Social Events

The 2012 International Conference on Collaboration Technologies and Systems

(CTS 2012)

May 21-25, 2012

The Westin Westminster Hotel

Denver, Colorado, USA

(Tentative)

Excursion One: Westminster Promenade: Dinner and Entertainment options

Monday, May 21, 2012 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

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DINNER: Join us at Rock Bottom Brewery, which is a short walk from the conference hotel. This restaurant offers a fun, lively atmosphere with a casual dining experience. They have a moderately priced made-from-scratch menu that features entrees that appeal to every appetite including Cod Fish and Chips, Texas Fire Steak, a variety of salads and pastas, pizzas. They also offer fresh, handcrafted beers ranging from a Light Kolsch to whatever is their current dark beer creation.

http://www.rockbottom.com/westminster-promenade

After dinner, there are a variety of entertainment options in walking distance, including AMC Theaters, Dave and Buster’s and Fat Cat Bowling Alley.

http://thewestminsterpromenade.com/index.htm

Pricing and Transportation: Transportation is not needed as all locations are adjacent or a short walk from the conference hotel. This event will be pay as you go based on your chosen options.

Excursion Two: Banjo Billy Bus Tour of Boulder, CO and Dinner on Pearl Street

Thursday, May 24, 2012 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

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Join us and find out what makes Boulder such a fun and funky city!

First, we’ll have dinner at a restaurant on Pearl Street in Downtown Boulder, “the cultural heart and soul of Boulder, Colorado”. (Tentatively scheduled for Antica Roma - http://www.anticaroma.com/index.html)

http://www.boulderdowntown.com/visit/history-of-pearl-street

After dinner, “Saddle-up for 90 Minutes of Unforgettable Stories!” as Banjo Billy’s gives us a history tour of Boulder Colorado from an old school bus tricked out to look like a traveling hillbilly shack. Hear ghost tales, crime stories, and history while sitting on a couch, recliner or saddle as the bus rolls through the core of Boulder. You won’t forget this bus tour!

http://www.banjobilly.com/tours/boulder-co/

Pricing and Transportation: $35.00 per person, which includes the tour, gratuities and transportation to and from the conference hotel. Cost of dinner is not included, but there are many inexpensive dining options in Downtown Boulder. We are currently planning to dine at Antica Roma, which is moderately priced, great for groups and has a wonderful view of Pearl Street happenings. This tour has a strict limit of 25 people, so advanced ticket purchasing is recommended on the conference registration website to guarantee a spot on the tour. Sign up for this trip on the conference registration page.

Excursion Three: All Day Scenic Tour including Rocky Mountain National Park

Friday, May 25, 2012 8:30 AM – TBD

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Join us on a guided tour to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the USA! This loop tour allows you to travel along one of the highest motorable roads in the United States. From the grassy meadows, we drive to the top of the Continental Divide, seeing some of the best vistas, lakes, wildflowers, and wildlife the park has to offer along the way. Get an in-depth insight into the history and natural history of Colorado beginning about 75 million years ago and covering up to the present day. There will be many opportunities to see the flora (trees and plants), wildlife, historical structures, and expansive vistas as we make about 10-12 stops along this amazing journey where you’ll have ample opportunity to do a little exploration and take many photos. The goal of this tour is to provide a safe and educational experience not found in a guidebook.

For this tour, we depart the conference hotel in the morning and travel through the town of Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). After entering RMNP at the Fall River gate, we wind our way up Horseshoe Meadows and up Trail Ridge Road as we can get based on current year snow levels. Some years we can travel to the alpine visitor center in late May and other years we can only get as high at rainbow curves at 11,000'. After travelling up and down the impressive Trail Ridge Road we make our way back to the valleys below. Once back in the meadows, we make our way through Moraine Park to Bear Lake for spectacular views of Hallett Peak. After visiting Bear Lake we journey out of the park through the town of Estes Park and head back to Boulder via a section of Peak to Peak Highway to Allenspark. This part of the trip takes us past Lily Lake and the Twin Sisters, with Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker soaring to the West. The tour concludes back at the conference hotel.

Although all activity on this tour is easy and we will have very experienced guides, please take note of the following preparation suggestions and also notify us if you have any of the following so our tour operator can accommodate any special requirements of our group members:

    • Special Dietary Needs: (i.e., allergies, gluten free or vegetarian) for lunch and snack planning.

    • Any prior issues with altitude or motion sickness or car sickness (much of drive is along a very windy road).

    • Any previous issues adjusting to altitude or any issues with altitudes above 10,000 ft.

    • Any recent surgeries or serious health or mobility issues.

What to Bring:

Sunhat, sunglasses, and sunscreen cream, lip balm; warm jacket, raincoat; comfortable walking shoes, trail-running shoes or light hiking boots; synthetic or wool blend socks; day pack; camera and or video camera. Recommended: warm hat and glove liners (May can still be very cool at the higher altitudes). If someone does not have warm clothing, they will have extra layers in the shuttle.

More information about the tour provider and their other outdoor adventure tours are available here:

http://www.coloradowildernessridesandguides.com/groups/index.html

Rocky Mountain National Park info can be found here:

http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm

Pricing and Transportation: $120.00 per person, which includes the tour and guide gratuities, transportation to and from the conference hotel, snacks, water and lunch. RMNP entrance fee is a maximum of $10, but varies, so it is not included and you will pay for that yourself upon entrance to the park. (Note: If some one has a national parks pass (they can get themselves and 3 others in with them for free). The same applies to Golden Eagle and Golden Access passes.) This tour can accommodate 14 people, with a 6 person minimum signed and paid to guarantee pricing and reserve our tour. If there is greater interest, we may be able to book another van (based on availability). Advanced ticket purchasing is recommended on the conference registration website to guarantee availability. Sign up for this trip on the conference registration page.

For any questions concerning Social Events, please contact Social Events Chair, Felicia Harlow, at fharlow@ieee.org