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.

Easily extending D.C.’s influence as a culinary hot spot, neighboring Northern Virginia offers wide-ranging epicurean experiences for groups. From homegrown and globally influenced cuisine to nationally ranked craft breweries and internationally acclaimed wineries, the region has all the ingredients for full-flavored meetings and events.

With its soaring skyscrapers and beautiful lakefront setting, Chicago is an inimitable city in the Midwest that also has a place in people’s hearts for icons such as the Chicago Cubs, legendary blues music and famous comedians.

A center of arts and culture in North Carolina’s booming Triad Region, Greensboro boasts world-class historic and cultural venues such as the International Civil Rights Museum and a thriving theater scene. But while museums and theater may temporarily seize the attention of attendees with their refined offerings, a pint of cold craft brew and some fantastic restaurants are also at the ready.

Hosting the annual Army-Navy football game for the 88th time, partners led by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) dedicated sports division (PHL Sports) executed the event with customary operational precision. Valley Forge’s leadership, closely identifying with its legacy, prioritizes winning group outcomes. For meetings and events, it’s win-win defined.