Denver is known as the "Mile-High City" because its elevation is exactly one mile above sea level. Visitors flock to the city to see Denver's many indoor and outdoor attractions.
A visit to Denver is not complete without visiting the Rocky Mountains, where many national parks, forests, and other picturesque spots can be found. The best thing about Denver is that it is the perfect starting point for exciting outdoor day-trip adventures.
DenverDay Trips
Central City and Black Hawk
Central City and Black Hawk are old mining towns that date back to the 1870's. The two towns are located just 34 miles west of Denver and offer more that 30 casinos with over 10,000 slot machines, blackjack tables and poker games.
The city also features some of the best preserved Victorian architecture in the West, plus the Central City Opera house which still showcases a summer season of the opera. You can also go on mine tours to mining museums and other establishments that offer instructions in the art of gold panning.
Georgetown
Georgetown is a little Victorian village located in a beautiful mountain valley just 42 miles west of Denver. Georgetown features 200 restored buildings from the 1870's, plus shops and restaurants that line the main street. The city also has several antique stores which were once old residential houses. For a true Georgetown experience, hop aboard a train car on the quaint Georgetown Loop Railroad which operates in the summer.
Mount Evans
Mount Evans features the highest paved auto road in the United States, taking you right up to its 14,260 foot summit. The road is open only from the Friday before Memorial Day through the first Monday in October due to its tendency to become snowed out from autumn to spring.
At the peak, you are afforded a view of the entire Front Range. On your way up Mount Evans, stop by the M. Walter Pesman Trail for a hike that features rare flowers and 1,500-year old bristle cone pine trees. The hiking trail snakes through sub-alpine and alpine areas where you can find wild flowers and animals of the tundra.
Pikes Peak Country
Pikes Peak Country is located 60 miles south of Denver. Here, you can visit the 14,000-foot high Pikes Peak plus many other attractions including the Air Force Academy; the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, which features exhibits on the popular sport; the famous Broadmoor Resort which has its own lake plus three golf courses; and the Garden of the Gods valley which houses giant 500-foot high red sandstone rock monuments at the base of Pikes Peak.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Denver's biggest attraction, Rocky Mountain National Park, features 400 square miles of some of the world’s most breathtaking views. The Rocky Mountain National Park is also where you will find the highest continuous highway in the world, crossing the Continental Divide at more than two miles above sea level. Nature lovers will definitely enjoy the Park's hundreds of miles of hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls, flora and fauna. Go hiking, camping or horseback riding on this vast expanse of natural beauty. For souvenirs and traditional dining, at the border of the territory you will find Estes Park, a resort town which features several shops and restaurants.