Denver

Twice a year, gear makers from all over the world gather in the Denver, Colorado Convention Center to share their newest designs, innovations, and inventions with outdoor stores, journalists, and their peers. This year, the biggest focus was on how to keep people kitted out in rain jackets, hiking boots, and travel bags, without trashing the beautiful places we thrill to experience.

Picture a pre-dawn celebration where hundreds of whiskey lovers fueled by spiked coffee and dram-filled donuts are warmed by a convivial spirit that belies the chilly Denver air, and you’ll get a sense of this annual can’t-miss event for brown spirit aficionados.

It’s tough to stay indoors in Denver. With sun and blue skies practically year-round, plus mountain views and an outdoorsy culture, people here just want to be outside. Luckily, with over 200 hundred parks and open spaces, the city makes it easy to do just that. From walking paths and playgrounds to skate parks and kayaking spots, there’s someplace for just about everyone.

The Mile High City is a magical place to visit, whether you've got 24 hours to spend in Denver or a longer stretch to explore. From its spiritually moving outdoor spaces to an award-winning food scene, Denver is somewhere you could visit a hundred times and still find something new. For many tourists, however, the appeal of Denver isn’t in the green of the prairie, but the green of its dispensaries.

Known as the Mile High City due to its altitude (and, more cheekily, its laid-back attitude toward cannabis), Denver is a wonderfully quirky and inclusive destination for LGBTIQ+ visitors. The largest city for hundreds of miles in any direction, Denver serves as the rough-around-the-edges promised land for queer folks from all over.

Denver is a welcoming place for kids of all ages. And it’s no wonder – with outdoorsy recreation of all sorts, family-friendly museums and activities, plus sunshine 300 days a year, Colorado's capital seems made for kids and families.