Check Out My Audio Tour of Denver: Top Ice Cream Spots by Bicycle

A couple months ago, I got an email from a guy named Gary. “I came across your website and thought you might be interested in creating a location-aware audio story in Denver for VoiceMap.”

I was intrigued. Now that I’m rooting down in Denver for a while, it struck me as a great way to show off my hometown and create a really fun travel experience for others.

VoiceMap is meant for walking tours, but I love bikes. I decided to push the technology a bit and create a bicycle tour instead. Where to? When I travel, I tend to seek out the best ice cream in town. So I made a Denver ice cream tour by bicycle. A few FAQs answered:

How does it work?

Download the VoiceMap app and find my Denver tour for $4.99. Once you download the tour, you can use it offline with GPS only. This is great for international travelers who may not have a data plan in the States. Then, once you’re at the tour’s starting point, GPS will trigger the voice tracks as you move, telling you where to go and what’s around you. It’s designed to let you leave your phone in your pocket and just listen as you ride.

 

What if I don’t have a bicycle?

No worries. I looked for spots with B-cycle stations at the beginning and end of the tour, so you can just grab a bike at the beginning and turn it in at the end.

You don’t have to be in great shape to do this ride. It’s a total of 9 miles and you can choose your own pace.

Isn’t three ice cream stops a little excessive?

Yes. Yes it is. The trick is to pace yourself. I did three trial runs on this route and ate at least ten scoops of ice cream in the routing process. That was excessive. But I learned a few tricks. Share scoops, go for kid sizes where available, combine flavors in one scoop if the shop lets you, and opt for sorbet at least once. Think flights of beer, only with ice cream. It’s all about tasting.

Also, I chose the ice cream stops based on what’s around them. Listeners can skip the ice cream and explore South Broadway or Colfax instead. I also point the way toward breweries and street tacos along the route, in case you want more balance in your diet.

How much does it cost?

Compared to some of the other guided tours out there, I’d call this a budget travel experience. The tour download costs $4.99, and each ice cream stop costs less than $5 if you stay single-scoop. So that’s less than $20 for a full couple hours of Denver touring.

If you’re using B-cycle for bike rental, that will add another $9 for the first 30 minutes, then $5 for each additional half hour after that. To allow for a leisurely two hours, plan on spending $24 on B-cycle.

What are the highlights?

The three ice cream stops are Little Man, Sweet Action, and Ice Cream Riot — in that order. The route is designed to give a diverse sampling of Denver’s central neighborhoods and best-loved sites.

By the end of the route, travelers in Denver for the first time can check off Highlands Bridge, Confluence Park, Cherry Creek Bike Trail, Old Santa Fe Arts District, Baker and South Broadway District, Denver Country Club Historic Neighborhood, Cheesman Park, Capitol Hill, Civic Center Park, 16th Street Mall from their sightseeing list.

Here’s a map of the route:

Join me on Monday, July 24 2017 at 7:30 for a tour launch party. I’m looking for testers to leave me an honest review on the app. If you leave me a review, your next ice cream is on me!