Denver is one of my favorite cities, not just because of all the great attractions, but because of its surrounding natural beauty in the adjacent Rocky Mountains.

When you land in Denver, one of your first impressions will be the distinctive architecture of the Denver International Airport. Designed to mimic the snowy mountain peaks of the Rockies in winter by using white tension fabric supported by steel cables, the airport also allows a sweeping view of the Rocky Mountains as they taxi into Concourse A.

With 300 days of sunshine per year, a great place to start touring Denver is at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. This picturesque preserve along the banks of Deer Creek includes grasslands, ponds, and seasonal exhibits, as well as a Children's Discovery area.

From there, head into the Golden Triangle Museum District, and start your tour of Denver's museums at Civic Center Park. This two-block oasis is filled with wonderful murals, flower gardens and Western-themed bronze sculptures. The 356,000 square foot Denver Art Museum is internationally recognized for providing a family-friendly environment among its vast collections of traditional and modern works of art. The Colorado History Museum provides fascinating interactive exhibits that take visitors through the exciting history of the state.

A visit to Denver would not be complete without a stop at the home of the 'unsinkable' Molly Brown. This turn-of-the-century mansion has been turned into the Molly Brown House Museum, where visitors can learn all about this Titanic-surviving Colorado prospector and her life of adventure, philanthropy and politics.

Take note of the magnificent Colorado State Capitol Building as you make your way around this Golden Triangle. Free tours are available, including one that takes you to the top of the 24-karat gold dome, offering spectacular views of the city. You will also find the famous 5,280 ft. mile marker on the 13th step, indicating that you are exactly one mile above sea level.

Denver has no shortage of entertainment options, so be sure to make time for these as well. The LoDo district, with its historic Victorian buildings and renovated warehouses, now houses the best restaurants, live music venues and brewpubs. Denver's oldest block, Larimer Square, beckons shoppers with the latest fashions from around the world, and Denver's best upscale shopping and dining can be found at Cherry Creek, a 16-block area that is home to over 320 shops, galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

Long embraced by the city as the pride of luxury hotels, the Brown Palace Hotel is also regarded as a national treasure. This world class hotel has not only played host to Presidents and celebrities since the day it opened in 1892, it also has a reputation for being haunted. Current employees often run into a former waiter, still in uniform, in the service elevator, and others have seen a former socialite guest who lived in room 904 for over 15 years. Soon after her story was told on ghost tours of the hotel, the switchboard began to receive mysterious calls from room 904. But the strangest part is that the room didn't even have a phone at the time, since it was undergoing renovation. Spooky, huh? But don't let that stop you from enjoying all the amenities of this luxury hotel, or at least be sure stop in for one of the Ghost Tours.

No matter how you spend your time in Denver, it will be easy to see why visitors fall in love with this 'mile-high city' the first time they visit.