Denver Travel Guide

At the westernmost fringe of the Great Plains, the “Mile High City” beckons like an urban oasis and giant outdoor sports playground.  In favorable comparison to larger US cities, Denver is in many ways Middle America’s hub of culture and commerce, with all the perks and few of the detractions of a modern US metropolis.  With a backdrop of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, Denver is the perfect destination for anyone who has trouble deciding on big city versus back country attractions, or has hopes of sampling culinary delicacies and untouched powder across the same vacation.

Early to mid autumn is one of the best times to visit Denver, as there are decent temperatures, little severe weather, and clear skies.  This is also a chance to see the wonderful fall colors, which usually peak around the second or third week of September in the mountains and October in Denver itself.  Late October typically marks the first snowfall of the season, although it isn’t at all heavy.  By November winter is clearly on its way, with plenty of clouds and moderate amounts of snow, so be prepared for cool to frigid weather if visiting during this time.  Then again, if the driving force of your Denver vacation is to experience ski season in the outlying areas, you’ll be right on track by visiting at this point or shortly thereafter.

The Greater Denver metro area offers as many sleeping options as there are styles and budgets.  From decent backpackers hostels to one of the top five-star hotels in the world, Denver and its sister cities (Colorado Springs to the south and Boulder to the north) offer an exceptional amount of variety for travelers.  It seems as of late that many Denver vacations are trending towards a balance between cheap flights and luxury accommodations like the top-rated Hotel Monaco, or the slightly more affordable but still high end Renaissance Denver Hotel.  Regardless of the accommodations you decide upon, make sure to see if the concierge or front desk is able to provide you with discounted tickets to local attractions, as this practice is more widespread in Denver than it is in other vacation locales.

Denver is a mecca of regional culture, where people from across the state come to see national touring acts at the massive Performing Arts Complex and Red Rocks Amphitheater.  There are events in Denver all year round; mid-January opens a new year with the two-week National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, the largest show of its kind in the country.   Though a large number of people fly into Denver International for skiing, they’ll be leaving the city to go where the ski areas actually reside, up in Summit and Eagle counties.  That doesn’t mean Denver is left standing alone when it comes to outdoor sports; quite the opposite in fact.  Denver has four very distinct seasons, each of which can be leveraged for such sports as triathlons in the summer and outdoor ice hockey in the winter.

Denver’s light rail line is a great convenience, and passes right through downtown with trains running every five minutes during peak periods.  There is also a bus system in place, but public transportation in general remains somewhat underdeveloped outside of the downtown area.  Car rentals are the most convenient for visitors, and can be sought out from the airport or locations throughout the city.  That being said, Denver’s weather is ideal for walking and cycling, and can be taken advantage of for shorter trips, especially on the fringes of downtown where attractions are more closely spaced but the full support of the bus and light rail systems are not in place.