Just returned from a four day trip to Denver, the Mile High City. I love the western United States. It makes me feel very patriotic. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Independence Day than to get out and enjoy the wonderful land that we bought and stole from so many others.

Seriously, though, it was a very good trip. The weather was hot (90 degrees F, 32 degrees C), but it was not bad for outdoor activities. My brother, his girlfriend, their dogs and I went on two really nice hikes in the Front Range northwest of Denver. One was in Golden Gate State Park (no relation whatsoever to San Francisco's golden gate) and the other was in El Dorado Canyon. Both provided outstanding views for only a little effort.

The highlight was a Friday concert at Red Rocks which is an awesome outdoor amphiteater on a hill above Denver amid immense sandstone formations. Even Frank Lloyd Wright could not have designed this venue to be more in tune with its surroundings. As the concert started, we could see rain and clouds in the valley to the south of us which produced an incredible double rainbow. It was a real WOW!

Because I was in the middle of ranching country, I had to enjoy the local fare so one lunch we went out for buffalo burgers. I generally do not eat red meat, but I like buffalo. Give it a try if you have a chance. We also had a very good Vietnamese dinner at the New Saigon restaurant on Federal Blvd.

Mark Los Angeles