Drive to Miami International Airport (MIA) and park in one of the many on-site parking lots or garages. To leave your car at home, hop on Tri-Rail.

Flight times to Denver International Airport (DEN) are usually just under four hours. For easy travel in and around Denver, pick up a rent-a-car upon landing at DEN. If your Denver destination of choice is a ski resort, pre-arrange a Mountain Carrier charter.

Attractions and tips

Start your Denver day with a walk in Washington Park. Glimpse behind the armored doors of the United States Mint with a tour of this branch, opened in 1863. Walk on the wild side at the Denver Zoo, modeled after a Kenyan nature preserve.

If cash is burning a hole in your pocket, swing by the 16th Street Mall, a mile-long stretch of shops. After sunset, explore the nightlife at Larimer Square.

If you want to walk your way around Denver, seek accommodations in North Capitol Hill, located conveniently near Museum of Natural Science. To experience historical Denver, pick Lincoln Park. This neighborhood houses homes that are over 100 years old and is the location of the Santa Fe Arts District, consisting of over 40 galleries.

Denver is less snowy than you may anticipate, with an average of less than 15 inches of snow annually. Expect nice, albeit sometimes chilly, weather in Denver, where the sun shines more than 300 days per year on average.