Denver, Colorado, known as the “Mile High City” for its elevation exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, offers far more than a mountain backdrop. It’s a city where old saloons, Victorian homes, and vintage brick warehouses sit beside sleek skyscrapers and buzzing food halls. Union Station, once a train depot and now a stylish downtown hub, blends historic architecture with award-winning restaurants, cocktail bars, and boutique hotels, all connected by a working transit system that makes it easy to explore the city on foot or by rail.

Art and culture play a major role in Denver’s energy. The Denver Art Museum houses one of the largest collections of Native American art in the U.S., while the Museum of Contemporary Art showcases bold new works in a modern riverside building. A few blocks away, the RiNo (River North) Art District transforms warehouses and alleyways into open-air galleries, with colorful murals that stretch for blocks. During the summer, local artists lead public mural tours and host pop-up events that combine live painting with street food and music.

Nature is never far in Denver. While the nearby Rocky Mountains are visible from almost anywhere in the city, places like City Park and Washington Park offer wide green spaces right in town. For a uniquely Denver experience, visitors can catch a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, just 25 minutes outside the city. This open-air venue, built into massive red sandstone formations, has hosted legends from The Beatles to Kendrick Lamar and even early morning yoga sessions and movie nights when the stage isn’t rocking.