With the expansive Midwestern plains to the east and the majestic Rocky Mountains to the west, Denver feels like the center of the country. In fact, it nearly is. Denver International Airport, the sixth busiest in the world, is only 340 miles from the midpoint of the continental United States.

This capital city has long been a popular stopping point for cross-country travelers or winter vacationers on their way to the state's celebrated ski slopes. But in recent years, Denver has begun to make a year-round name for itself — for tourists and permanent residents alike.

And with more than 16,000 hotel rooms in the Denver area, visitors also should have no trouble locating just the right place to hang their hats. Accommodations, like tourist attractions, in this sprawling city are clustered in several areas — downtown being the most obvious example — but they are also scattered throughout the metropolis's many suburbs.

Because of the convenience and liveliness of Denver's downtown — the 10th largest in the nation — many visitors elect to set up camp in the center of the city. Other travelers prefer to opt out of the urban scene, selecting lodging based on a host of other factors.

But whether choosing a downtown district or a secluded spot in suburbia, all visitors should be informed: with no subway and few hail-able cabs, the city's transportation system is minimal at best. Unless you plan on seeing only the inside of a convention hall or don't mind taking the bus everywhere, a rental car is probably the best way to go.

Once transportation and accommodation have been arranged, however, the only problem you will have is deciding which time of year is best to visit. Colorado weather is famous for its wild fluctuations -- during both any given season and any given day. Average high and low temperatures for a month can differ by as much as 30 degrees. But, such rapid changes also mean most weather conditions are only temporary -- snow melts as rapidly as it appears. And thanks to two constants, a low relative humidity and more than 300 days of sunshine per year, the Denver climate is rendered quite pleasant. Just make sure you always have a jacket on hand.

This Denver hotel guide will provide suggestions on where to stay based on what type of traveler you are and what you want to see during your time in Denver. By wisely choosing accommodations, you will then be free to use your hotel as a home base from which to explore the many sides of this up-and-coming destination.

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