Sprawling across the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is a thriving metropolis in the midst of awe-inspiring natural beauty. At an elevation of 304 metres, Denver earns its nickname of “Mile High City”. With hipster breweries and famous music venues such as Red Rock Amphitheatre, Denver is one of America’s favourite urban enclaves.

Things to do

While exploring the 129-hectare urban sanctuary of City Park, you can pop into the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with its IMAX theatre and planetarium. For a fascinating depiction of the American West, visit the Denver Art Museum to see its collection of photography from the 1800s.

Bring along a curious appetite to The Source, Denver’s foodie haven nestled within a former foundry building in the River North District. It’s here that you can meet up with local brewers, wineries, artisan bakers, innovative chefs and earthy coffee roasters, all creating the “New Denver” scene for creative cuisine. If you’re craving live music, sports bars and eclectic vintage shopping, head to the 28 square blocks of LoDo, the lower downtown district of Denver.

Families travelling with kids can spend hours browsing the underwater exhibits at the Downtown Aquarium, home to more than 500 aquatic species and an interactive touch tank where you can pet stingrays. Head to the Denver Botanic Gardens to see diverse collections display themed gardens in three separate locations. The pull of nature is strong in Denver, so consider spending a day hiking, skiing or mountain climbing with one of Denver’s tour guides.

Getting around

Denver has an intricate public transportation system that includes light rail, buses and curb-to-curb “Call-n-Rides” that run to and from places within a specified geographic area. Free transportation services include “Sportsrides” to local sporting events and “Mallride” shuttles that service 16th Street Mall from one end to the other.