Best way to reach new heights: The area's mountainous terrain makes rock climbing a popular activity around Denver. Beginners can step into one of the city's biggest indoor training facilities, Thrillseekers, Inc. (303-733-8810, www.thrillseekers.cc), and train with the locals. Once you've gained your footing, make a 30-mile trip northeast of downtown to Eldorado Canyon State Park (303-494-3943, parks.state.co.us/Parks/eldoradocanyon) where climbers from around the world practice on 500 routes rated for all levels—from easy to expert.

Best river tour: After instruction from Confluence Kayaks (303-433-3676, www.confluencekayaks.com), rent a boat and launch 10 miles south of downtown in Littleton. With the mountains at your back, you'll paddle through a bird sanctuary, 14 miles of man-made rapids, and end up back downtown near Coors Field, the baseball stadium for the Colorado Rockies.

Best way to keep cool: Colorado may be landlocked, but it's home to a large number of certified scuba divers. Underwater Phantaseas (303-220-8282, www.underwaterphantaseas.com will outfit you to take the plunge at Aurora Reservoir, a short drive southeast of downtown.

Best bike path: Rent a mountain bike from Cherry Creek Bike Rack (303-388-1630, www.cherrycreekbikerack.com), and cruise the many bike-friendly downtown paths, including the popular Cherry Creek Bike Trail. A good entry point for the trail is at Confluence Park on 15th Street, but the 15-mile trail is easy to spot as it winds through Denver hotspots such as the neighborhoods of LoDo and Capitol Hill, as well as all along Speer Boulevard to Cherry Creek.