Denver Travel Guide | The Mile High City

Denver’s official elevation is exactly 1 mile (1.6 km), earning its nickname as the "Mile High City". Last fall, I embarked on a Colorado Grand Circle road trip from Denver to chase autumn colors. As the capital of Colorado, this city boasts 300+ sunny days a year, clean streets, crisp air, and plenty of must-visit attractions. ✈️ Transportation Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere—bigger than Manhattan! From the plane, you’ll see the Rocky Mountains behind downtown and the vast Great Plains to the east. In autumn, the plains turn golden, straight out of a Western movie. A-Line Train: Takes 40 mins to Union Station ($10, includes unlimited rides for the day). Pro tip: The ticket check isn’t strict—I reused my old ticket days later and saved $10! 😉 ⚾ Coors Field Home of the Colorado Rockies (MLB). Nearby, Cherry Cricket serves legendary burgers—worth a try! 🐻 Big Blue Bear A 40-foot-tall sculpture outside the Colorado Convention Center—Denver’s iconic photo spot. 🪙 United States Mint One of only five U.S. Mint facilities. Free 1-hour tours (first-come, first-served; book same-day at the east ticket office). Open Mon-Thurs (check for closures). 🏛️ Colorado State Capitol Famous for its golden dome. Don’t miss: The "ONE MILE ABOVE SEA LEVEL" step marker. Squirrels everywhere on the lawn! 🐿️ 🎨 Denver Art Museum Stunning collections (Native American, modern art, etc.). Closed Wednesdays; student discounts available. Weekend/holiday tickets: ~$20-30. 🎶 Red Rocks Amphitheatre A 20-min drive from downtown. This natural rock concert venue has legendary acoustics. Free to visit when no shows! Why Denver? ✅ Sunshine galore ☀️ ✅ Walkable downtown with mountain views 🏔️ ✅ Unique attractions (from art to baseball to coin-making!) Perfect for a layover or weekend getaway! #TravelUSA #Denver #MileHighCity #HiddenGems #WeekendTrip