4 U.S. Cities to Dance, Dance, Dance to Electronic Music

As a craft beer capital and outdoor lover’s paradise, Denver is often associated with hippie jam bands and alternative rock. Amid the majestic Rocky Mountains, though, is a thriving EDM scene. In the city’s LoDo (Lower Downtown) district, you’ll find dozens of restaurants and art galleries in addition to some of Denver’s finest dance clubs, including Beta Nightclub, praised by Rolling Stone, DJMag and Billboard. In the Capitol Hill neighborhood, climb the steps of the state capitol building by day – look for the engraving on the 13th step marking the spot exactly one mile above sea level – then head after dark to The Church nightclub in a converted church setting with stained-glass windows. In the Southwest district, hit Bar Standard for a rotating weekly lineup, including Romanian techno and house, and then go to Milk Bar, which has dedicated rooms for different genres, including goth, ’80s and techno.

What’s not to love about a city that parties 24/7? Walk the Las Vegas Strip to be transported to a playground of roller coasters – ride them at Stratosphere, Circus Circus and New York New York. Go luxury shopping at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace and Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Hotel, and explore glitzy resort-casinos that look like the Eiffel Tower or an Egyptian pyramid. For club-goers, there’s no shortage of dance floors overloaded with eye candy. XS at the Wynn is a top pick. There’s room to spread out in the 40,000-square-foot club featuring an outdoor patio famous for Sunday night pool parties in the summer. Other notable experiences to try: beloved DJs Kaskade and Steve Aoki at Hakkasan in MGM Grand, the rooftop bar at Marquee in The Cosmopolitan, bumping into celebrities at Tao in the Venetian and four stories of fun at Omnia in Caesars Palace. Bring your freshest club outfits and leave plenty of room on your credit card. Cover charges can be steep.

Rivaling Las Vegas as a nightlife hotspot is Miami, known for its dazzling beaches and beautiful locals. Trek through Miami’s diverse attractions: colorful street art at Wynwood Walls, lush gardens at Vizcaya Museum, Cuban culture in Little Havana, and world-class shopping, dining and art on Lincoln Road and in the Design District. Along Ocean Drive in South Beach, you’ll recognize the photo-famous lineup of art deco buildings. Stop at a sidewalk café for dinner al fresco before exploring the club scene. First stop: Liv at the Fontainebleau, the place to see and be seen in South Beach. Celebrity sightings, trendy drinks, Technicolor light displays and unstoppable DJs – including internationally known Tiësto and David Guetta – make Liv a Miami must-see. Just across the causeway on Miami’s mainland, Club Space picks up the after-party crowd with techno music and a rooftop bar. Roll out of the club in the morning, throw on your bathing suit and head to Nikki Beach for brunch and Bloody Marys.

The Los Angeles area is as diverse as the entire state of California – laid-back beaches, historic sites and family-friendly theme parks on one hand, the glitz and glamour of the movie industry, upscale shopping and celebrity hangouts on the other. The EDM scene has evolved over the past 20 years, and you won’t be disappointed by what you find today. In the heart of Hollywood, check out the historic Avalon for an eclectic EDM crowd on weekends; Sound Nightclub, known for crowd-pleasing techno in a cool warehouse-style building; Academy with its dazzling light shows and all-star lineup, including Cedric Gervais and Trippy Turtle; and the Playhouse, current home of the legendary Monday Social dance night featuring cutting-edge house artists. In downtown LA, The Mayan’s temple-themed interior sets the stage for speaker-bumping dance music as well as mainstream concerts, while the rooftop bar at the Standard has nightly DJs, a pool and unbeatable views of the city lights.