Molly O’Brien

There’s a reason Denver is known as one of the most liveable cities in the U.S. Come here for a buzzing city vibe, but with the small added bonus of 300 sunny days every year. And that’s just the start of it. Here you’ll find trendy breweries, excellent galleries and more restaurants and food halls than you can squeeze into one trip. All that while being surrounded by a jaw-dropping 360-degree mountain view. From unforgettable hikes to all-night parties, here are the best things to do in Denver, any time of year. RECOMMENDED:🍴 The best restaurants in Denver🏨 The best hotels in Denver🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Denver Molly O’Brien is a freelance writer based in Denver. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Every month, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey invites its fans to join in the labor-intensive but one-of-a-kind and honestly, pretty fun process of bottling this award-winning whiskey by hand. You’ll work side-by-side with its professional distillers in the final step to bring the beloved whiskey to life. And, as a reward, you even get your own bottle of Stranahan’s Original, a couple of taster glasses, and a well-earned lunch to enjoy after a day of hard work.  But it’s no easy feat to become one of the “chosen few.” To ensure fairness, names are randomly selected from the list, and emails are sent to the lucky few who have been chosen to bottle. In fact, you’ll be up against 26,000 other people on this list that’s always growing in a lottery to get the chance to join this coveted experience. To some, it truly feels like winning the lottery if they’re picked (or even better).  I had the chance to go behind-the-scenes on a recent bottling day and get the scoop on this process and the ins and outs of this coveted experience and its home business. This is what a kid in a candy store must feel like As soon as we arrived at the warehouse headquarters where Stranahan’s distills and bottles their liquor, and all the magic happens, my husband (and bottling line partner for the day) exclaimed, “This feels like I’m in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!” Admittedly, it was not nearly as child-friendly as Charlie’s golden ticket winnings, boasting bottles of whiskey and barrels lining t

When I walked into Prismajic’s hidden speakeasy-style cocktail outpost, the Night Owls Bar, I felt like I was stepping straight into a fantasy land—just one dropped into the middle of a mall outside of downtown Denver.  Feelings are the focus at this imaginative, curiosity-driven experience, where an extensive menu of cocktails and mocktails have been specifically designed to take you on a “sensory adventure.” It’s the creation of Prismajic, an immersive arts company whose in-person experience at the Colorado Mills mall also includes the adjoining Shiki Dreams, a permanent art installation that taps into each sense through interactive exhibits.  To get inside, you can easily enter through the Colorado Mills mall. But for a more enchanting introduction, look for the A-frame sign that’s sometimes set up in the alley; if you’re lucky enough to spot it, you can ring the gold buzzer and slip in through the “secret” back entrance.  During my first visit, I was immediately blown away by the incredible amount of thought put into making this space feel like you’re in another realm; the design falls somewhere between a supernatural, enchanted forest and a sophisticated sort of Victorian-era space where you know debauchery is about to ensue.   “There is a pronounced juxtaposition from the bold and bright outside world into the cozy, dimly lit warmth and magic of [The Night Owls],” says cofounder and chief creative of Prismajic, Jennifer Mosquera.  Thirty-seven local Denver painters, scu