Denver

Denver, Colorado, sits at exactly 5,280 feet above sea level (the "Mile High City") at the edge of the Great Plains, with the Rocky Mountain front range rising dramatically to the west. The city has been transformed over the past two decades from a cowboy-culture hub into one of America's most dynamic, outdoor-oriented, culinarily sophisticated and (since 2012) cannabis-legal destinations. The Denver Art Museum, in a building designed partly by Daniel Libeskind, holds an outstanding collection with particular strength in Native American and Western American art. The Denver Botanic Gardens are excellent. The 16th Street Mall pedestrian corridor downtown, RiNo (River North Art District) with its street murals and breweries, and the Larimer Square historic district are the main urban destinations. The Red Rocks Amphitheatre (25 minutes west, near Morrison) is the world's finest outdoor concert venue — a 9,000-seat natural amphitheatre of red sandstone monoliths. Denver's position makes it the prime base for Rocky Mountain exploration. Rocky Mountain National Park (1.5 hours northwest) has extraordinary hiking and wildlife. Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen, Steamboat Springs and Telluride ski resorts are 2–4 hours west. The city's craft brewery scene is one of America's finest. Colorado outdoor culture — skiing, climbing, mountain biking, camping — defines the lifestyle here. Denver gets 300 sunny days a year despite its mountain proximity.