The Unsinkable Molly Brown, famed for her appearance in Titanic, personified Denver’s lively, new-money spirit. Despite her wealth, Molly sometimes lacked respect—much like Denver’s own evolution from a rough-and-tumble cow town to a sophisticated, multicultural urban center. Today Denver is the heart of a thriving metropolitan region, blending mountain lifestyle with modern industries such as high-tech and energy.
Denver wears its success with confidence. The city embraces outdoor living with more than 800 miles of biking, hiking, and jogging trails and roughly 200 parks for residents and visitors. With about 300 days of sunshine each year, Denver often enjoys clearer skies than many coastal cities, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The city’s atmosphere is youthful and energetic—inviting, open, and social—so to experience Denver fully, plan time outdoors to soak up that Rocky Mountain spirit.
In 2014, Mayor Michael B. Hancock described Denver as “vibrant, thriving,” noting the addition of approximately 27,000 jobs over three years. Rapid growth brings opportunities but also challenges. Housing affordability and supply are pressing issues, and local leaders point to state construction-defect laws as a barrier to building new condominiums and townhouses—constraints the city continues to address.
Denver’s dining and nightlife scenes punch above their weight, with more than 1,000 restaurants and bars within two miles of downtown. The city’s robust brewing culture has earned it the nickname “Napa Valley of Beer.” The Denver Beer Trail showcases more than 20 active breweries and over 100 brewpubs, one of the densest concentrations of craft-beer destinations in any U.S. urban area.
Downtown attractions include the pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall and the open-air Denver Pavilions. Union Station has been restored and reinvented as a transit hub and gathering place, reflecting Denver’s investment in public spaces. Explore LoDo (Lower Downtown), home to historic Larimer Square and a lively mix of shops, restaurants, and entertainment near Wynkoop Street and 14th Avenue—many locally owned and distinctive. The light rail makes it easy to reach Old South Pearl Street, known for independent bookstores, galleries, boutiques, and a cluster of cafes and restaurants that make for a relaxed day of browsing.
Another hip area is SoBo (South Broadway and Ellsworth Street), popular with younger crowds and home to eclectic shops and independent stores. For shoppers seeking scale, Cherry Creek offers more than 500 shops and is a major retail district—one of the largest between Chicago and San Francisco.
Denver Art Museum © Benkrut | Dreamstime.com
Denver’s cultural assets also shine indoors, providing options for rainy days despite the region’s dry climate. The airport itself presents a welcoming introduction to the city’s public art collection. The Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver house significant and popular collections, while smaller institutions like the Dikeou Collection and the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art offer more specialized and eclectic exhibits. Transportation and history enthusiasts will appreciate the Forney Museum of Transportation, which highlights historic locomotives, and the American Museum of Western Art, which showcases notable works in a landmark setting.
As one of the nation’s fittest cities, Denver’s residents embrace active lifestyles at mile-high altitude, and the city supports a strong sports culture. Depending on the season, visitors can catch MLB’s Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena, the NFL’s Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High, or the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. January brings the National Western Stock Show, a long-running celebration of western heritage and one of the country’s premier livestock and rodeo events. From professional sports to urban planning, the Mile High City continues to grow and evolve.
Scenic Drives
Roughly 60 miles south on I-25 lies Colorado Springs, a popular day trip with dramatic mountain scenery. Garden of the Gods is a global draw for its striking sandstone formations. Other notable attractions include the Will Rogers Shrine, Pikes Peak, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Broadmoor resort.
Boulder, about 30 miles west of Denver, offers a distinct identity and an intimate connection to the mountains. The Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder is an open-air promenade with food, street performers, and shops. Nearby cultural stops include the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art and the Fiske Planetarium, and the Flagstaff House restaurant provides memorable dining with panoramic views.
West along I-70, the historic towns of Central City and Blackhawk recall Colorado’s 1860s gold-rush era. Once dubbed the “Richest Square Mile on Earth,” Central City features the 1878 Central City Opera House and Victorian-era buildings like the Teller House. Today visitors can explore restored historic sites, try the modern casinos, and enjoy live performances at the opera house during the season—an engaging mix of history and entertainment less than an hour from downtown Denver.