Gateway to the Rockies, Denver, the capital of Colorado, is also a holiday spot itself. Set on the plains with the mountains rising as a backdrop, this is one impressive city. This mile high city boasts 300 days of sunshine a year - beating San Diego and Miami.

Denver is packed with attractions: enjoy the city's new hub, Lower Downtown (LoDo) - the country's highest concentration of Victorian buildings, now housing quirky shops, brewhouses, cafes and al fresco dining. Stroll around the museum of Contemporary Art or the Colorado History museum.