Denver travel guide

Denver lies on the east side of the Rocky Mountains that stretch from north to south across the state of Colorado and beyond. This more heavily populated part of Colorado is referred to as The Front Range after its topographic location related to the mountains (conversely, the city of Grand Junction on the western side of the mountains is in an area commonly called The Western Slope). In its early days, Denver received the nickname, “Queen City of the Plains,” and also “Paris on the Platte,” as the South Platte River flows just west of downtown, and early politicians wanted it to be as beautiful as France with municipal gardens created. The city was founded near the confluence of what is now called Cherry Creek and the South Platte River when miners panning for gold discovered a few flakes of the riches. The area had been home to Native American tribes first. Ultimately, deep veins of silver and other metals were found up in the mountains and Denver was able to establish itself as a supply town and eventually as a place for the new millionaires to invest in grand homes and the arts. As Denver endured many boom-and-bust cycles over the years, new generations saw fresh appeal and made the city more alluring. Museums were established and expanded, sports teams have flourished and become favorites for surrounding states that haven’t had quite the same popularity with their home teams, and easy access to outdoor recreation as a lifestyle exploded, making Denver an ideal all-around city.