Burn off some anxiety before Super Bowl kickoff

Pre-Super Bowl jitters can be the worst. Spending a long morning and afternoon of building excitement on Sunday, just waiting for the 4:30 p.m. (MST) kickoff, can be stressful.

So here are 10 exciting ways to burn off the tension, and have a great pre-kickoff day in The Mile High City.

1. Wear a Broncos Super Fan costume. Wear something orange and enjoy free admission to the History Colorado Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  At the museum, you can take your picture in front of the huge bison statue (who just happens to be wearing a Peyton Manning jersey) or try on a Barrel Man replica barrel in the Denver A to Z exhibit.  There is a fun case of Orange Crush cans, as well as three floors of exhibits exploring Colorado Stories, Destination Colorado and the Living West.
2. Climb the stairs at Red Rocks. There are 69 rows of benches at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, all located 6,400 feet above sea level.  Climbing the benches is a traditional Rocky Mountain workout, and great tension reliever.  Or hike the 1.4-mile long Trading Post Trail that winds among the rocks offering excellent views.
3. Do the Zoo. Denver Zoo is offering half off admission prices  fans wearing orange or their favorite Bronco-wear every day through Saturday. And game day, Feb. 2 is a pre-scheduled free day. Be sure to visit the orangutans. With their naturally orange color, they just might be the biggest Bronco fans in the city.
4. Ride an Orange Denver B-Cycle. There are more than 800 bikes at approximately 83 stations throughout the city. Look for the two bright orange Broncos bikes, or pick up any of the bright red shiny Trek bikes and pedal off around Washington Park. And, on Super Bowl Sunday, enter promo code 214 for a $3 discount for the 24-hour pass (normally $8).
5. Contemplate the Orange and Blue works of Clyfford Still. On Super Bowl Sunday, buy one admission and get one free at the Clyfford Still Museum with the special code, “Broncos.” And when the Broncos win the Super Bowl, the museum will offer free admission on Feb. 3.
6. Stroll or Bike the Mall. Denver’s mile-long 16th Street Mall is lined with 43 outdoor cafes. Designed by I.M. Pei, it is the prime people watching spot in the city – and on Sundays only, it’s permissible to ride your bike down the Mall.
7. Jog the Mile High Loop Trail in City Park. This 5k trail follows the 5,280 foot contour through City Park; many places along the trail are marked as being exactly one mile high.  The trail also offers some of the finest views of the city with the mountains as a backdrop.
8. View Bronco Inspired Art at the Denver Art Museum. There are more than a dozen works of art in the museum of bucking broncos, many in the museum’s famed Western Art collection. The Hamilton building will be illuminated orange from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
9. Go Back 300 Million Years at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.  You’ll learn that a Super Bowl played during the Paleozoic era would have been an aquatic game because Seattle, Denver and New York were all under water.  Burn off some energy at the Expedition Health and be reassured that no matter how fast your heart beats during the game, your brain cells will receive the same amount of oxygen.
10. 10. Escape Winter in a Tropical Floral 10.Wonderland at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Who cares if cold and snow in New York will affect the passing game if you’re walking between 200 orchids amidst more than 1,000 blossoms? Visit the conservatory, take of your coat and relax in the tropics until kickoff.

Where are you watching the big game? Go to www.visitdenver.com to find bars and restaurants offering special deals during the Super Bowl.