Fort Collins (craft beer) ★ 4.5
Fort Collins is the craft beer day trip 65 miles north of Denver, with Odell, New Belgium and Horse and Dragon breweries plus a Colorado State University food crowd.
More food day trips in Denver
Palisade (peaches and wineries) ★ 4.6
Palisade is the Grand Valley fruit and wine destination 245 miles west of Denver, with peach orchards in August and 20 wineries on the Colorado Wine Country trail.
Pueblo (green chile country) ★ 4.4
Pueblo is the green chile country day trip 112 miles south of Denver, with Mirasol chile farms harvesting late August through October and an annual September festival.
Aspen (fine dining ski town) ★ 4.6
Aspen is the fine-dining ski-town day trip 165 miles west of Denver, with Matsuhisa Aspen, Element 47, Hooch and the Food and Wine Classic each June.
Manitou Springs (Colorado Springs day trip) ★ 4.2
Manitou Springs is the Colorado Springs gateway day trip 75 miles south of Denver, with The Stagecoach Inn, Adam's Mountain Cafe and the Pikes Peak Highway gateway.