As soon as you pick up your hire car from Newcastle International Airport, you're in the prime positon to explore this beautiful and vibrant region. Whether You’ve got the doorstep of the Rockies just waiting for you on the outskirts of the city - but before you drive off into the mountains don’t neglect the attractions of Denver itself. This is one of America’s most lively cities to visit and if you’ve got a hire car you’ll be able to see the finest parts of Denver – and the great outdoors too.

It’s an easy place to drive, even if you’ve never visited before. The Denver road network is comprehensive, modern and efficient. It’s easy to get where you want quickly thanks to a sensible grid pattern of city streets with numbered blocks.

Most of Denver was laid out in a grid around the four compass points. The exception is the central downtown area, where the streets shift into a diagonal grid. Away from the city the roads are more likely to be winding, as they follow old tracks through the hills.

To help you navigate your way around the city, there a ring of highways around Denver and a series of wide Interstates that run right through the city. I-70 gives you quick access to the mountains in the west or to the Kansas plains to the east. And I-25 heads north to Cheyenne in Wyoming or south to Colorado Springs and on to New Mexico.

You’ll see that Colorado’s driving rules are similar to other states. The speed limit is 75mph on rural interstates, 65mph on ordinary highways. Note that you may find lower limits in the mountains because of the bends and gradients.

Find out more about Colorado’s driving rules here.

They call it the Mile High City because Denver is perched in the foothills of the dramatic Rocky Mountain range. It makes for sensational snow-capped backdrops to your views of the city. But don’t neglect the charm of Denver itself – this has become a thriving, bustling centre for culture, food and shopping.

Downtown Denver

The high-rise grid of diagonal streets at the centre of Denver is well worth investigating. One highlight is you’ll find the State Capitol on a green area at the edge of the downtown. The neo-classical domed building is the home of the state assembly and governor. You can take free tours inside, including the dome itself, which actually comprises outer and inner rotundas with plenty of space to walk around between them.

After the Capitol the city’s biggest landmark is the Daniels and Fisher Tower, a 325ft clock tower that was one of America’s tallest buildings when it was constructed in 1910. It’s not even the tallest on the street now but the view from the observation deck is still breathtaking. Listen out for the 2.5-ton bell when it rings across the city.

Not far away there’s the unlikely attraction of the Denver Downtown Aquarium, located at around 1,000 miles from the nearest sea. It’s a fascinating place to visit, with tanks holding over a million gallons of water and species ranging from otters to stingrays.

Shop till you drop

Denver’s shops have to service a vast area so perhaps it’s no surprise you’ll find some great retail therapy here. Browsing opportunities include the upmarket designer stores, boutiques and galleries at Cherry Creek and more quirky stores at the 16th Street Mall. Designed by the colourful architect I.M.Pei, the mall is supposed to resemble a rattlesnake and is a mile long. Out of town there are discount outlet malls full of big name bargains. Colorado Mills is the best, with stores like Banana Republic, H&M and Coach.

Colorado cultivating culture

Amid the glossy new architecture of Denver, you’ll be able to pop into some serious galleries for a culture fix. The Museum of Contemporary Art displays only temporary exhibitions by the big names of world art, like Damien Hirst and David Altmejd, while the Clyfford Still Museum is simply a collection of the American abstract painter’s work in a very contemporary minimalist setting. Step inside the striking exterior of the Denver Art Museum to find a large collection ranging from American Indian art to works by Picasso.

Run for the hills

Denver is already a mile above sea level don’t forget, so you haven’t got far to drive before you’re reaching some serious heights. It’s only a short drive, for example, west of the city to Mount Evans. The road leads to the summit with plenty of stops for photos along the way. You could use this as a base for hiking, mountain biking or fishing, or simply sit down and have a picnic enjoying the view.

Drive to the north-east and you'll be at Barr Lake State Park in a few minutes. There are 12 miles of trails here circling a tranquil lake and forests. You don’t have to be an expert to spot the birds here: more than 350 different types have been recorded.