The Inland Empire, nestled in the center of Southern California, is surrounded by mountains and vineyards, and olive and orange groves fill the valleys. Combine this bounty with its spas, resorts and cuisine that highlights this local produce, and there is a bumper crop of wellness options that can be harvested by groups.

If you haven’t been to Denver in a while or have never visited, you’re in for a mile-high surprise. From innovative, community-driven marketplaces to an ultra-hip arts scene to a burgeoning brewery portfolio, the city and neighboring Aurora have the cool factor down to a T. On a recent visit, Meetings Today checked out the following off-site experiences that are sure to impress attendees.

Metro Seattle, a region always at the forefront of technology and travel trends, is transforming its iconic landmarks while making room for exciting new meeting venues and visitor attractions. This reinvention is bringing alternative ways for groups to experience old favorites as well as putting new choices into the mix.

Clear skies, abundant sunshine, dramatic mountains and lush landscapes have made Greater Palm Springs a popular escape for decades, with a sense of calm prevailing the minute you land. As a leading wellness tourism destination, Greater Palm Springs is taking it to new heights with recent initiatives that are also carrying over into the meetings realm.

Stretching from the Pacific coast’s Vancouver Island through the jaw-dropping scenery of majestic mountain ranges and the fertile plains of Canada’s breadbasket, Western Canada boasts every meeting setting imaginable aside from palm trees and sun-soaked beaches. The region has also upped the ante by adding or improving on an impressive number of meetings and events facilities.

Organized by the Hilton San Francisco Union Square Community Projects Manager Jo Licata, and Parc 55-A Hilton Hotel, the three-day immersion indeed found our group enjoying the amenities of both of these top-notch, popular convention hotels, but by venturing outside of their front doors we discovered the soul of a neighborhood and the unceasing dedication of the hotels and community leaders to improve the lives of its residents.

With a new wave of restaurants and properties featuring food-forward venues, San Diego is getting serious about its dining scene, which has changed drastically in recent years. Locals and tourists still love the hometown favorites like fish tacos and California burritos, but a sudden wave of high-end restaurants and elevated food has everyone trying new things.

Next-generation artificial intelligence and augmented reality solutions. Flying cars, hyper-pixelated 8K televisions and a controversial robotic massager. The reveals at CES 2019, the 180,000-plus attendee blockbuster tech show that powers up Vegas’ convention calendar each January, are pushing frontiers like never before. The same goes for Las Vegas itself, which is fast becoming its own showcase for daring new realities.

The Grand Canyon State’s mix of old and new offers compelling experiences for groups