Lower Downtown's Union Station serves as "Denver's living room" Credit: Crawford Hotel

Denver grew by over 80,000 people in the past five years — thanks to a strong job market that brought in new chefs, festivals, bars, and a spot on top of plenty of Best Places to Live lists. But why move to Denver — with its now-booming housing prices — when you can have it all in a long weekend? Here’s your guide to exploring the natural wonders, the best beers on the planet, the legitimately exciting food scene and, if you so desire, sampling the dispensaries. 
^[1][2][3]

RELATED: The 101 Best Beers in America^[4]

Play

The South Platte River skirts downtown and offers Class II and III rapids. Access the water 15 miles south of town at Chatfield Lake and paddle back to Confluence Park — where you'll find the conveniently located Confluence Kayaks ($50 for a daily kayak package). Urban running and bike trails abound, and provide a great way to see the city (or tour the 62 breweries). For less-urban adventures, Denver Zipline Tours is a 30-minute drive away and offers Colorado's longest and fastest lines, criss-crossing a mountain valley. Or you can head to Boulder's Chautauqua Park (40-minute drive) to ascend one of the iconic Flation climbing routes. We recommend Colorado Mountain School^[5] if you want a guide (ask for Joey Thompson).

Eat

Denver offers a melting pot of American cuisine with few blind spots. In the morning you can grab a quick and satisfying breakfast at Snooze AM Eatery (two locations downtown). And on the weekend, cross the river for brunch and a comfortable seat at Root Down in the Highland neighborhood. If you want to stay downtown, head to the historic Larimer Square to browse menus: Russell's Smokehouse has the best ribs you'll find in the Rockies, Euclid Hall offers innovative pub fare with a killer beer and cocktail list, and the Mediterranean-inspired Rioja features more exclusive options like New Zealand red deer and Colorado lamb loin.

Kayakers paddling the rapids at Confluence Park. Stan Obert

Drink

The cocktail and local spirits scenes are some of the best in America, but for beer, Denver is one of the best spots in the world. The greater metro area is dotted with 100-plus breweries, but you'll find an especially dense swath of roughly 15 brewers running for two miles near Walnut Street. On the southwest end is Denver's original brewpub, Wynkoop, and Blackshirt Brewing is at the top. In between are gems like sour specialist Crooked Stave, Utah-native Epic Brewing, and the venerable Great Divide. For a more moderate crawl, head to the Highlands neighborhood duo of Denver Beer (get the Graham Cracker Porter) and the German brewing experts at Prost. If you'd rather rest your feet, beeline to Denver's longtime craft beer mecca, Falling Rock Tap House, for a selection of 200-plus of the best local, American, and European brews.

Sleep

Downtown has been thriving for the last decade, with the crown jewel being the remodeled Union Station — which features craft beer, farm-to-table dining, eclectic hotel rooms, and light rail from Denver International (beginning April 22). Book a Pullman room, with art deco stylings inspired by the luxury sleeper train cars, at the Crawford Hotel^[6] in Union Station (starting at $289). The dog-friendly hotel is walking distance for everything worth visiting downtown. But if you want to venture farther out, the Crawford offers complimentary transportation within a two-mile radius. The hotel occupies part of the recently renovated train station (built in 1881), which is also filled out with the top-notch Terminal Bar, farm-to-table dining at the Mercantile, and third-wave cafe Pigtrain Coffee.

Insider Tips

If you seek beer nirvana, head to Denver the first weekend in October for the Great American Beer Fest^[7] — arguably the world's greatest collection of craft brewers under one roof. And while you know of Red Rocks Amphitheater as one of the finest outdoor music venues, it doubles as Denver's Muscle Beach (sans-meatheads) with informal and coached sweat sessions up and down the 69 rows of seats.

References

1. ^{^} Best Places to Live (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} lists (www.nbcnews.com)
3. ^{^} sampling (www.westword.com)
4. ^{^} RELATED: The 101 Best Beers in America (www.mensjournal.com)
5. ^{^} Colorado Mountain School (coloradomountainschool.com)
6. ^{^} Crawford Hotel (thecrawfordhotel.com)
7. ^{^} Great American Beer Fest (www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com)

...

As the weather warms, and the snow rapidly disappears, many ski areas are offering huge discounts on their lift tickets to entice skiers and boarders to make a few more laps. Now is the time to hit the hills for a few last turns before cheering on the annual pond skims at most base areas. Here are the best deals we could find across the country.

RELATED: How a Backcountry Skiier Survived a Night With Pack of Wolves^[1]

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

The best ski deals in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and more.

$47 tickets at Arapahoe Basin

Starting April 18th tickets are discounted up to $44 off the regular season price. Buy here^[2].

$50 tickets at Copper Mountain

Ski the closing weekend (April 22-24) and save $50 off the regular season price. Buy here^[3].

$53 tickets at Loveland Ski Area

Starting April 11th until closing day ski for $53, a discount of $13. Buy here^[4].

$77 tickets at Winter Park

Starting April 25th until closing day May 7th tickets are $77, that’s a savings of $22. Buy here^[5].

$69 tickets at Aspen Highlands

For their last two weekends they have slashed prices. Ski on April 23-24, or April 30-May 1, and save $50. Buy here^[6].

$59 tickets at Purgatory

For their last two weekends (April 8-10, 16-17) tickets are $59. That’s a savings of $26. Buy here^[7].

$52 tickets at Alta

On Alta’s closing weekend (April 22-24) tickets are $52, a savings of $37. Buy here^[8].

$36 tickets at Solitude Mountain Resort

Tickets from $36 and up every day until their closing on April 17th, a savings of up to half off their regular prices. Buy here^[9].

$49 tickets to Snowbird

Starting April 25th until closing day on May 22nd score tickets as cheap as $49, a savings of $48. Buy here^[10].

$50 tickets at Grand Targhee

For closing weekend (April 14-17) you can get tickets as low as $50 a savings of 34%. Buy here^[11].

NORTHEAST

Insane ski packages await in killer New England towns in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.

$38 tickets at Sugarbush

Ski now until closing day on April 17th with tickets up to 50% off regular season ticket prices. Buy here^[12].

Ski for Free at Sunday River

Closing day on May 1st is free for everyone. Shave $30 off their regular prices with  $59 tickets until then. Buy here^[13].

$23 tickets at Jay Peak

Save up to 61% off your tickets from now until closing day on May 1st. Buy here^[14].

$72 tickets at Stowe Mountain Resort

Discounted tickets are $72 every day until they close, a savings of 37%. Buy here^[15].

$25 tickets at Killington

Every day until they close will offer tickets discounted up to 55% off regular season tickets. Buy here^[16].

$54 tickets at Loon Mountain

For their final weekend (April 8-10) tickets are $45, a savings of $40. Buy here^[17].

WEST COAST

Hit the slopes with the best of these West Coast ski sales.

$45 tickets at Boreal Mountain Resort

Every day until closing day on April 17th tickets can be had for $45, a savings of 28%. Buy here^[18].

$61 tickets at Sierra at Tahoe

Grab tickets for as low as $61 until they close April 17th, for a discount of $32. Buy here^[19].

MIDWEST

These last-minute ski deals from Minnesota to Michigan are tough to resist.

$34 tickets at Lutsen Mountains

For the last three weekends (April 16-17, 23-24, and April 30-May 1) tickets are only $34, a savings of $41. Buy here^[20].

$35 tickets at Boyne Mountain

From now until they close you can ski for $35 a savings of 45% from their regular price. Buy here^[21].

SOUTHWEST

Try a discounted ski vacation in Arizona atop the San Francisco peaks.

$45 tickets at Arizona Snowbowl

Every weekend until they close tickets are $45, a savings of $34 from the regular season. Buy here^[22].

CANADA

Head over to Canada for awesome ski packages and challenging trails.

$39 tickets at Cypress Mountain

Until their closing day on April 17th you can get tickets at $39, that’s a 19% savings. Buy here^[23].

$64 tickets at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Score tickets 25% off for their final weekend April 8-10. Tickets are $64. Buy here^[24].

$80 tickets to Ski Banff, Lake Louise, and Sunshine

Get access to all three resorts until they close May 22 for only $80. Buy here^[25].

$63 tickets to Whistler Blackcomb

Tickets are $63 from now until the last day of their season, May 30th. That’s a savings of $37. Buy here^[26]. 

References

1. ^{^} RELATED: How a Backcountry Skiier Survived a Night With Pack of Wolves (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} here (tickets.arapahoebasin.com)
3. ^{^} here (www.inntopia.travel)
4. ^{^} here (skiloveland.com)
5. ^{^} here (book.winterparkresort.com)
6. ^{^} here (www.aspensnowmass.com)
7. ^{^} here (shop.purgatoryresort.com)
8. ^{^} here (buy.alta.com)
9. ^{^} here (tickets.skisolitude.com)
10. ^{^} here (www.liftopia.com)
11. ^{^} here (www.liftopia.com)
12. ^{^} here (inntopia.travel)
13. ^{^} here (tickets.sundayriver.com)
14. ^{^} here (www.liftopia.com)
15. ^{^} here (www.stowe.com)
16. ^{^} here (www.killington.com)
17. ^{^} here (www.loonmtn.com)
18. ^{^} here (webstore.rideboreal.com)
19. ^{^} here (www.inntopia.travel)
20. ^{^} here (www.lutsen.com)
21. ^{^} here (www.inntopia.travel)
22. ^{^} here (www.arizonasnowbowl.com)
23. ^{^} here (www.arizonasnowbowl.com)
24. ^{^} here (estore.revelstokemountainresort.com)
25. ^{^} here (www.liftopia.com)
26. ^{^} here (www.whistler.com)

...

Credit: John Henley / Getty Images

Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, may still look the part thanks to its historic buildings, statues, and monuments, but this 274-year-old city hardly feels colonial. Thanks to a booming dining scene, an urban waterway with Class III and IV rapids, and one of the best outdoor festivals in the country, Richmond deserves recognition as the modern cultural capital of the South — and the perfect place to spend a long weekend.

RELATED: More Four-Day Weekends^[1]

PLAY

While plenty of major American cities sit along a waterway, few can boast having a river with raging rapids perfect for kayaking or rafting. The James River cuts a seven-mile swath right through Richmond, welcoming kayakers, swimmers, fishermen, and standup paddleboarders to do their thing in the shadow of the city. Swimming spots dot the banks of the city at Hadad's Lake, Texas Beach, 42nd Street, Belle Isle, and Brown's Island, giving runners, cyclists, and anyone else relief from the heat. Gear up at Riverside Outfitters^[2] or River City Adventures^[3] for canoes, rafts, kayaks, mountain bikes and more. And if you find yourself in RVA May 20 to 22, sign up for the annual Dominion Riverrock Festival^[4], three days of adventure sports, a half marathon, whitewater kayak races, a 5K mud run, and dog jumping — not to mention free concerts from the likes of G. Love & Special Sauce and Keller Williams.

ALSO: The Best Road Bike Rides in Richmond^[5]

EAT

If you're looking to start your day with a quick-grab bite, you can't go wrong with a brined, battered, and fried chicken biscuit or Neuske's bacon, local egg, and cheddar biscuit from Saison Market^[6]. For a more leisurely option, sit and stay at Millie's^[7], a tried-and-true Richmond institution in Shockoe Bottom. Don't skip the soft scrambled eggs with lobster, bacon, and puffed pastry or the Castro Mess, three scrambled eggs with Cuban spiced pork, black beans, and crispy tortilla strips. For lunch, hit Mama J's^[8] and choose from fried chicken, smothered pork chops, fried catfish, mac and cheese, greens, and homemade sweet tea. Or pop into Garnett's^[9] in the Fan neighborhood for a variety of sandwiches that are either cold, grilled, or served hot with gravy. The eclectically kitschy L'opossum^[10] is your best dinner option. James Beard–nominated chef David Shannon's French-meets-Southern menu offers playful menu descriptions yet delivers serious food like les escargots a la ham biscuit; Swanky Mac is Back (butter poached Maine lobster tossed with white truffle mornay cream, asparagus, and pasta shells); and filet mignon of beef "swellington" (a tender beef wellington prepared with truffled mushrooms and duck butter). Looking for a little 'cue instead? Two solid offerings include Alamo BBQ^[11], for Texas-style beef brisket, and Hogshead Café^[12] for Memphis-style dry-rubbed baby back ribs and fiery-hot spice-rubbed crispy-fried wings.

SLEEP

Opened in September of 2015, the Quirk Hotel^[13] raised the bar for local hotel accommodations. The beautiful hotel, set in the former J.B. Mosby & Co. department store built in 1916, has high-arched ceilings, original maple floors, and plush, modern pink-hued rooms. The hotel, which is attached to a three-floor art gallery of the same name, has the Maple & Pine restaurant, a coffee bar serving local Blanchard's Coffee, on-site bike rentals, and a rooftop bar that should be open for late spring of 2016. If you want something a bit more historic, the Jefferson Hotel^[14] is the grande dame of Richmond. Opened in 1895, the five-star, five-diamond property with a soaring bi-level marble-clad lobby has gone through numerous restorations to bring it back to its original splendor and has hosted 13 presidents from Harrison to Obama, Ray Charles, Sinatra, and Elvis. The hotel boasts an indoor swimming pool and solarium, two Southern-inspired restaurants and bars, and you can even charge up your Tesla.

INSIDER TIP

If you're in Richmond any Thursday between early April and late October, hit Hardywood Brewery's weekly Food Truck Court^[15]. Chow down from a variety of trucks each week with food options ranging from tacos to wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean fare to handmade ice cream while sipping Hardywood's seasonal craft beers like the Singel Belgian-abbey-style blonde ale and the summertime dry-hopped Capital Trail Pale Ale. And if you're into whiskey, head to Big Whiskey Grill^[16] in the Fan and sample through about 1,000 different whiskies from around the world (including a massive bourbon selection), or raise the stakes while sifting through another 1,300 options of rum, tequila, cognac, and more. It might be a long night. 

References

1. ^{^} RELATED: More Four-Day Weekends (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Riverside Outfitters (www.riversideoutfitters.net)
3. ^{^} River City Adventures (www.rivercityadventure.com)
4. ^{^} Dominion Riverrock Festival (www.dominionriverrock.com)
5. ^{^} ALSO: The Best Road Bike Rides in Richmond (www.mensjournal.com)
6. ^{^} Saison Market (www.saisonrva.com)
7. ^{^} Millie's (milliesdiner.com)
8. ^{^} Mama J's (www.facebook.com)
9. ^{^} Garnett's (garnettscafe.com)
10. ^{^} L'opossum (www.lopossum.com)
11. ^{^} Alamo BBQ (www.alamobbqva.com)
12. ^{^} Hogshead Café (www.thehogsheadcafe.com)
13. ^{^} Quirk Hotel (www.destinationhotels.com)
14. ^{^} Jefferson Hotel (www.jeffersonhotel.com)
15. ^{^} Food Truck Court (www.hardywood.com)
16. ^{^} Big Whiskey Grill (www.bigwhiskygrill.com)

...

Credit: Tyler Stableford / Getty Images

Set along the Roaring Fork River, where it meets the Crystal River, Carbondale is a Rocky mountain oasis, just 30 miles from tony Aspen but surrounded by working ranches, fishing streams, rushing waters, and majestic peaks. If you want to ski, snowboard, bike, hike, kayak, fly fish, rock climb, raft, horseback ride, or kick back in hot springs, this should be your go-to mountain bedroom community. And there's no need to leave, as you'll find farm-to-table dining, hip breweries, and distilleries and super down-to-earth locals.

RELATED: Plan Your Next Four-Day Weekend with One of Our In-Depth Guides^[1]

EAT

You'll likely have to wait in line, but you can't start your day without hitting the Village Smithy^[2], which has been feeding people for four decades. It won't be easy to narrow your focus, but the McHuevos (two eggs with mushroom, green onion, homemade salsa, cheddar cheese, and sour cream piled over a bed of hash browns); blueberry corncakes; or the wild mushroom enchiladas with jack cheese are a good place to start. The Goat Kitchen & Bar^[3], with its feta lamb burger topped with gyros meat and mint aioli and wild-caught spicy garlic shrimp atop linguini can help quell your Mediterranean cravings. Chef Mark Fischer brought haute cuisine to Carbondale 20 years ago and continues to dazzle with Town^[4], a daytime bakery and café that morphs into lunch and dinner service for crispy pig ears with blue cheese; roasted bone marrow with oxtail; spinach cavatelli in beef tenderloin Bolognese; and Colorado lamb osso bucco. Fischer flies to the other end of the spectrum with Phat Thai^[5]. Don't miss the Malaysian sliders with kewpie sambal; five spice bbq pork spareribs; and the red duck curry with kaffir lime and thai basil. And don't skip the simple, American farm-to-table fare at SILO^[6] for food all day, which you can also order at the Marble Distilling Company next door. Get duck eggs over easy for breakfast, a Cubano for lunch, and a sausage and onion flatbread pizza for dinner.

PLAY

You have access to skiing at Aspen-Snowmass' four mountains — enough to keep you occupied for well over a week in winter^[7] or summer^[8]. Trailheads abound, but a local favorite is to hike up to Mushroom Rock at Red Hill, where you can also do some badass mountain biking. Speaking of biking, don't miss the 44-mile paved Rio Grande Trail that runs from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. Gold Medal fly fishing is everywhere, Class IV rapids await you, and, of course, Mount Sopris beckons from everywhere you look. After the day's activities, you'll need to settle in with a beer. Lucky for you Roaring Fork Beer Company^[9] brews a range of seasonal beers like the AMF Amber, Tangelo IPA, or the Steed Creed Imperial Red. Look for their Grapefruit Extra Pale Ale this summer.

RELATED: The Best Beers in Colorado^[10]

SLEEP

Carbondale has plenty of midrange chain hotels to choose from, but if you want a supercool experience, book in advance at the Distillery Inn^[11]. Set atop the Marble Distilling Company, the inn only has five rooms, but each has a fireplace, a balcony or private courtyard, and views of the 12,966-foot Mount Sopris. Did we mention you're sleeping at a distillery? If you want to get out of town, Avalanche Ranch^[12] is just 10 miles south of Carbondale and has access to the adjacent Penny Hot Springs (free for guests pretty much 24 hours a day). Book a rustic cabin, a tricked out former wagon, or get a fully equipped cottage or house about five miles away.

INSIDER TIP

Book early to come see the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo^[13]. Every Thursday between June 2 and August 18, you can see what life was like in the wild Roaring Fork Valley. Tickets are $10 or $50 for a book of six. 

References

1. ^{^} RELATED: Plan Your Next Four-Day Weekend with One of Our In-Depth Guides (www.mensjournal.com)
2. ^{^} Village Smithy (www.villagesmithy.com)
3. ^{^} Goat Kitchen & Bar (thegoatkitchenandbar.com)
4. ^{^} Town (www.towncarbondale.com)
5. ^{^} Phat Thai (www.phatthai.com)
6. ^{^} SILO (www.silocarbondale.com)
7. ^{^} winter (www.aspensnowmass.com)
8. ^{^} summer (www.aspensnowmass.com)
9. ^{^} Roaring Fork Beer Company (roaringforkbeerco.com)
10. ^{^} RELATED: The Best Beers in Colorado (www.mensjournal.com)
11. ^{^} Distillery Inn (www.marbledistilling.com)
12. ^{^} Avalanche Ranch (avalancheranch.com)
13. ^{^} Carbondale Wild West Rodeo (www.carbondalerodeo.com)

...

Credit: Ron Sanford / Getty Images

This Earth Day, do something for the planet. Our suggestion: Support scientific research and advocacy by donating to an environmental nonprofit. Many are deserving of your dollars, but it can be hard to know which one does what. Below is a sampling of 17 nonprofits that do great work.

350.org^[1]

A focus on climate, and keeping the atmospheric concentration of the greenhouse gas carbon below 350 parts per million, is this group’s mission.

Conservation International^[2]

This group works to preserve vulnerable natural places — like the “reservoirs of natural capital” identified in its ocean health index — by helping governments across the world employ sustainable business practices.

RELATED: Places to Visit Before They Disappear^[3]

Defenders of Wildlife^[4]

Protecting biodiversity, wildlife, and habitat is this national organization’s focus, which it does by working in the field and on Capitol Hill.

Earthjustice^[5]

With more than 100 lawyers across the country, this organization works to protect our natural heritage, promote healthy communities, and push for clean energy and a healthy climate.

Environmental Defense Fund^[6]

By focusing on economic policies based on sound science, this group helps create financial incentives to clean up the planet.

Environmental Working Group^[7]

Informing the public about toxic chemicals (you may have seen their sunscreen pesticides on produce guides^[8]) this group helps consumers make informed decisions about how to live a healthier, more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Greenpeace^[9]

Known for its high-profile campaigns, like scaling buildings and hanging banners in protest, this group brings attention to the world’s environmental problems and what it might take to solve them.

Climate Change's Cultural Tipping Point^[10]

National Audubon Society^[11]

This century old organization is for the birds, literally, and the ecosystems they live in. (Full disclosure: I used to work for its magazine.)

Natural Resources Defense Council^[12]

Using the law to protect some of our most valuable assets, NRDC holds the government accountable while also helping to develop policy. (Disclosure: I write for their publication, onEarth.)

Oceana^[13]

Focused on the world’s aquatic resources, this international organization aims to restore the sea’s former diversity and richness.

Ocean Conservancy^[14]

Creating policy from its base in Washington, D.C., this nonprofit uses science, education, and research to help citizens advocate for healthy marine ecosystems and prevent actions that threaten our salty seas.

Panthera^[15]

This is the only organization dedicated exclusively to conserving the 38 species of big cats and the habitats in which they live.

Sierra Club^[16]

The country’s biggest environmental group, founded by John Muir, has preserved wilderness, established parks, and molded policy, which it continues to do today.

The Nature Conservancy^[17]

Safeguarding space from Africa to Australia, Canada to the Caribbean, this group protects nature by working with landowners.

The Wilderness Society^[18]

Founded in 1935, this nonprofit has protected close to 110 million acres of American wilderness from the threats of development and destruction.

Wildlife Conservation Society^[19]

Originally the New York Zoological Society way back in 1895, WCS works to preserve wildlife and more than 2 million square miles of wild places throughout the world.

World Wildlife Fund for Nature^[20]

Members of WWF, known by its iconic panda bear logo, fight hard for nature — not in the ring, but in more than 100 countries.

References

1. ^{^} 350.org (350.org)
2. ^{^} Conservation International (www.conservation.org)
3. ^{^} RELATED: Places to Visit Before They Disappear (www.mensjournal.com)
4. ^{^} Defenders of Wildlife (www.defenders.org)
5. ^{^} Earthjustice (earthjustice.org)
6. ^{^} Environmental Defense Fund (www.edf.org)
7. ^{^} Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org)
8. ^{^} guides (www.mensjournal.com)
9. ^{^} Greenpeace (www.greenpeace.org)
10. ^{^} Climate Change's Cultural Tipping Point (www.mensjournal.com)
11. ^{^} National Audubon Society (www.audubon.org)
12. ^{^} Natural Resources Defense Council (www.nrdc.org)
13. ^{^} Oceana (oceana.org)
14. ^{^} Ocean Conservancy (www.oceanconservancy.org)
15. ^{^} Panthera (www.panthera.org)
16. ^{^} Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org)
17. ^{^} The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org)
18. ^{^} The Wilderness Society (wilderness.org)
19. ^{^} Wildlife Conservation Society (www.wcs.org)
20. ^{^} World Wildlife Fund for Nature (www.worldwildlife.org)

...