10 Films and TV Shows to See Before Visiting Denver

Stephanie Harper

If you’re thinking about visiting Denver and surrounding areas in Colorado, but you aren’t sure what to expect, there are plenty of movies and TV shows that will give a sense of The Centennial State. These 10 films and TV shows pay homage to Colorado in some way and are definitely worth checking out before your next visit.

The Shining

Writer and director Stanley Kubrick’s film version of Stephen King’s classic novel of the same name stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, a struggling writer who takes a job as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, somewhere in the Colorado Rockies. Horror ensues for Torrance and his family. Not only does the movie show what Colorado winters are like in the mountains, but the Overlook Hotel was based on the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which you can still visit today.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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South Park

South Park is an adult cartoon series, now in its 21st season, and is perhaps the most famous Colorado-themed TV show and movie. Named for the fictional town in which it takes place, the show tells the story of four boys in grade school. It gives a feel for the Rocky Mountains and also shows many Colorado landmarks. Creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, got their start in film studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, which has made them hometown heroes of sorts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNS-fnGx-4E

The Real World: Denver

This long-running MTV reality series took place in Denver during the 18th season. The seven contestants lived in a two-story building right in the heart of Lower Downtown and worked for Outward Bound, where they were trained in wilderness courses and took at-risk teens on hiking treks, during which the at-home viewers also get to experience the great Colorado outdoors.

Dumb and Dumber

The classic road-trip comedy Dumb and Dumber [1994], follows the adventures of Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dune, who take off across the country to return a lost briefcase to a pretty lady in Aspen. Some of the movie takes place among the Aspen ski-town crowd. These scenes were filmed in Breckenridge, Colorado and the Stanley hotel in Estes Park.

The Ranch

The Ranch is a Netflix original comedy series set on fictional Iron River Ranch in Colorado. The opening sequence features scenes from the town of Ouray and surrounding Ouray County, and the show depicts life on a ranch, an important part of Colorado culture.

Catch and Release

Catch and Release [2007] is set in Boulder and follows Gray and her developing relationship with Fritz, her deceased fiancé’s best friend. Many of the scenes were actually filmed on location in Boulder.

Community

Dan Harmon’s comedy Community is set at a Greendale Community College in fictional Greendale, Colorado. It is not only hilarious, but it also gives a real idea of life in the Denver suburbs. Follow the adventures of the central study group for all six seasons.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

The classic Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid [1969], is loosely based on the true story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, also known as Butch Cassidy, and Harry Longabaugh, also known as The Sundance Kid. The movie is filmed in various parts of Colorado, including Telluride, where these famous outlaws robbed their first bank. Not only will you see some beautiful Colorado spots, but you’ll also get a feel for the Wild West history that still permeates Denver’s culture today.

Everwood

Drama series Everwood is set in fictional Everwood, Colorado, and follows the story of Dr. Andy Brown and his family. Although the series wasn’t actually filmed in the state, it does a great job depicting life in a mountain town.

Mork and Mindy

For some classic television, check out Mork and Mindy, featuring Robin Williams as a lovable alien learning about human life in Boulder, Colorado. The setting gives you a feel of Colorado in the late 1970s through the early 1980s.

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