Denver

Sense of Place

Three hundred days of sunshine a year and a panorama of snow-capped mountains in the distance have always given the Mile High City an optimistic, adventurous magnetism. Now Denver has truly come into full bloom as Colorado’s capital city, with an explosion of cool neighborhoods and a seemingly inexhaustible selection of acclaimed restaurants, breweries, and shops.

Spot Us Here: Wooden Spoon Café (their breakfast sandwiches are ah-maz-ing)

Shhhh… Best-Kept Secret: Twist and Shout Records hosts live, in-store shows with an above-par vinyl collection to browse

Claim to Fame: No. 9 Fittest City in the Country — American College of Sports Medicine

Population: 716,000

Lay of the Land

Denver has one of the most unique city landscapes—from historic Larimer Square in LoDo (lower downtown) to the park-lined confluence of Platte River and Cherry Creek to the colorful valley of theme-park rides at Elitch Gardens and major sports arenas—all right downtown. From here, the city spans out into the artistic havens of RiNo and Five Points to the north, the decidedly urban Capitol Hill and Uptown districts to the east, hip Highlands and Berkeley to the west, and long-established Washington Park and University neighborhoods to the south.

What Locals Love to Do

• Clink classes and sampling food at the bars, eateries, farmers market at Union Station, a revitalized 1914 Beaux-Arts train station.
• Sip craft beer at over 150 breweries, and annually at the Great American Beer Fest.
• Discover upcoming chefs at four major gourmet food halls and dining at Top Chef-run restaurants around town.
• Cheer on major-league teams at Empower Field at Mile High (football), Ball Arena (basketball, hockey, and lacrosse), and Coors Field (baseball).
• Get amped and inspired by the art scene on Santa Fe Drive, the Denver Art Museum, and at the nation’s second-largest performing arts center.
• Stand at exactly one mile above sea level on the 13th step on the Colorado State Capitol building.
• Play at Denver’s 200 parks, including City Park, a 330-acre treasure that’s home to the Denver Zoo, and Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
• Stop to smell the flowers (and check out over 2,000 plant species) at Denver Botanic Gardens.
• Experience the life-changing joy of a live concert at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, and explore Denver’s red-hot music scene.
• Shop raved-about retail-rich neighborhoods like Cherry Creek North, Platt Park, Highlands, and Tennyson.
• Ski at Loveland, Winter Park or four Summit County resorts a couple of hours away.