Must see and do things in Denver and Colorado vicinity?

Hi Erin - I agree with Mark.  Downtown Denver has some great live music venues and excellent restaurants.  I'd definitely make an effort to go to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, if not for a concert, then to just take in the incredible views.  It's also a place where people like to workout, so if that's something you do, try it!

I'm assuming that SLC has plenty of museums, so I won't recommend the ones we have here.  They're fine, but they're probably similar to ones you've seen already.

It's still not too late to hike around here, although I heard tomorrow we'll possibly be getting some snow.  Evergreen (Colorado) has some great places to hike - Elk Meadow and Bergen Peak, Three Sisters and Lair o' the Bear are my favorites - and it's not too far away.

If you can, I'd also try to make it to Boulder.  You'll find even better hiking there, more great restaurants and Pearl Street.  I'd also recommend the Coors Beer tour here in Golden, because you get free beer at the end of it :)

Denver is a must. Especially if the road trip is coming up really soon.  The drive from Salt Lake to Denver alone is worth the price of admission.  I70 through the Rockies is among the most beautiful stretches of highway in the country, if not the most beautiful.  Make pit stops in Grand Junction (Colorado) (some very decent vineyards); Vail (nothing like it in the Salt Lake area); and maybe a cup of coffee in Georgetown (Colorado) before decending in Denver.  You may be a bit late to catch any of the mountain folliage...but if you're leaving soon, you should still be able to catch some of the glowing yellow hillsides.  I don't know what the concert calendar is over coming weeks, but if you have the opporutnity to catch any event at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, you won't be disappointed.  The downtown Denver area is a world apart from Salt Lake...attracting amazing music acts in some fabulous venues around town.  The restaurant scene has drawn world-class chefs from all parts of the globe, and if you're looking for nightlife, no shortage of options await you...speakeasy's, clubs, wine bars...etc.  If you're feeling really adventurous, there are a number of tours that are capitializing on the recent legalization of marijuana in Denver:  http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/pot-tourism-my-420-tours-marijuana-tourism-in-colorado...you definitely won't find that in SLC :)

Good answers here! Someone above mentioned heading up to  Boulder – great idea! It's only ~45 mins north of Denver and makes for a perfect afternoon adventure. We had some friends up a few weeks ago and this is what we did:

1. Hike up to the base of the Flatirons from  Chautauqua Park. It's a pretty easy walk and gives you an awesome view of the city. 

2. Stroll down to the outdoor  Pearl Street Mall and see the shops & do some peoplewatching. There are lots of little art stores and clothing stores, and the outdoor mall itself is a really nice place to sit & enjoy the weather.

3. Get something delicious to eat. If you're looking for coffee & pastries, try  Spruce Confections. If you'd prefer lunch, get some burgers and beers at Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery. 

Have fun! :)

Denver is not too cold this time of year...almost as maysunny days as L.A. On the way to Denver stop in Glenwood Canyon and hike Hanging Lake....2 mile hike to a beautiful lake hanging on the side of the canyon walls, don't miss spouting rock, a very short trail that takes you above hanging lake to a cool waterfall that spouts from the middle of a solid rock cliff. Denver has lots of sports that might be available (ie hockey, football....) and LoDo (lower downtown) is pretty cool....lots of shops and dinning.

Hope you come and have a good time.

I have friends in Salt Lake! It is very cold in Denver right now though. I would wait until Spring to hike. There is so much to do in Denver you could easily never run out of fun ideas! Honestly the best places to hike would be in Boulder, CO and surrounding areas (just outside of Denver).