Denver: A guide to short-term rentals

Located in the middle of the state of Colorado, just east of the Rocky Mountain foothills, Denver sits exactly one mile above sea level, giving it the name “the Mile High City.” The city is technically located in a valley (albeit a very tall one), and the South Platte River runs directly through it, creating dozens of small lakes and creeks in the surrounding area. While the altitude can take some getting used to for visitors, the weather is typically mild, as the towering Rocky Mountains to the west protect the city from more severe winter weather patterns. The city is famous for its backdrop of snow-capped mountain peaks, more than 200 of which are visible from the city itself.

Denver was first founded as a supply town during the Gold Rush, as a result of miners discovering gold at Pikes Peak, a 14,000-foot-tall mountain about 70 miles south of the city. In 1861, it was renamed from St. Charles to Denver City, after the governor of the sprawling Kansas Territory, James W. Denver, and officially incorporated as a U.S. city. Rail transportation soon brought more inhabitants, and Denver became the capital when Colorado was granted statehood in 1876. Later in the 1800s, Denver was all about the silver mines, and the city grew once again, and today is the 19th-most populous city in the U.S.—and the most populous in the country’s Mountain States.

Today, the city is a popular destination for outdoor-lovers who want to take advantage of the city’s beautiful parks and its proximity to the majestic Rocky Mountains—not to mention the unique arts and music scene, impressive array of craft breweries, and impeccable short-term rentals.

Flying into Denver, you’ll be landing at Denver International Airport (DEN), which is about 25 miles northeast of the city, and also happens to be the largest airport in North America. The A Line, or the airport rail, will take you directly from the airport to Denver Union Station (just steps from Kasa's short-term rentals), a historic station in the heart of the city’s downtown, for a small one-way fee. The trip takes just under 40 minutes, and has a few other stops you can choose from along the way.

Outside the airport, the city has a regional light rail, which covers 36 stops throughout the city and its surrounding areas, many of which connect to the Regional Transport District (RTD) bus lines. Denver is also famous for having one of the country’s most walkable downtown areas, so many nearby attractions are easily accessible on foot. You’ll find hundreds of miles of bike paths throughout the city as well, so consider exploring the city on a rental bicycle.

As the city’s main transportation hub, Union Station might be one of the first places you see when visiting Denver, but it’s worth a visit on its own, and is just steps from Kasa's short-term rentals. The Beaux Arts–style building, which features 65-foot ceilings and vintage chandeliers, was completed in 1914, and today is filled with shops and restaurants, as well as the historic Crawford Hotel.

The 330-acre City Park is Denver’s largest urban park, and also one of the city’s oldest green spaces. It’s also home to two of the city’s best family-friendly attractions, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Denver Zoo, which was the first zoo in America to forgo cages with bars and house its animals in natural environmental habitats. The whole park is just over a mile’s walk from downtown Denver, making it a walkable destination for the whole family.

Even if you don’t visit the inside of the Denver Art Museum, it’s worth a visit to Civic Center Park just to look at the two building’s impressive architecture, one of which was designed by renowned Italian architect Gio Ponti. The gravity-defying modern design is a sight to behold, and inside, more than 70,000 works of art are on display across seven stories, including classic contemporary works by Picasso, Matisse, and Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as an excellent collection of Indigenous North American art.

For sports fans, Denver is a great place to catch a game. From April to September, you can find the Colorado Rockies playing on the baseball diamond at the impressive Coors Field, and during football season (September to January), you can see the Denver Broncos at the Empower Field at Mile High. Due to its altitude, Empower Field is one of the country’s most challenging stadiums for away teams to compete at.

Denver is also home to an official U.S. Mint, one of America’s six money manufacturers, and also happens to be the largest single producer of coins in the world. Sign up for a free tour to see behind the scenes of how American money is made. You can tell if a piece of U.S. currency has been minted in Denver by looking for a tiny “D” on the surface.

One of Denver’s most popular dining and shopping destinations, Larimer Square is filled with chef-driven restaurants and shops. The Victorian-style buildings in this historic district date back to the late 1800s, and were once home to the city’s first saloons, theaters, and dance halls. Now, they’re host to a wide array of specialty shops and boutique clothing stores. Events happen in the square almost constantly, so keep your eyes peeled for the month’s festivities.

At the edge of Larimer Square is the 16th Street Mall, another shopping district and outdoor pedestrian center full of shopping destinations. You’ll find everything from big-name booksellers and brand-name clothes to quirky independent gift shops and quaint cafes. The varied interlocking stones on the street were designed to look like the scales of a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Complete your shopping experience with a trip to the Cherry Creek Shopping District, which features 16 blocks of brand-name stores and independently-owned boutiques. You can easily spend a day getting in your shopping fix in this sprawling neighborhood.

Spend an afternoon wandering the 23 acres of the Denver Botanic Gardens. Explore the Japanese Gardens, the tropical conservatories, or the outdoor exhibits filled with the Rocky Mountains’ native flora. Another location of the garden, Mt. Goliath, lies just outside the city and features a wide array of alpine wildflowers.

If you’ve got a whole day to spare, make the drive out to Rocky Mountain National Park, about 90 minutes outside the city. You’ll find hundreds of miles of hiking trails, dozens of towering mountain peaks, and ample opportunities for wildlife viewing. If you’re feeling adventurous, spend the night camping under the stars, or just take a scenic drive along some of the highest mountain roads in the country.

For hiking and exploring closer to the city, check out the Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater in Morrison, just ten miles west of Denver. In addition to hiking trails, stunning rock formations, and an epic view of the Denver skyline, it’s also an outdoor music venue, with a variety of well-known musicians performing throughout the year.

Another fabulous Denver-adjacent day trip is the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which takes you up 9,000 feet in elevation to the continent’s highest paved road. The road is seasonal due to snowfall, so it’s off limits in the winter months, but during the summer, you can drive all the way to the top of Mount Evans, a staggering 14,264 feet above sea level. On your way up, stop for a picnic at Echo Lake, and don’t forget the sunscreen—at that elevation, the sun’s rays can be extra potent.

Just outside the city, and not far from the airport, is the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, nearly 16,000 acres of nature preserve. Originally established as a way to preserve bald eagle nesting spots, you can spot a variety of predatory birds, as well as bison, black-tailed prairie dogs, and more. Visiting is free, and you can either walk along trails or drive your way through the massive park.

More beer is brewed every day in Denver than any other city in the U.S. Current estimates put the city’s brewery count at 148.

Colorado, along with Washington, were the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana. There are now more legal marijuana dispensaries in Denver than there are Starbucks coffee shops.

The very first Chipotle restaurant was built in Denver in 1993. It underwent a remodel in 2017, but it’s still up and running today.

Due to its elevation and strategic location east of the Rockies, Denver gets a lot more sunshine than you might expect, outpacing both San Diego, CA, and Tampa, FL, in terms of average sunny days each year.