Destination Information - Denver, Colorado, USA

Once a hitching post for outlaws and gold prospectors, the city of Denver has now staked a claim as one of the hippest, liveliest urban centres in America's West.

Just as men with visions of riches once flocked here with mining picks, tourists with visions of culture, fine dining and outdoors adventure now find themselves lured to a vibrant metropolis at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. After a few days of ambling through the city's numerous parks and nearby open spaces of greenery, listening to an eclectic mix of music in little local clubs or enjoying meals of huckleberry-laced bison, many visitors who initially came here for a short break are tempted to hang around for longer.

Many visitors are drawn by Denver's sporting reputation: the city boasts seven major league teams, and the residents and visitors who aren't watching them play are usually out playing themselves in the Rocky Mountains, hiking, skiing, biking and camping. It must also be said, they also stick around for the pints of ale: Denver brews more beer than anywhere else in the US.

But mostly people fall in love with the Mile High City for the mountains of possibilities: this is a city at the crossroads, a city with 300 days of sunshine and an equal dose of optimism. Those who spend only a few days in Denver, however, can accomplish quite a bit, thanks to the proximity of many of the highlights (Lower Downtown, sports arenas, museums) to each other. One day should be reserved for heading into, or at least toward, the Rockies, about 40 minutes from downtown. Depending on the time of year, skiers and snowboarders can schuss the slopes by day and catch a concert at night, or hike the Boulder hills before quenching their thirst with a knock-your-socks off margarita downtown.

And if you're in Denver in January, be sure not to miss the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, a true Western experience with 15,000 animals and dozens of rodeos, bull riders, livestock competitions and horse shows.