Denver is the place to be in Colorado if you want all the amenities and excitement of living in a city without sacrificing access to the great outdoors. You might be wondering what it is like to live in Denver. Well, the Mile-High City attracts easy-going nature lovers from all over, resulting in a casual-yet-adventurous blend of award-winning restaurants, a plethora of year-round festivals, more than 200 city parks, and one of the top craft brewery scenes in the country. In summer, you’ll find folks picnicking on grassy open spaces, including the giant 314-acre City Park, wandering around arts districts, and popping into bars for happy hours post-hike. Even in winter, you’ll often see Denver-ites lounging on patios, thanks to a mild climate and an abundance of sunny days. Denver is also one of just 13 U.S. cities with teams from four major league sports, including the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos, who both play at stadiums within city limits. Turns out that in Denver, you really can have it all.

 

Eat & Drink

Wolf’s Tailor | In the Sunnyside neighborhood, this award-winning spot is a unique fusion of Asian and Italian cuisines that's simply out of this world.
Comal Heritage Food Incubator | Grab lunch at this experimental spot where aspiring restaurateurs serve primarily Latin American dishes.
A5 Steakhouse | Sophisticated steakhouse and bar with a modern twist on all dishes.
Work & Class | Homestyle Southern and Latin American cuisine and cocktails in an industrial-yet-cozy space.
Sushi Den | Sushi in Colorado? You better believe it—fresh fish is flown in daily at this top-rated Japanese venue.

Denver is a true food-lover's town, and there are just too many good places to list! Check out these recommendations from 5280 Magazine and Eater Denver.

 

Trails and Walks

Cherry Creek | Hop on and off this 24.6-mile out-and-back trail that runs from downtown to Cherry Creek Reservoir and passes through various city attractions.
Washington Park Loop | This mellow path takes a scenic loop around Washington Park (or “Wash Park,” as the locals call it) and is popular for running, biking, rollerblading, and dog walking.

 

Arts & Culture

Denver Art Museum | One of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast, with more than 70,000 works of art in 12 collections, from African art and architecture to contemporary and Indigenous arts.
Santa Fe Arts District | A nationally known arts and cultural district encompassing hundreds of artists, galleries, studios, theaters, and creative businesses along Santa Fe Drive.
RiNo Arts District | In "RiNo” you’ll find warehouses and factories now converted to house jazz bars, restaurants, brewpubs, art galleries, and working studios, plus, murals around almost every corner.

 

Favorite Community Events

Cherry Creek Arts Festival | Every summer, Denver streets in the Cherry Creek neighborhood transform into an outdoor art show bringing together hundreds of juried artists and thousands of art lovers.
Great American Beer Festival | Typically held in early fall, this annual festival is the premier U.S. beer competition, showcasing the finest examples of more than 100 beer styles.
Zoo Lights | Wander through Denver Zoo’s winter wonderland of holiday light displays, one of the best and most creative in the country.
Denver PrideFest | A two-day festival that draws hundreds of thousands of folks together to celebrate Pride Week, ending with a vibrant parade in downtown Denver.

 

In the News

“After a particularly satisfying meal—and there will be many—duck into the Denver Art Museum, lounge in Washington Park, or sip your way through the city's many breweries (better yet, make a tour of it). Everything you want is within reach—5,280 feet up, that is. But we promise, it’s worth the climb.” —Conde Nast Traveler

“One of the best parts of living in Denver isn’t just about what you can find within the Mile High City. While there’s plenty to do in town, our close proximity to 42 state parks, world-class ski resorts and 53 mountain summits topping out at 14,000 feet or more makes living in Denver just that much more enticing.” —303 Magazine