Welcome to beautiful Denver! We're so excited to have you joining us.

There's so much to do here - hiking, zip lining, climbing, breweries, and tons of history and parks. A few words of warning! The altitude can hit you in unexpected ways. Be sure to be careful when exploring or going on a hike - many of them may be more challenging than you expect if you're coming in from sea level, even for the most athletic of us.

For outdoor enthusiasts, there are tons of easy to challenging hikes within driving distance from the Denver area. If there are specific parks you'd like to visit, be forewarned that some of them require parking passes booked in advanced. Some of our favorite hikes that don't require advanced booking include:

Golden Gate Canyon State Park - with tons of trails, you're sure to find something that's in your athletic range with a nice view.

Red Rocks Park - check out Red Rocks then go for a quick and easy hike at Morrison Slide trails, which give you a gorgeous view of Denver.

Saint Mary's Glacier - this 60 minute drive is worth it! While not really a glacier, this is an easy hike nestled in the mountains with a beautiful view of the lake and range. The hike is relatively short and easy for people who have just arrived. Parking is $20 per car.

Garden of the Gods - a 70 minute drive from Denver, this park is a National Natural Landmark, and has tons of trails with minimal elevation changes. Its one of the most beautiful spots in CO, and a classic place to visit.

Looking for something to do that doesn't involve a feat of athleticism? Look no further than the following gorgeous drives:

Red Rocks Amphitheater - visit one of the most famous and historic concert venues in the US. The drive to Red Rocks is under 30 minutes . Take a short hike up from the parking lot on a paved road, to see the iconic venue. Be sure to check out the museum while you're there for your Rock N' Roll education.

Idaho Springs and Georgetown - these sleepy historic towns are so cute, and gives you some great views of the mountains while you're there. Check out some cute coffee shops and wander through the kitschy shops. We love the Frothy Cup coffee shop (be sure to get coffee with the fresh homemade whip cream) and Slaymaker Cellars Meadery for a quick tasting of some local mead. Be careful though! It's definitely strong.

Indian Hot Springs - check out one of CO's many hot springs with a day pass. Enjoy a soak and a swim, or check out the hot spring caves.

Denver Zoo - As a non-profit conservation organization, Denver Zoo is dedicated to providing authentic, loving homes for the amazing animals under their care. Grab a beer and go for a walk!

Denver Botanic Gardens - The Denver Botanic Gardens is a public botanical garden located in the Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver, Colorado.

Denver Art Museum - The Denver Art Museum is an art museum located in the Civic Center of Denver, Colorado. With encyclopedic collections of more than 70,000 diverse works from across the centuries and world.

Meow Wolf Denver - Lots of people love Denver's Convergence Station and check it out when they're in town. David and I enjoyed it but probably wouldn't go more than once.

Sports - Look into tours at Coors Field, McGregor Square, or Ball Arena.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum - This small and charming museum features over fifty iconic aircrafts and history of flight in Colorado. After, go next door to the Lowry Beer Garden for snacks, cocktails, beer, and ice cream.

Colorado Railroad Museum - Surrounded by towering Western buttes, the Colorado Railroad Museum combines a spectacular location with more than 100 narrow and standard gauge locomotives, cabooses and cars.

Stranahan's Whiskey Distillery & Cocktail Bar - book a tour and try a sampling of whiskey from one of Colorado's distilleries! The basic tasting is $20 and held daily.

Coors Brewing - visit the original Coors Brewery! Tours are $20 and tickets go on sale 25 days in advance of the tour date. Reservations release at 12:00 AM midnight MT on the 25th day. They're offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Casa Bonita - while we haven't visited, South Park fans and many in Denver are excited by the reopening of this Denver classic. Tickets are currently on a lottery basis, so sign up to get on the list if you're interested!

Zipline - Denver Adventure provides long zip lines with great views. Sam and Dani have done this together.

White water rafting - white water rafting is very popular! August is a good time for beginners, but check the water levels before booking.

While retail marijuana is legal in Colorado, many report that it is of higher potency than normally found in other states. Marijuana and alcohol that are consumed at high elevation may potentially increases the effects, or worsen altitude sickness. Be careful if indulging!