Vacation rentals in Denver

1. Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is one of America's premier natural history museums. It has a collection of over 100,000 exhibits, including a wealth of dinosaur and mammal fossils. Check out the planetarium and the Prehistoric Journey exhibition, which kids will love in particular. There are also Space Odyssey and Wildlife exhibits, while film screenings, lectures, and classes take place all year round.

2. Rocky Mountain National Park

For a fun-filled day in nature, make the drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park. Spreading across 416 square miles, the park offers opportunities for hiking, and a wide range of adventure sports including mountain biking, rock climbing, and skiing in winter.

3. Denver Zoo

The Denver Zoo in City Park is one of the city's most popular attractions. Covering 80 acres, the zoo is home to over 3,000 animals, including rare species like the Mongolian wild horse and novelties like Vietnamese potbellied pigs.

1. River North Art District (RiNo)

This neighborhood is known for its street art. Be sure to visit the various factory buildings and historic warehouses where you'll find great music, studios, art galleries, breweries, and cafes. Art openings and live music shows are held the first Friday of every month.

2. Highland

This is a large neighborhood away from Denver's downtown. Have an ice cream at the local mainstay Little Man after sampling the urban street foods at Linger. Head to LoHi to check out many of the city's best tap rooms and low-key restaurants.

3. Capitol Hill

South of downtown Denver, in Capitol Hill you can get an authentic sense of Colorado's history. The local architecture is a particular highlight. Visit the Denver Art Museum, the Molly Brown House, the Center for Colorado Women's History (housed in another historic mansion), and the Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion.

Vacation rentals in Denver make the perfect base to explore the greater region. The neighboring Rocky Mountains are the main attraction, home to some of the world’s finest ski resorts, as well as a number of spectacular hiking trails.If the mile-high city isn’t high enough for you, undertake the Colorado right of passage and scale one of the nearby ‘fourteeners’ - mountain peaks over 14,000 feet. The nearest to Denver are Longs Peak and Mount Evans.

For a change of pace, the quaint city of Boulder is a quick drive away, less than an hour from Denver vacation rentals. Once a major settlement for hippies in the 60s, Boulder still maintains its liberal, free-spirited roots, although in recent years it has become a poster town for active sports lifestyles. The Chautauqua Park and the Flatirons provide excellent spots for outdoor recreation activities. Or you can visit the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory to learn more about herbal teas, matcha lattes, and chai. Furthermore, the city's downtown area is known for its excellent breweries and restaurants.

Alternatively, the White River National Forest is about an hour's drive from Denver. This vast forest offers 2,500 miles of hiking routes. Head here to watch wildlife, camp, ride horses, or even backpack. Winter provides the perfect opportunity to spend a day (or more) in ski areas like Snowmass, Vail, and Breckenridge.

Another option for an awesome day trip is the Pawnee National Grassland. Travelers have to drive for a mere two hours to get to this location, which provides great hiking trails and exciting bird watching opportunities. With 200,000 acres of beautiful grassland, you can also turn your day trip into an overnight family camping trip, if you'd like a bit more time outdoors in nature.

Booking vacation homes in Denver gives you the independence to discover the stunning scenery and much more that's just waiting to be explored.

1. Colorado State Capitol

Intentionally designed to resemble the United States Capitol, this building has interiors made mostly from Colorado Rose Onyx, a rare rose marble. Climb to the top as part of a free guided tour.

2. Mount Evans

Called 'the road into the sky', the drive up to Mount Evans reveals dramatically changing landscapes and temperatures. Big Horn Sheep and mountain goats are frequently spotted here.

3. Denver Botanic Gardens

These gardens are home to North America's largest collection of plants from cooler regions. Summertime concerts and special exhibitions are big draws too.