The popular myth about Colorado is that it has 300 days of sunshine. While the stats don't bear that out, Denver does have a lot of days of sunshine -- 252 to be exact, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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That is two more months of sunshine than the city of Chicago gets each year.

 

There are two ways this can matter. One, sunshine itself raises the mood. Two, it allows you to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. And Colorado (and Denver specifically) has so much to enjoy outside the house.

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Outdoor living

The city of Denver has some of the best parks in the country. City Park, Cheesman Park and Washington Park (commonly called Wash Park) get a lot of the glory and for good reason. They're big, sprawling open spaces where you and your kids and your dog can enjoy a picnic, a long run and some beautiful views. 

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But Denver's beautiful spaces are not confined to the big three. Denver has more than 200 parks within the city and more than 14,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the biggest draw, but there are numerous park options to get your hike and view on.

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Like golf? There are 90 golf courses in the Denver metro area, and most of them are open year-round because of Denver's mild winters.

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Mild Winters

The perception of Denver as a snowy mountain town could not be further from the truth. Winters in Denver are mild. When it does snow, it often melts in a day or two after the sun returns, and soon enough you see people out jogging the trails or enjoying the dry, non-humid weather again.