’s demand, he took the ingredients that were available in the kitchen and created something new.

The cake became a big hit and Eduard, the son of Franz, opened a hotel called Sacher in 1876. The hotel serves this immensely popular cake even today. You’ll get a version of this cake in almost every coffee house of Vienna.

4. Kasutera

Also known as Castella, Kasutera is a traditional sponge cake of Japan. The ingredients for its preparation include sugar, starchy syrup, flour, and eggs. This specialty is originally from the Japanese city, Nagasaki. It has a soft, spongy, and moist texture. The egg foam slowly raises the cake with no addition of oil or butter. It came to Japan in the 16th century through the merchants arriving from Portugal.

The name ‘Kasutera’ comes from the phrase ‘pao de Castela’, which means ‘bread from Castille’. You’ll come across many variations of the Nagasaki kasutera today. They’re available in several flavors, such as chocolate, brown sugar, and honey. Tourists visiting Japan can purchase the cake as a gift for their friends or family members. The Japanese also prepare a small version of this cake traditionally during some festivals.

5. Pound

This is a British dessert that dates back to the early 18th century. In those times, many people were illiterate. Pound cake, therefore, had a simple convention that helped people remember its recipe quite easily. One pound of the ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter, and eggs was used for creating the dessert. There’s no leavening agent involved in its preparation. The only exception is that they whip the air into the batter.

By the 19th century, the recipes began to differ from the original considerably. Smaller quantities of ingredients were used, which resulted in smaller and lighter cake. The original cake was quite big and could feed a significant number of people. In recent times, the bakers use leaveners in this cake to make it less dense. Some cooks even add orange zest or chocolate for the enhancement of its flavor.

6. Bublanina

This is a traditional cake of the Czechs and the name means ‘bubble cake’. It is aptly named so, as the batter bubbles up while baking around the fruit in the cake. The choice of fruit changes according to the season. So, the Czechs can choose any of the available ones. The popular choices are tart cherries, apricots, sweet cherries, plums, strawberries, and blueberries.

Bublanina is somewhat similar to a coffee cake with regards to texture. The Czechs sometimes use it as a breakfast pastry. They prepare it using eggs, sugar, butter, flour, and a variety of fruits. The sponge is flavored with lemon or vanilla zest.

7. Buche de Noel

Traditionally, the French use sugar of confectioners to decorate this French cake. This is to give it a resemblance to the snow on a Yule log. Buche de Noel is a flourless chocolate cake. It is rolled with chocolate whipped cream. As an offering to the Sun, the Celts used to burn a log. This tradition has been lost as the home stoves have replaced the logs. As this Christmas cake has the shape of a log, it reminds many of their long-lost tradition.

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It is home to many beautiful parks, which include the Civic Center Park, City Park, and Washington Park. Today, Denver is one of the most popular cities to live in the United States. While getting around in the city, you’ll come across many fascinating attractions. Here we’ve listed some of them:

1. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater

This is one of the most famous attractions worth exploring if you’re in Denver. If you don’t have a car, you can take a shuttle to reach Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. This venue attracts a lot of music buffs every season and hosts live music events. You can also consider visiting the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. It will help you know more about the greatest musicians of Colorado.

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is located about 15 miles from the city center. However, the commute will be worth the effort. The name of this place comes from the red sandstone rock formations that form the walls of the amphitheater.

2. Denver Botanic Gardens

Spread across a vast area of 23 acres, the Denver Botanic Gardens is located close to Cheeseman Park. It places a greater focus on the native plants and practices that are sustainable and environmentally responsible. You’ll find a variety of plants here that are from different parts of the world. The Denver Botanic Gardens was first laid out in the mid-20th century.

Consisting of 43 individual gardens, it is one of the country’s largest botanical gardens. Among the highlights are Marnie’s Pavilion, which has orchids, waterfalls, and ferns. You’ll also love exploring the Japanese Garden and Boettcher Memorial Conservatory.

3. Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Among the top cultural attractions in this city is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. In this museum, you’ll get to see the most fabulous exhibits. They include the remains of animals from the Ice Age and the imposing skeletons of dinosaurs.

You’ll also be delighted to see the collection of minerals that have come from the Coors family. Don’t miss one of Colorado’s largest gold nuggets during your visit to this museum. Also worth checking out is an IMAX theater and a Planetarium.

4. Denver Zoo

Denver Zoo was opened in the late 19th century. Owing to its rich history of conservation, it’s still considered one of Denver’s most popular attractions. This zoo has enclosures that have been created according to the needs of different species. One of the interesting things to see here are the stingrays, which can be found in the Stingray Cove.

The Toyota Elephant Passage will give you the chance to witness the African animals. If you wish to get closer to two wonderful Amur Tigers from Siberia, visit The EDGE. The Harmony Hill Bear Habitat in this zoo is home to the Grizzly Bear.

5. United States Mint

This is where the currency of the United States is created. The United States Mint is also the place for storing a part of the country’s gold reserves. You can get to this building once you go beyond the City and County Building. A free guided tour of the facility will allow you to learn the process of creating money. Souvenirs, commemorative coins, games and other items are available for sale at the on-site gift shop.

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Besides, the city also experiences a pleasant climate for most part of the year. This gives you another reason to try some exciting adventures in the city’s most enchanting places. Here are some of the activities you’d like to enjoy in Denver:

1. Hiking and mountain biking

Some of the terrain in Red Rocks Park is rough. So, if you plan to go hiking in the park, don’t forget to bring your hiking shoes. You must also be prepared for a sudden change in weather, which can occur at times. The Trading Post Trail stretches to 1.4 miles and goes winding through amazing rock formations. It also passes through a natural meadow and valleys.

If you wish to indulge in mountain biking, take the Red Rocks Trail. It begins at the Lower North Lot. The trail also splits into two segments. One goes north and connects to Matthews Park in Jefferson County. The other goes eastwards and connects to the Dakota Ridge Trail.

2. Driving up the 14,000-foot Mount Evans

The Mount Evans road opens only in October. It is opened from the Friday before Memorial Day through the first weekend. After Labor Day, the road closes at the Summit Lake. Mount Evans has North America’s highest paved auto road. It goes all the way to the 14,260-foot summit.

The view that you see from the summit covers the entire Front Range. You can enjoy a wildflower hike by stopping at M. Walter Pesman Trail. This will be your chance to see the rare flowers. You’ll also get to witness the bristlecone pine trees that date back 1,500 years.

3. Zip Lining

You’ll get to zoom above Clear Creek located in Idaho Springs with a canopy zip-line tour. It takes you to a height of up to 65 feet and allows you to witness some stunning sights. There are tour operators that provide do-it-all packages. With these packages, you can traverse the granite cliffs or roll down the mountain inside a giant ball. Towards the end of the adventures, you can also enjoy rafting on Clear Creek.

4. Watching the wild animals

Located at a distance of about 30 miles from Denver is The Wild Animal Sanctuary. It is a rescue and educational facility spread over 720 acres. You’ll be able to see over 350 rescued animals in action here. You can watch wolves, lions, and other carnivorous animals in their natural habitats.

This is one of the only places in the United States where you can do this. You’ll get to witness these incredible sights from an elevated walkway called ‘Mile Into the Wild’.

5. Taking a hot air balloon ride

This is the only way to truly see the Rocky Mountains. You can take a hot air balloon ride to enjoy breathtaking views of the majestic Rockies. As you soar high above the Front Range, you’ll get to see some of the awe-inspiring sights.

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