Denver is a prosperous, lively city at the foot of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, where 300 days of sunshine a year encourage a thriving cultural and artistic scene, and a great range of outdoor activities and experiences.
The Mile-High City
Denver is in the foothills of the Rockies and is surrounded by snowy peaks, but the city stands at a notable elevation itself. Colorado’s biggest metropolis is at an average of 5,200 feet high – hence the ‘Mile-High City’ nickname.
But this is no mountain outpost - you’ll find the downtown area is thriving hub of activity. Throughout the city you’ll see a mix of glossy new architecture and traditional old western-style buildings. Tour the city's architectural highlights, including the State Capitol, Museum of Contemporary Art and striking Millennium Bridge. If you’ve only time to see one building in Denver though, try to see the Frederick Hamilton gallery – it’s an extraordinary futuristic construction of angular titanium.
Delicious Denver
From gastropubs to chef-owned gourmet restaurants, Denver has developed an award-winning food scene based on locally sourced ingredients from the traditional farms around Colorado. There’s everything from fast food to restaurants, but the highlights include original eateries like Avanti, which is uniquely housed in a series of shipping containers, or TV chef Jennifer Jasinski’s acclaimed ‘Rioja’ restaurant.
Retail recreation
Denver is the biggest city and has a fantastic array of shops and stores for you to peruse. You’ll find the 16th Street Mall is the highlight – it’s a mile-long granite pedestrian promenade designed by architect I.M.Pei to resemble a rattlesnake. Meanwhile, you’ll also discover more upscale outlets at the tree-lined Cherry Creek area, where boutiques and luxury brands mix with art galleries and fine restaurants.
Get out of town
It’s a short drive west in your hire car from Denver to the best mountain viewpoints over the city, and the road up to Mount Evans includes plenty of picnic and photographic stops. As well as the panoramic views, there are plenty of opportunities here for you to go hiking, fishing, cycling or camping. Keep an eye out too for Rocky Mountain wildlife like mountain goats, snowy owls and marmots.
To the west of the city, you’ll find the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. It’s known as a stunning natural venue for major concerts but you’ll also find it’s the site of some memorable hiking and biking trails among the distinctive red sandstone formations.
Organise car hire in Denver to experience this spectacular beauty for yourself. Whether hiking or feasting, it's set to be an action-packed escape.